Thank you all for joining us. Commiserations to Australia and their fans and congratulations to Afghanistan and their supporters. On behalf of Madushka, Thilak and Vairavan, this is Sreshth saying bye bye.
Winning captain Rashid: "It's a massive win for us as a team and nation. Beating Australia is a great feeling. It is something we missed out, in 2023 ODI World Cup and also the 2022 World Cup in Australia. (Gurbaz-Ibrahim stand) Quite important for us that we went back to the same XI. But also its about the opposition, we wanted to post our best XI, that's why we had made changes in the India game. But today we went back to the same XI as the group stage and top effort. (Target in mind) We thought 140 was a good score on this track. We didn't finish well with the bat, but on this pitch, you can always struggle, and we struggled at the end. However the start given by them, it helped us post this total. We knew we were capable of defending as long as we stayed calm. (Naib today) That's the beauty of the team, so many allrounders give you option. When you give him the ball, he is happy to receive it. The way Gulbadin bowled, his experience, that really helped today. Overall great effort by the boys. Nabi's crucial early wicket of Warner... pleasing to see. (Significance of the win) So important for us at home and our fans around the world. Wherever Afghans are, they were badly missing this win. It's just the beginning for us. We have all the chances of making the semis."
Losing captain Marsh: "They got 20 too many. And to be honest they played a really good game of cricket. We were outplayed tonight. (On not batting first, based on ground stats) We did think about it. Lot of teams have bowled first at this World Cup to get an idea of the surface. Don't think we lost at the toss. It was an off-night for us in the field, and we own that. We'll be back next game. It wasn't an easy wicket but both teams played on this surface. (India next...) First and foremost it becomes clear for us. We need to win and no better team to do it against. Full credit to Afghanistan for tonight and we move on quickly."
Tonka: "Congratulations Afghans. Fully deserved. You just ironed out the World Heavyweight Champ. Msg to Australia - sack your fielding coach."
How can Afghanistan qualify to semis? a) If they beat Bangladesh and India beat Australia.
b) Even if Australia beat India by one run, Afghanistan can win by 36+ runs to overtake Australia on NRR and become the second qualifying team.
Deepankar DM : "@JOYDEEP GILL - in 2022 WT20, Australia dropped Mitch Starc against Afghanistan and got knocked out. Maybe that's the history which has repeated itself today, rather than the 2016 one?"
12.07am Stick around for the presentation, folks. We'll have Marsh and Rashid shortly.
Selva with a reminder: "If India beat Australia and Bangladesh defeat Afghanistan by a big margin, Bangladesh qualifies!" -- yes, all four teams are in contention! Just 20 minutes ago we were discussing whether the last two games would be dead-rubbers, guess we all spoke too soon. This result has turned the group on its head!
JOYDEEP GILL: "In 2016 Afghanistan was the only team who defeated west Indies in T20 WC afterwards it west Indies became the world champions can we assume beforehand now Australia gonna be world champions this year"
11.58pm Afghanistan dominate over Australia in all three departments.
They are alive in this T20 World Cup, and Australia are now at risk of being eliminated if they lose to India next week! Afghanistan, meanwhile, can qualify into the semis if they win (ideally by a big margin) over Bangladesh. Group 1 is well and truly alive after this 21-run win, a significant margin in T20s. Afghanistan's final game is after Australia's, so they'll clearly know what margins they need to win by later. For now, let's focus on today, and what a remarkable win this has been.
Only one Australia batter went past a dozen runs, and if you take Maxwell's 59 out of the picture, it paints a sorry picture. Excellent use of the bowlers by Afghanistan today, not necessarily relying on their spinners like Noor and Nabi, but instead deciding their bowlers according to the conditions. Their eighth-used bowler, Gulbadin Naib, finishes with the best figures of the night with 4-20, and Cummins' hat-trick is a mere footnote now.
And here's Gulbadin Naib, the POTM: "Thanks to dear Allah. We've waited for a long time. Big moment for our nation and our people. I have no words to say but thanks to the fans who have supported us in our career and cricket journey. I learnt from the batting innings on how to bowl. Thanks to Rashid for trusting me. It's a whole team effort, Rahmanullah, Zadran, and also Naveen for the momentum. Thank God we finally beat Australia. It is a great achievement for Afghanistan, we have achieved many things in last ten years but this is a big achievement. In the last World Cup we played well and in this World Cup we beat New Zealand too. Australia are a champion side so for us it is a big tournament. Lucky to have this kind of team and management. (Bangladesh next at this ground) At the start of the tournament, we focused on each game. Every game is important for us. Bangladesh are a good team, we can rest tomorrow and we'll think about it." He also says mubarak to his fans in Pashto along with a personalised message.
A Zampa c Mohammad Nabi b Azmatullah Omarzai 9 (15m 7b 1x4 0x6) SR: 128.57
Bravo, the Afghanistan bowling coach, suggests that they should bowl slower balls
Chuvi: "India couldn't have a better motivation than Knocking Australia out of the WT20 In thei final super 8s match on Monday "
Australia need 24 in 6 balls. Zampa has hit ZERO sixes in T20Is
END OF OVER:19 | 9 Runs | AUS: 125/9 (24 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 6.57, RRR: 24.00)
- Josh Hazlewood5 (7b)
- Adam Zampa7 (5b)
- Fazalhaq Farooqi3-0-21-0
- Naveen-ul-Haq4-0-20-3
Amateur error from the Afghan unit.
No team had won chasing at this ground at this T20 World Cup, and yet Australia chose to chase tonight.
Aus need 32 in 10
Taz: "I'm blaming it all on the Stoinis sendoff !" -- doesn't look pretty now
END OF OVER:18 | 3 Runs 1 Wkt | AUS: 116/9 (33 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 6.44, RRR: 16.50)
- Josh Hazlewood2 (3b)
- Adam Zampa2 (2b)
- Naveen-ul-Haq4-0-20-3
- Gulbadin Naib4-0-20-4
JP: "You can hear the excitement in die kiwi commentators voice. nothing will satisfy kiwis more than their arch rivals also losing to Afg" -- That's funny cause the NZ commentators are on this game because this match would've been probably Aus v NZ but they were knocked out. Same with a lot of Pakistan commentators in the USA games
DJ Bravo, Afghanistan bowling coach, is walking around the boundary rope. Nervous energy all around the Afghan camp
Shlok: "Difference between the two sides was fielding. Never thought I would say that about Australia."
AC Agar c Gulbadin Naib b Naveen-ul-Haq 2 (10m 5b 0x4 0x6) SR: 40.00
36 off 18.
END OF OVER:17 | 2 Runs 1 Wkt | AUS: 113/8 (36 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 6.64, RRR: 12.00)
- Ashton Agar2 (3b)
- Adam Zampa1 (1b)
- Gulbadin Naib4-0-20-4
- Rashid Khan4-0-23-1
Caleb: "Look at that Win Probability fly!"
PJ Cummins b Gulbadin Naib 3 (9m 9b 0x4 0x6) SR: 33.33