Afghanistan Vs Australia, T20 World Cup Super 8 Highlights: Naib-Powered AFG Pull Off Historic 21-Run Win Over AUS

Welcome to the highlights of our coverage of this all-important Group 1 clash of ICC T20 World Cup 2024's Super Eights. Afghanistan registered a historic, memorable 21-run win against Australia in Kingstown on Sunday (June 23). Amidst a collective effort, half-centuries from Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, and a career-best four-wicket haul from Gulbadin Naib led the Afghans to their first-ever victory over the Aussies in international cricket. The stunning result means all four teams in Group 1 - India, Australia, Afghanistan and Bangladesh - are still in contention for the semi-finals. Catch the highlights of the AFG vs AUS match right here. (Match Report | Scorecard | Full Coverage)

Australia: David Warner, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (c), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Matthew Wade (wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Ashton Agar.

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Hazratullah Zazai, Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan(c), Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Karim Janat, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Mohammad Ishaq, Nangeyalia Kharote.

The two teams have met just once in T20 internationals, at the 2022 World Cup where Australia sneaked past Afghanistan by four runs.

Match referee Richie Richardson is unwell, and will not be able to adjudicate today. He will be replaced by Jeff Crowe, who will perform his duties remotely.

Australia captain Mitchell Marsh has won the toss and decided to bowl first against Afghanistan.

Playing XIs

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat (In for Hazratullah Zazai), Nangeyalia Kharote (In for Najibullah Zadran), Rashid Khan (C), Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi.

Australia: Travis Head, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh (C), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Matthew Wade (WK), Pat Cummins, Ashton Agar (In for Mitchell Starc), Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.

Mitchell Marsh: "We're going to bowl first, try and have a read on conditions and have a good night. We know Afghanistan are a good side. We just need to trust our process and enjoy it. Ashton Agar comes in for Mitchell Starc, purely conditions based."

Rashid Khan: "To be honest we wanted to bat first. The record of this wicket suggests it becomes harder while chasing, we got what we wanted. What is done is done, can't think about the past. It's about the mindset we go in with today, the more you enjoy the better you perform. We've spoken about our execution and getting it right. It's about playing our cricket. Everyone likes to play against big teams, it's when you get better. Good occasion for us, we get better day by day facing these big teams. We have two changes, Kharote and Janat in for Najibullah Zadran and Hazratullah Zazai."

The two teams are out for the national anthems. Australia's first, then Afghanistan's.

Left-arm spinner Ashton Agar, who has replaced Mitchell Starc in Australia's playing XI, also takes the new ball just like Starc would have. And he is getting some turn straight away, even beating 'keeper Matthew Wade for four byes off the second delivery. In-form duo Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran at the crease for Afghanistan.

After 23 balls of sluggish batting by the Afghan openers, Rahmanullah Gurbaz breaks free with a lofted drive over long off for six against Pat Cummins. The ball is not coming on to the bat, and it is hard to tell what a good score on this surface would be.

After a difficult early period, the runs are now starting to flow for Afghan openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran. They bring up their 50-run stand in the eighth over and will now aim to up the tempo, given all 10 wickets are intact.

This is excellent cricket and game awareness from Afghan openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran. Recognizing the tricky nature of the pitch, the duo is running aggressively between the wickets. The partnership now growing dangerous.

The opening stand crosses the 100-run mark. Mistakes and frustration starting to creep into the Australian fielding. Both batters nearing the fifty-run mark too. Things getting really interesting here.

Australia finally get the breakthrough, and one brings three. Marcus Stoinis scalps Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and Adam Zampa then gets rid of Azmatullah Omarzai and the well-set Ibrahim Zadran in quick succession. The Aussies have the momentum now.

Pat Cummins has picked up his second hat-trick in as many matches. He almost gets four wickets in four balls, but David Warner spills the catch. It's all happening in Kingstown.

The frenetic 20th over ends with a boundary. Afghanistan post a challenging 148 runs on the board and considering the nature of the surface, the chase might not be very straightforward. We'll find out soon enough. Stay tuned.

The match grows ever more dramatic. Naveen-ul-Haq takes the new ball for Afghanistan, and cleans up Travis Head off his third delivery with a beauty. Game on.

Naveen-ul-Haq follows up his first-over wicket with the scalp of Aussie skipper Mitchell Marsh. And that brings a certain Glenn Maxwell at the crease. The last time Maxwell played against Afghanistan, he created history with an unbeaten double century.

Australia have lost their third wicket in the form of David Warner, but that hasn't deterred Glenn Maxwell from taking on the Afghan spinners. Rashid Khan now comes into the attack. Let's see if Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis take on the Afghanistan captain too.

Gulbadin Naib gets the breakthrough with a short ball. Marcus Stoinis can only manage a top edge that is gobbled up by Gurbaz. Tim David now joins Maxwell. Asking rate over 8 runs per over as of now.

Australia lose Tim David in the 13th over, but Glenn Maxwell continues to be the thorn in Afghanistan's flesh. He is now past his half century and going strong.

Twist in the tale! Gulbadin Naib prises out Maxwell, courtesy a brilliant catch at point from Noor Ahmad. Rashid Khan then has Matthew Wade caught at short fine leg to leave Australia seven down. This one is going right down to the wire.

Gulbadin Naib plucks a blinder. 34 needed off 14. One wicket is all that Afghanistan need to beat Australia for the first time in their cricketing journey.

Veteran Mohammad Nabi takes the catch to dismiss Adam Zampa. Australia are bowled out for 127 runs. Afghanistan have their first-ever victory against the mighty Aussies. Absolute scenes in Kingstown.

For his splendid four-wicket haul and an excellent catch, Gulbadin Naib is named the Player Of The Match. Here's what he said after Afghanistan's historic win:

"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 the 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."

Mitchell Marsh: "They got 20 runs 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."

Rashid Khan: "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. (On the 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. (Gulbadin Naib today) That's the beauty of the team, so many all-rounders 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."

The stunning result today has thrown Group 2 wide open, and all four teams - India, Australia, Afghanistan and Bangladesh - are still in contention for the semi-finals. Check out our report to know what each of them need to do to qualify.

With that, our coverage of this incredible game of cricket between Afghanistan and Australia comes to an end. We will be back with live updates from the England vs United States match in the evening. Until then, goodbye.