Mitchell Marsh won the toss and elected to bowl first in St Vincent. / X/@T20WorldCup

In a game of tantalizing turns where bowlers took over from where batters left, Afghanistan caused a major flutter defeating Australia by 21 runs in a Super 8 game of the T20 World Cup on June.22. The win, first for Afghanistan in Super 8, has thrown upon the race for the second position from the group for the semi-final round. Australia plays India while Afghanistan takes on Bangladesh in their last Super 8 group encounters. Unbeaten India with two wins from as many matches looks certain of a semi-final berth.

Starting with a record opening partnership of 116 runs between Rahmanullah Gurbaz (60) and Ibrahim Zadran (51) and some superb death bowling by Gulbadin Naib (4 for 20) and Naveen-ul-Haq (3 for 20) had the Australians on their toes in a game that saw the initial advantage given by batters aggressively taken away by the bowlers for both the teams.

Pat Cummins wrested the initiative and restricted Afghanistan below 150 with a superb hat-trick of wickets. He had skipper Rashid Khan caught by Tim David on the last ball of his 3rd over and got Karim Janat on the first ball of his fourth for 13 made from 9 balls and then sent back Gulbadin Naib for a blob on the very next ball to complete a rare back-to-back hat-trick in T20 World Cups.

Pat Cummins was unlucky not to complete a rare four-in-four as David Miller dropped a catch of Kharote.

It was a remarkable turnaround by Australia as Afghanistan started on a cautious-cum aggressive note to put up 118 for the opening wicket. It was an amazing display of death bowling by the Australians that restricted the Afghan total to 148, as they expected it to cross 160 or even 170. But Once Marcus Stoinis put the brakes by claiming the wicket of Rahmanullah Gurbaz (60) made from 49 balls with four hits to the boundary and four hits to the maximum, a mini collapse was set in motion. Adam Zampa followed by claiming two wickets Ibrahim Zadran (51) made from 48 balls with six boundaries and with Azmatullah Omarzai (2), doors were open for Pat Cummins to do the rest.

Pat was devastating as he removed Rashid Khan, Karim Janat (even after he got a reprieve) and Gulabdin Naib to finish with three for 28 and help his team restrict Afghans, who were once 118/0 to 148/6 in 20 overs.

After Gurbaz and Zadran left, only Karim Janat (13) and Mohammed Nabi (10 not out) could reach the double figures.

The story was no different when Australians launched their run chase, thinking 149 was an easily attainable target. Afghani pacers – Naveen-ul-Haq and Mohammad Nabi – had different game plans. They sent back both openers – Travis Head (0) without a run on the board and David Warner (3) with a total reading of 32. In between, skipper Mitchell Marsh was also claimed by Naveen-ul-Haq for 12. Glen Maxwell steadied the Aussie innings with a well-made 59 from 41 balls. He played his shots all around the wicket hitting six boundaries and three sixes before Gulabdin Naib set his trap. Getting Maxwell caught by Noor Ahmad, Gulabdin Naib had then Marcus Stoinis (11), Tim David (2) and Pat Cummins (3) to swing the game in favour of Afghanistan.

When Maxwell left it was 106 for 6. A missed run-out opportunity delayed the inevitable before Azmatullah Omarzai sent back the last Australian batter, Adam Zampa, caught by Mohammed Nabi for nine to seal a historic win for his team.