T20 World Cup: Afghanistan claim first win over Australia to keep alive semi-final hopes

Gurbaz and Zadran deliver with the bat before Naib stars with the ball in a 21-run victory in Kingstown

Afghanistan players celebrate after defeating Australia by 21 runs in their T20 World Cup match at Arnos Vale Ground in Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on Saturday, June 22, 2024. AP

Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan celebrates his team's victory over Australia at the T20 World Cup. AFP

Afghanistan bowler Gulbadin Naib celebrates the dismissal of Australia's Pat Cummins. AFP

Afghanistan fans cheer for their team during the T20 World Cup 2024 Super Eight match against Australia. AFP

Afghanistan's Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Gulbadin Naib celebrate the dismissal of Australia's Glenn Maxwell. AP

Australia's Marcus Stoinis hits a four during the T20 World Cup match against Afghanistan. AFP

Australia's David Warner leaves the field after being caught by Afghanistan's Noor Ahmad. AFP

Australia's Pat Cummins and Marcus Stoinis celebrate after the dismissal of Afghanistan's Gulbadin Naib. AFP

Azmutullah Omarzai of Afghanistan bats as Matthew Wade of Australia keeps wicket. Getty Images

Australia's Marcus Stoinis and David Warner celebrate the dismissal of Afghanistan's Rahmanullah Gurbaz. AFP

Afghanistan's Ibrahim Zadran bats during his half-century innings against Australia. Getty Images

Afghanistan's Rahmanullah Gurbaz top-scored against Australia to set up his side for victory. AFP

Rahmanullah Gurbaz of Afghanistan raises his bat after scoring a half century. Getty Images

Rahmanullah Gurbaz makes his ground as Matthew Wade of Australia fields. Getty Images

A century opening stand by Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran and a bowling masterclass from Gulbadin Naib led Afghanistan to their first ever win over Australia in any format to keep alive their hopes of reaching the T20 World Cup semi-finals.

A win for Australia would have sent the 2021 champions and India into the last four, but even a second hat-trick in as many matches from Pat Cummins was not enough to keep their unbeaten record at the tournament intact.

Half centuries from Gurbaz (60) and Zadran (51) in a 118-run partnership helped Afghanistan rack up 148-6 in their 20 overs before their bowlers dismissed Australia for 127 on a tricky Kingstown track.

Naib claimed 4-20 and Naveen-ul-Haq bagged 3-20, but it was the third century partnership of the tournament from Gurbaz and Zadran that laid the foundation for a win that also kept Bangladesh alive.

"We've waited for a long time (for this)," said man-of-the-match Naib. "It's a big moment for our nation and our people. I have no words, but thanks to the fans who supported us in our career and cricket journey ... thank God we finally beat Australia. It's a great achievement for Afghanistan.

"We have achieved many things in the last 10 years, but this is big."

India top Group 1 on four points, ahead of Australia and Afghanistan on two, with Bangladesh alone in last place, with none.

India and Australia face off in St Lucia on Monday, while Afghanistan stay in St Vincent to play Bangladesh in the final Super Eight match later that day.

Australia captain Mitchell Marsh won the toss and sprang a couple of surprises by sending the Afghans in to bat and naming a team with left-arm spinner Ashton Agar in the bowling line-up in place of Mitchell Starc.

In the early overs, it looked like the Australian bowlers would suffocate Afghanistan, but the lack of a breakthrough wicket allowed Gurbaz and Zadran to settle in and accelerate through the middle overs.

Crisp batting and hard running from the Afghans put the pressure back on the Australians, who made uncharacteristic fielding errors under the Arnos Vale Ground lights.

The pair reached their half-centuries before Marcus Stoinis finally separated them in the 16th over, when Gurbaz mistimed a shot to David Warner at deep square leg to depart for 60.

Spinner Adam Zampa removed Azmatullah Omarzai (2) and Zadran in the following over and paceman Cummins sent back captain Rashid Khan cheaply with the final ball of the 18th over.

Karim Janat and Naib followed with the first two deliveries of the 20th over as Cummins became the first bowler to take two hat-tricks at a T20 World Cup.

He would have taken four wickets in a row had Warner held onto a reasonably straightforward catch running in from deep point to dismiss Nangeyalia Kharote.

"They got 20 runs too many," Marsh said. "To be honest, they played a really good game of cricket. We were outplayed tonight ... It was an off-night in the field and we own that."

Afghanistan made the best possible start with ball in hand with Naveen bowling Travis Head for a duck in the opening over and having Marsh caught in the deep for 12 in the third.

Warner followed for three off Mohammad Nabi's first delivery to leave the Australians struggling on 32-3 in the final over of the power play before the Afghans heaped more pressure on their opponents by removing Stoinis and Tim David.

The explosive Glenn Maxwell gave Australia some hope with a battling 59 off 41 balls, but his dismissal by Naib, thanks to an acrobatic catch by Noor Ahmad, all but sealed the fate of the former champions.

"I learnt from the batting innings on how to bowl," said Naib, who also took a low diving catch to dismiss Ashton Agar. "Thanks to Rashid for trusting me, it's a team effort, Rahmanullah, Zadran and also Naveen for the momentum."