| 0.0 : TOSS - The flip of the coin lands in favor of Australia and they will BOWL first. |
| Afghanistan (Playing XI) - 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 (Playing XI) - 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. |
| The Australian skipper, Mitchell Marsh says that they will bowl first. Adds that they will look to get a nice read of the wicket and use it to their advantage. Mentions that Afghanistan are a strong opposition and they have to be at their best but it is also about enjoying the game. Informs they have made one change as Ashton Agar comes in for Mitchell Starc and says it is based completely on the conditions as it might turn a bit. |
| Rashid Khan, the captain of Afghanistan says that to be honest they wanted to bat first and it becomes harder when you chase at this particular venue. Adds that what's done is done and is about the mindset going forward and they need to get the execution correct and make sure they have their own brand of cricket. Mentions that they do like playing against the big teams and it makes them better. Informs that they have made a couple of changes as Nangeyalia Kharote and Karim Janat come in for N |
| PITCH REPORT -Â Matthew Hayden is pitchside. He says that the weather is perfect and the humidity will come down later. Adds that there is a 22 kmph wind blowing across and says that the square boundaries are 67 and 70 meters while the straight hit is 80 meters. Tom Moddy joins him and says that it looks a bit different as there is a sheen on this wicket. Reckons the ball will come onto the bat nicely and the pacers will get some help as well. |
| We are just a few minutes away from the start of the match but first, it is time for the pre-match proceedings. The two umpires walk out to the middle and are followed by the two sets of players who will line up for their respective national anthems. It will be Australia's national anthem first followed by that of Afghanistan. |
| Done and dusted with the pre-match proceedings and it is now time to get the play underway! The umpires are out in the middle and so are the players of Australia. It will be the usual opening pair of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran who are back opening together for Afghanistan in this must-win game. It will be the left-arm orthodox bowler, Ashton Agar who will take the new ball and he is raring to go. Let's play... |
| 0.1 : Ashton Agar to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, A bit of turn! Ashton Agar starts with a floated delivery, short and on middle, turns in sharply with extra bounce, Rahmanullah Gurbaz pats it down to the leg side. |
| 0.2 : Ashton Agar to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, No run. |
| 0.3 : Ashton Agar to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 4 Byes. |
| 0.4 : Ashton Agar to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Leg bye. |
| 0.5 : Ashton Agar to Ibrahim Zadran, No run. |
| 0.6 : Ashton Agar to Ibrahim Zadran, No run. |
| Who will bowl from the other end? |
| 1.1 : Josh Hazlewood to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, FOUR! Streaky! Josh Hazlewood begins with a hard-length delivery, on middle, nips back in sharply, Rahmanullah Gurbaz looks to play at it but gets an inside edge just past the stumps and to the fine leg fence for a boundary. First runs off the bat! |
| 1.2 : Josh Hazlewood to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Back of a length and around off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz leaves it alone. |
| 1.3 : Josh Hazlewood to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, On a length and on middle, keeps a bit low, Rahmanullah Gurbaz adjusts well and guides it towards point. |
| 1.4 : Josh Hazlewood to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, No run. |
| 1.5 : Josh Hazlewood to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Touch fuller and angling into leg, Rahmanullah Gurbaz uses his feet to loft it away but the ball goes off the inside half of the bat and rolls towards mid-wicket. |
| 1.6 : Josh Hazlewood to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, BEAUTY! Josh Hazlewood lands this on a good length and in that channel outside off, shaping away a bit, Rahmanullah Gurbaz looks to push it away but gets beaten on the outside edge. |
| 2.1 : Ashton Agar to Ibrahim Zadran, No run. |
| 2.2 : Ashton Agar to Ibrahim Zadran, Quicker, full and on middle, angling in, Ibrahim Zadran knocks it to the right of the bowler. |
| 2.3 : Ashton Agar to Ibrahim Zadran, Goes short and on middle, Ibrahim Zadran backs away and punches it through extra covers for a brace. |
| 2.4 : Ashton Agar to Ibrahim Zadran, Slows it up, full and on off, turns away again, Ibrahim Zadran tries to drive but gets an outside edge along the ground to short third, |
