(Getty Images)
Afghanistan stunned the cricket world on Sunday, defeating Australia in the ICC T20 World Cup’s 48th match. Despite recent successes, few expected Afghanistan, led by Rashid Khan, to beat the reigning ODI and Test champions. They made history with a 21-run victory, their first-ever win over Australia in any format, keeping their semifinal hopes alive.
Batting first, Afghanistan reached 148/6 thanks to Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran’s fifties. Australia, in response, were all out for 127 runs, despite Glenn Maxwell’s resilient fifty. Afghanistan avoided a repeat of the 2023 World Cup when Maxwell’s double-century snatched victory.
Tom Moody was unsurprised by Afghanistan’s triumph, calling their journey extraordinary
“If you firstly look at Afghanistan and where they’ve come from and how they have grown as a cricket nation over recent years, it’s quite an extraordinary curve upwards. How they’re competing against all teams. A matter of time until they knocked over some of the very top teams and Australia being one of them,” Tom Moody told ESPNcricinfo.
Afghanistan’s surprising victory against Australia has intensified the competition in Group 1 of the tournament. With Bangladesh virtually out of contention after losing their initial Super 8 matches, India, Afghanistan, and Australia are now vying for the two semifinal berths.
India holds a strong position with two wins in hand and appears poised for a semifinal spot, even if they lose their upcoming match against Australia. Meanwhile, Australia and Afghanistan are locked in a battle for the second spot. Should both teams win their final Super 8 matches, their progression will hinge on net run-rate calculations.
