Afghanan defeat Australia in Super 8 clash at T20 World Cup as Pat Cummins hat-trick goes in vain | Cricket News
Afghanan stunned Australia 21 runs in a Super 8 clash of the ongoing T20 World Cup on Sunday at Kingstown, St. Vincent. This is the first time that Afghanan have defeated Australian in a cricket match.
It’s a result that throws open the Group 1 which also includes India and Bangladesh. Australia take on India in the final match of the Super 8 with their qualification into the semi-final on the line.
Afghanan managed to survive a blitz with the bat from Glenn Maxwell who scored 59 from 41 balls and a hat-trick from Pat Cummins, who took a hat-trick for the second successive game.
Earlier, Australia’s Mitchell Marsh had puzzled everyone his decision to bowl first after winning the toss as experts had predicted that captains would choose to bat first at this venue.
Afghanan had managed to give a good account of themselves batting first, reaching the halfway stage of the 10-over mark with all 10 wickets in hand. It was Rahmanullah Gurbaz (36 not out) and Ibrahim Zadran (22 not out) who chose to opt for prudence over flash, taking Afghanan to 64/0 at the innings’ midway point. They used that to propel themselves to a total of 148/6 despite a hat-trick from Pat Cummins.
Pat Cummins takes second hat-trick
Pat Cummins got his second hat-trick, right after taking a hat-trick in the game against Bangladesh in the previous Super Eight encounter.
Australia’s Cummins became the first bowler to pick two T20 World Cup hat-tricks during the Super Eight encounter against Afghanan on Sunday.
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