| 2.5 : Ashton Agar to Ibrahim Zadran, Flatter, short and on middle, Ibrahim Zadran pats it back to the bowler. |
| 2.6 : Ashton Agar to Ibrahim Zadran, Short again and around off, Ibrahim Zadran steers it towards cover-point. |
| 3.1 : Pat Cummins to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Pat Cummins hits the good length straightaway, on the fifth stump line, Rahmanullah Gurbaz withdraws his bat at the last moment. |
| 3.2 : Pat Cummins to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Back of a length and on off, holds a bit on the surface and then takes off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz leaves it alone. |
| 3.3 : Pat Cummins to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Hard length this time, on off, shaping away, Rahmanullah Gurbaz tries to guide it away but misses it completely. |
| 3.4 : Pat Cummins to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Four dots in a row now! Pat Cummins sticks with the same length and just around off, gets a bit of extra bounce and Rahmanullah Gurbaz lets it go again. |
| 3.5 : Pat Cummins to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Short of a length and on off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz uses his feet but only manages to dab it down to point. |
| 3.6 : Pat Cummins to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, SIX! BANG! That should release some pressure! Pat Cummins goes fuller this time and on middle, Rahmanullah Gurbaz backs away a bit, swings through the line to tonk it over the bowler's head for a biggie. |
| 4.1 : Josh Hazlewood to Ibrahim Zadran, Fuller and on middle, shaping in, Ibrahim Zadran works it off the inner half of the bat through square leg for a single. |
| 4.2 : Josh Hazlewood to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, BEATEN! |
| 4.3 : Josh Hazlewood to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, SIX! BOOM! Rahmanullah Gurbaz showing good intent now! Back of a length and on middle, Rahmanullah Gurbaz picks up the length early, skips down the track and whacks it over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie. |
| 4.4 : Josh Hazlewood to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Touch fuller and on middle, Rahmanullah Gurbaz uses his feet again and taps it towards cover-point for a run. |
| 4.5 : Josh Hazlewood to Ibrahim Zadran, Four! |
| 4.6 : Josh Hazlewood to Ibrahim Zadran, Short of a length and on off, Ibrahim Zadran dabs it down to point. 12 runs off the over! |
| 5.1 : Pat Cummins to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 1 run. |
| 5.2 : Pat Cummins to Ibrahim Zadran, Ouch! Pat Cummins sees Ibrahim Zadran backing away and follows him with a hard-length delivery, angling it back in a fair bit. Ibrahim looks to swipe across the line but misses and takes a blow onto the back hip. |
| Slight halt! Ibrahim Zadran looks in a bit of discomfort after getting hit around his waist and the physio is in to check on him. |
| 5.3 : Pat Cummins to Ibrahim Zadran, FOUR! Oh, that is sloppy from Ashton Agar in the deep. Just short of a good length but in the hitting arc, Ibrahim Zadran swings it away aerially and in front of deep backward square leg where Agar runs across to his left and lets it through for a boundary. |
| 5.4 : Pat Cummins to Ibrahim Zadran, FOUR! Oh, what an effort in the deep from Adam Zampa and he almost pulled off a stunner there. |
| 5.5 : Pat Cummins to Ibrahim Zadran, 1 run. |
| 5.6 : Pat Cummins to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 11 runs off the final over of the Powerplay and Afghanistan are 40/0, a pretty solid start on this surface. Banged into the pitch and around off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz bends his back and jabs it away from the body to short third for a quick single. |
| 6.1 : Adam Zampa to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, No run. |
| 6.2 : Adam Zampa to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Four! |
| 6.3 : Adam Zampa to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Uppish but safe! Flighted up around off stump, Rahmanullah Gurbaz backs away and drives it through the cover region for a single. |
| 6.4 : Adam Zampa to Ibrahim Zadran, 1 run. |
| 6.5 : Adam Zampa to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 1 run. |
| 6.6 : Adam Zampa to Ibrahim Zadran, Just bowls it a bit flatter and around off, Ibrahim Zadran punches it off the front foot to deep cover and gets another single. The Afghan openers growing in confidence now. |
| 7.1 : Glenn Maxwell to Ibrahim Zadran, Quicker one, on a good length and turning it in from middle and leg, Ibrahim Zadran tucks it around the corner for no run. |
