AFG VS AUS - 48th Match, Super 8 Group 1, ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2024

Australia now face a must-win game against India on Monday, with Afghanistan playing Bangladesh later on the same day. So that's all from us on what is a historic night for Afghanistan cricket. Hope you enjoyed our coverage. This is Sagar Chawla signing off along with Harish, Anurag Hegde and Saurabh Shankar. Goodbye!

Rashid: Massive win for us as a team and as a nation. Great feeling. It's something we missed in last two years. Really happy with the win and super proud of the guys. Quite important for us that we went back with the same playing XI. We're reading the opposition bowling lineup and selecting XI accordingly. 140 was a good total on this wicket. We didn't finish as well as we should have. Opening partnership gave us best start. On this wicket, anything 130-plus, we were capable of defending it as long as we kept calm and had the belief. That's the beauty of this team, having allrounders and having options. The way Gulbadin bowled today - the experience he has, it came good today. The way Nabi started - the wicket of Warner - was also pleasing to see. It's so important for us back home and around the world. I'm sure they're proud and would've enjoyed the game.

Marsh: They probably got 20 too many. Lot of teams have bowled first in this tournament. Don't think it was won or lost at the toss. We had an off night on the field. 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.

Gulbadin Naib | Player of the Match: We were waiting for a long time. Great moment for me, my nation, my people. Big achievement for our cricket. Thanks to our fans for supporting our cricket journey. We worked hard for the last 2 months, and the result is in front of you. The wicket wasn’t easy to bat on, the ball was too bouncy. I took two wickets early on, and carried that on later. Thanks to Rashid for trusting me. This was a complete team effort. The way Naveen bowled, the way Gurbaz and Ibrahim batted. We beat Australia at last! It is a great achievement for Afghanistan cricket, our history isn’t too much so this is a great achievement. We played great cricket in the last World Cup, and this year we beat New Zealand in the group stage. Our journey starts now. We have great management and I’m very fortunate to have this team. Every game is important, we will rest tomorrow and think about it.

Hat-tricks in consecutive international matches
Wasim Akram vs Sri Lanka (Tests, 1999)
Pat Cummins vs Bangladesh and Afghanistan (T20 WC 2024)
Australia’s Jimmy Matthews bagged two hat-tricks in the same Test against South Africa at Old Trafford in 1912.

Best bowling against AUS in T20 WCs
4/11 - Ravichandran Ashwin, Mirpur, 2014
4/20 - Gulbadin Naib, Kingstown, 2024*
4/26 - Shadab Khan, Dubai, 2021

Most consecutive wins in T20 WCs
8 - Australia (2022-2024) - streak ended today
7 - England (2010-2012)
7 - India (2012-2014)
6 - Australia (2010)
6 - Sri Lanka (2009)
6 - India (2007-2009)

> This is the first loss for Australia against Afghanistan in 6 international matches.

> All four matches at this venue have been won by the team batting first in this World Cup.

23:59 Local Time, 03:59 GMT, 09:29 IST: Huge moment for Afghanistan cricket as they take down the mighty Australia. They came close in Mumbai last year but were denied by the heroics of Maxwell. He threatened to do the same again today, but Gulbadin Naib came to Afghanistan's rescue as he bowled a match-winning spell of 4/20. The emotions are pouring out on the field and in the stands as well. It was a must-win game for them to stay alive in this tournament and they were well and truly up for it, right from the start when Gurbaz and Zadran negotiated a difficult pitch to put on an opening stand of 118. That set them up for a total of 148 which was very competitive with this pitch suiting their bowling attack. Naveen-ul-Haq provided the perfect start in the powerplay, Maxwell threatened to take it away again but Naib was having none of it as he used the slower balls to devastating effect. It's a night to remember for Afghanistan and their fans.

Azmatullah to Zampa, out Caught by Nabi!! All over! Back of a length outside off, pulled flat and hard, but it's straight to long-on. And the celebrations can well and truly begin as Afghanistan take down Australia. Zampa c Nabi b Azmatullah 9(7) [4s-1]

Azmatullah to Zampa, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Azmatullah to Zampa, 2 runs, length ball on middle, Zampa looks to slog and drags it off the inside half through square leg. Fielder runs across from deep backward square and cuts it off

Azmatullah Omarzai [1.0-0-8-0] is back into the attack

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Hazlewood, no run, slower bouncer following Hazlewood as he backs away. He looks to pull but is beaten

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Hazlewood, no ball, 2 runs, slower length ball on the pads, Hazlewood clips it through square leg and it's an easy two. Uh oh, Farooqi has overstepped. Afghanistan making it harder than it needs to be. Oh wait, the no ball is actually because there are only three fielders in the ring

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Zampa, 1 run, short of length outside off, slower one, Zampa is early through the pull and drags it into the on-side

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Zampa, FOUR, length ball outside off, Zampa throws his bat at it and manages to slice it over short third. Rashid gestures with his hands, asking his team to calm down

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Zampa, no run, length ball wide of off, Zampa swings and misses

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Hazlewood, 1 run, short of length outside off, slower one, Hazlewood pulls in the air and it goes on the bounce to deep midwicket