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Afghanistan registered a historic victory against Australia in the Super Eight stage of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024.
A 21-run win for Afghanistan against Australia
Batting first, Afghanistan posted a competitive total of 148/6 in the first innings, followed by a remarkable bowling performance that restricted the Aussies to 127, sealing the win by 21 runs.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Gulbadin Naib emerged as the stars of the match. Opening the innings, Gurbaz scored a crucial 60 runs off 49 deliveries, setting a solid foundation for his team. Naib shone with the ball, conceding just 20 runs in his four overs and taking four key wickets, dismantling the Australian batting lineup.
Also READ: T20 World Cup 2024 – Afghan fan girl Wazhma Ayoubi shares a heartfelt message after historic win over Australia
Mitchell Marsh reflects on Australia’s loss
Australia’s captain, Mitchell Marsh, addressed the media following the surprising defeat. The loss marks a significant setback for the Australians, who were previously undefeated in the tournament.
“They probably got 20 too many. A lot of teams have bowled first in this tournament. I don’t think it was won or lost at the toss,” Marsh admitted. “We had an off night, that’s for sure. It wasn’t the easiest of wickets, but both teams played on it. As I said, we got outplayed today. We just need to win, and there’s no better team to do it against,” Marsh said in the post-match presentation.
“It’s a massive win for us as a team and nation”: Rashid Khan
Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s skipper Rashid Khan highlighted the significance of the victory for both the team and his nation. He expressed the sweetness of this win, especially after their losses to Australia in the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup.
“It’s a massive win for us as a team and nation. Beating Australia is a great feeling. It’s something we missed out on in the 2023 ODI World Cup and also the 2022 World Cup in Australia. The Gurbaz-Ibrahim stand was quite important for us. We went back to the same XI because we wanted to post our best XI, which is why we had made changes in the India game,” Rashid explained.
This victory not only boosts Afghanistan’s standing in the tournament but also showcases their growing prowess on the international cricket stage.