| 7.2 : Glenn Maxwell to Ibrahim Zadran, On a length again and angled into the pads, Ibrahim Zadran works it away past square leg and picks up a single. |
| 7.3 : Glenn Maxwell to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 1 run. |
| 7.4 : Glenn Maxwell to Ibrahim Zadran, No run. |
| 7.5 : Glenn Maxwell to Ibrahim Zadran, Quicker this time and shooting off a length around off, Ibrahim Zadran is taken aback and is beaten by the extra bounce. |
| 7.6 : Glenn Maxwell to Ibrahim Zadran, 1 run. |
| Glenn Maxwell to Ibrahim Zadran, WIDE! Well, that's certainly hit a crack! |
| 8.1 : Adam Zampa to Ibrahim Zadran, Gives this one a bit more air and bowls it quite full on the stumps, Ibrahim Zadran jams the ball out through extra cover and turns the strike over. |
| 8.2 : Adam Zampa to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Half an appeal for LBW but it is turned down. Flatter and around off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz shuffles across the off stump and looks to sweep that away but misses and gets thudded onto the pads. |
| 8.3 : Adam Zampa to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, No run. |
| 8.4 : Adam Zampa to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 2 runs. |
| 8.5 : Adam Zampa to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 1 run. |
| 8.6 : Adam Zampa to Ibrahim Zadran, Tossed up around off and this is driven off the front foot straight to covers. |
| 9.1 : Glenn Maxwell to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, No run. |
| 9.2 : Glenn Maxwell to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, No run. |
| 9.3 : Glenn Maxwell to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 2 runs. |
| 9.4 : Glenn Maxwell to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 1 run. |
| 9.5 : Glenn Maxwell to Ibrahim Zadran, Flatter around middle and leg, Ibrahim Zadran stays compact and pushes the ball down through wide mid on for a single. |
| 9.6 : Glenn Maxwell to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, FOUR! A lovely shot to end the over and Afghanistan are 64/0 at the halfway mark. |
| 0.0 : Drinks! |
| 10.1 : Ashton Agar to Ibrahim Zadran, No run. |
| 10.4 : Ashton Agar to Ibrahim Zadran, FOUR! Fine shot! Ashton Agar goes a bit short and on off, Ibrahim Zadran goes inside out, extends his arms and punches it sweetly over extra covers for a boundary this time. |
| 10.2 : Ashton Agar to Ibrahim Zadran, Floated, full and around off, Ibrahim Zadran goes down, makes room and lifts it over extra covers for a brace. |
| 10.3 : Ashton Agar to Ibrahim Zadran, Flighted, full and on middle, Ibrahim Zadran drives it to short covers again. |
| 10.5 : Ashton Agar to Ibrahim Zadran, Gives this one some more air, full and on off, Ibrahim Zadran lofts it nicely wide of long off and turns around for the second run, Tim David quickly gathers and throws it on the bounce to the bowler's end where Ashton Agar collects and breaks the stumps, but a desperate dive from Rahmanullah Gurbaz saves him there. |
| 10.6 : Ashton Agar to Ibrahim Zadran, A direct hit and he was a goner! Quicker, full and on middle, Ibrahim Zadran tucks it towards the mid-wicket region and goes for the second run, Glenn Maxwell runs from the deep, picks up, and throws it at the batter's end where it just misses the stumps. Zadran gets lucky there! |
| 11.1 : Marcus Stoinis to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, FOUR! Nicely played! |
| 11.2 : Marcus Stoinis to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Pitched up, on middle, Rahmanullah Gurbaz eases it towards long on for a single, he wants the second again but is sent back. |
| Is that a run-out? This time it was a direct hit at the bowler's end but no one seems really excited. |
| 11.5 : Marcus Stoinis to Ibrahim Zadran, No run. |
| 11.3 : Marcus Stoinis to Ibrahim Zadran, It is all happening there! This is full and on middle, Ibrahim Zadran drives it uppishly down the pitch, Marcus Stoinis stretches his right hand, gets fingertips on it but the ball parries towards long off, the batter decides for the second run, the fielder hits the stumps at the bowler's end but Gurbaz is safe again. |
| 11.4 : Marcus Stoinis to Ibrahim Zadran, Buzzers! |
| 11.6 : Marcus Stoinis to Ibrahim Zadran, Slower one, on a length and on leg, Ibrahim Zadran misses his flick and gets hit on the pads. |
| 12.1 : Adam Zampa to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Fires this one full but down the leg side, Rahmanullah Gurbaz misses his sweep. Wided. |
| Adam Zampa to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, SIX! Great shot! |
| 12.2 : Adam Zampa to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, A huge shout for LBW, but turned down! Australia takes the review but it looks more in desperation here. A googly now, full and on middle, turns in a bit, Rahmanullah Gurbaz prods forward to block but the ball goes past the bat and hits him on the pads. However, UltraEdge shows a spike when the ball is next to the bat and Australia lose a review here. |
| 12.3 : Adam Zampa to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, No run. |
| 12.4 : Adam Zampa to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Short and on middle, Rahmanullah Gurbaz nudges it through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 12.5 : Adam Zampa to Ibrahim Zadran, MISFIELD AND FOUR! Oh dear! It is Ashton Agar once again! |
| 12.6 : Adam Zampa to Ibrahim Zadran, 1 run. |
| 13.1 : Josh Hazlewood to Ibrahim Zadran, Hard length and on middle, Ibrahim Zadran pats it back to the bowler. |
| 13.2 : Josh Hazlewood to Ibrahim Zadran, FOUR! Clever batting! |
| 13.3 : Josh Hazlewood to Ibrahim Zadran, No run. |
| 13.4 : Josh Hazlewood to Ibrahim Zadran, Josh Hazlewood bangs in a bouncer but down the leg side, Ibrahim Zadran leaves it alone. Wided. |
| Josh Hazlewood to Ibrahim Zadran, On a length and around off, Ibrahim Zadran steers it towards point for a single, the fielder fumbles but no harm done. |
| 13.5 : Josh Hazlewood to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Length again and on leg, Rahmanullah Gurbaz flicks it towards deep square leg for one. |
| 13.6 : Josh Hazlewood to Ibrahim Zadran, Short of a length and on off, Ibrahim Zadran guides it wide of point for one more. |
| 14.1 : Ashton Agar to Ibrahim Zadran, Quicker, short and on middle, angling in, Ibrahim Zadran bunts it in front of point for a single. |
| 14.2 : Ashton Agar to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Oh..wow! That is unplayable! |
| 14.3 : Ashton Agar to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, FIFTY FOR GURBAZ! A fantastic knock from him and against a top side! Short and on middle, Rahmanullah Gurbaz nudges it through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 14.4 : Ashton Agar to Ibrahim Zadran, No run. |
| 14.5 : Ashton Agar to Ibrahim Zadran, 1 run. |
| 14.6 : Ashton Agar to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 2 runs. |
| 15.1 : Marcus Stoinis to Ibrahim Zadran, Floated up quite full and around middle, Ibrahim Zadran hammers it on the up and down towards long on for one and that brings up the FIFTY for Ibrahim as well. What a solid showing this has been from the Afghan openers! |
| 15.2 : Marcus Stoinis to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Nicely bowled! |
| 15.3 : Marcus Stoinis to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, SIX! Rahmanullah Gurbaz is relentless! A nothing delivery really from Marcus Stoinis, halfway down the pitch and with not much pace on it. Gurbnaz stands tall and clobbers it over cow corner for a biggie. |
| 15.4 : Marcus Stoinis to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Good fielding in the deep! |
| 15.5 : Marcus Stoinis to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, OUT! c David Warner b Marcus Stoinis. |
| 0.0 : Azmatullah Omarzai walks out to bat at number 3. |
| 15.6 : Marcus Stoinis to Azmatullah Omarzai, 1 run. |
| 16.1 : Adam Zampa to Azmatullah Omarzai, Slightly shorter and around off stump, Azmatullah Omarzai eases it away through the cover region and rotates the strike. |
| 16.2 : Adam Zampa to Ibrahim Zadran, Floated up full and drifted into the stumps, Ibrahim Zadran makes room and drives it down to liong off for just a single. |
| 16.3 : Adam Zampa to Azmatullah Omarzai, OUT! TIMBER! That quick wrong'un and one has brought two wickets for Australia. |
| 0.0 : Karim Janat comes out to the middle now. |
| 16.4 : Adam Zampa to Karim Janat, Nice and full at the stumps, Karim Janat watchfully blocks it back to the bowler. |
| 16.5 : Adam Zampa to Karim Janat, A tad full again and around off, Karim Janat miscues the ball and it rolls to the off side for a single. |
| 16.6 : Adam Zampa to Ibrahim Zadran, OUT! c Mitchell Marsh b Adam Zampa. |
| 0.0 : Rashid Khan is the next man in. |
| 17.1 : Pat Cummins to Karim Janat, On a good length and outside off, Karim Janat reaches out and taps the ball away to sweeper cover for a single. |
| 17.2 : Pat Cummins to Rashid Khan, Swing and a miss! |
| 17.3 : Pat Cummins to Rashid Khan, Another slower delivery, bowled well shorter and pushed outside the off stump, Rashid Khan tries to reach out and upper cut it away but is beaten again. |
| 17.4 : Pat Cummins to Rashid Khan, WIDE! Oh, that has gone well over the batter's head. Slower-ball bumper, banged in halfway down the pitch and bounces like a tennis ball over Rashid's head. Called a wide. |
| Pat Cummins to Rashid Khan, Up, up and just out of reach! Fuller in length and outside off, Rashid Khan stays back and swings hard at it, the ball gets sliced up high over the point region. Travis Head rushes in from the deep and puts in a desperate dive but the ball goes through him and the batters get a brace. |
| 17.5 : Pat Cummins to Rashid Khan, Another swing and a miss! |
| 17.6 : Pat Cummins to Rashid Khan, OUT! CAUGHT! Straight to the man and Pat Cummins has outsmarted Rashid Khan here. |
| 18.1 : Josh Hazlewood to Karim Janat, Just short of a good length and over off stump, Karim Janat opts to block this one out. |
| 0.0 : Mohammad Nabi walks out to bat now. Also, Josh Hazlewood (3-0-24-0) to bowl the penultimate over. |
| 18.3 : Josh Hazlewood to Karim Janat, Top work in the deep from the substitute fielder. Hard length outside off, Karim Janat steps out and smashes the ball away over extra cover. Cameron Green sprints to his left and flicks the ball in acrobatically to save two runs for his side. |
| 18.4 : Josh Hazlewood to Karim Janat, SIX! Oh, that has traveled all the way! |
| 18.5 : Josh Hazlewood to Karim Janat, 1 run. |
| 18.2 : Josh Hazlewood to Karim Janat, DROPPED! It has been a day to forget for Ashton Agar in the field but this one was a tough, tough chance! Back of a length and outside off, Karim Janat swings hard at it and lifts it high off the toe end of the bat. The ball swirls around the extra cover region and Aggar never really settles under it and ends up missing it completely. Two taken. |
| 18.6 : Josh Hazlewood to Mohammad Nabi, FOUR! Oh, that's a bit unlucky but a very fruitful over for Afghanistan as 15 runs come off it. Pitched up in the slot and around off, Mohammad Nabi hangs back and hammers it away flat and wide of long off where Cameron Green gets a hand on it but the ball trickles to the fence. |
| Who will bowl the last over? It will be Pat Cummins. |
| 19.1 : Pat Cummins to Karim Janat, OUT! c Tim David b Pat Cummins. |
| 19.2 : Pat Cummins to Gulbadin Naib, OUT! c Glenn Maxwell b Pat Cummins. |
| 0.0 : Gulbadin Naib comes out to the middle to face the hat-trick ball. |
| Nangeyalia Kharote is the next man in. |
| 19.3 : Pat Cummins to Nangeyalia Kharote, DROPPED! Should have been four in four for Pat Cummins but David Warner has shelled that catch. |
| 19.4 : Pat Cummins to Mohammad Nabi, No run. |
| 19.5 : Pat Cummins to Mohammad Nabi, Edged but lands well short of the keeper! Another off-cutter, on a hard length and outside off, Mohammad Nabi goes hard at it but gets an outside edge and Matthew Wade gets a bad bounce and misses the ball. The batters scamper across for two runs. |
| 19.6 : Pat Cummins to Mohammad Nabi, FOUR! 'The President,' Mohammad Nabi manages to end the innings in style for Afghanistan and sets a target of 149 for the Aussies. Just short of a good length, a bit more pace on it and angled in from the middle stump line. Nabi stays back in the crease and backs away before swiping it across and smashing the ball into the mid-wicket fence. |
| 0.0 : A remarkable turnaround from Australia! Afghanistan were 118 for no loss going into the last few overs, but some amazing display of death bowling from the Aussies have restricted them to under 150 here. We witnessed a moment of history as Pat Cummins became the first player to pick up back-to-back hat-tricks in a T20 World Cup and that was a big reason for their fightback in this game. |
| Afghanistan started off a bit slowly as it was difficult to bat on and the openers navigated through that period nicely. Once they got set, the runs started to come and it was really hard to stop them. The duo of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran added yet another century-run opening stand and both of them notched up their fifties as well. They were looking all set to score big with all the wickets in hand, but once Gurbaz got out, they suffered a mini-collapse and the new batters just co |
| Pat Cummins, the man of the moment is up for a chat. He says that he remembered that one and it is crazy to get two in a row. Adds that the opposition batted well but feels they restricted them well and they could have done better. Mentions that the light is a bit uncharacteristic and it is not the funnest wicket in the world but not terrible either. Adds that you need to be bust between the stumps and not look to smash everything away which is key on this pitch. |
| It was a tale of two halves for the bowling effort of Australia. They started well with the pacers troubling the batters but had nothing to show for that. After that, they just had no answers to the onslaught from the Afghan openers and it is not often when you see Australia bowl more than 12 overs but not get a single wicket. However, as we know, the Aussies never give up and that is exactly what happened here. Marcus Stoinis provided them with a much-needed breakthrough by getting rid of Rahm |
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