Australia win by 4 runs, relying on Sri Lanka for semi-final spot

Australia Vs Afghanistan: Australia win by 4 runs, relying on Sri Lanka for semi-final spot. At the Adelaide Oval stadium in Adelaide, Australia narrowly defeated Afghanistan by four runs in their T20 World Cup 2022 Super 12 Stage match.

The defending champion Australia have defeated Afghanistan in their last group stage match played at Adelaide Oval. However Australia needed to restrict Afghanistan to 106 or fewer to go past England’s NRR.

First Innings

After being invited to bat first, Australia got off a solid start with David Warner smashing boundaries. However Cameron Green could not score much and was dismissed for 3 runs in the third over. Mitchell Marsh joined Warner in the middle and added 28 runs for the second wicket. But Naveen-ul-Haq bowled brilliantly in the 6th over and sent Warner (25 runs) & Steve Smith (4 runs) to the pavillion in the margin of 6 balls.

Glenn Maxwell Big Show

After Mujeeb dismissed Marsh (45 runs), Big Show Glenn Maxwell arrived in style and smashed Afghanistan bowlers for fun. He notched up unbeaten 54 runs in just 32 balls with the help of 6 fours and 2 sixes. Marcus Stoinis supported Maxwell and scored 25 runs. Australia posted a total of 168/8 in their alloted 20 overs. Naveen was the best Afghanistan’s bowler as he took 3/21 in his spell.

Maxwell's crucial fifty!

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— ICC (@ICC) November 4, 2022

Second Innings

Chasing 169, pacer Hazlewood dismissed opener Usman Ghani for 2 runs. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (30 runs) & Ibrahim Zadran (25 runs) played sensibility and added 25-runs for the second wicket. Gulbadin took the charged and rescued the team with at 50 run stand with Zadran.

Match Winner Zampa

Spinner Adam Zampa bowled the match turning 14th over. He dismissed dangerous Gulbadin and Zadran in first two balls and Najibullah Zadran for a duck on the fourth ball. Australia bagged three wickets for three runs in the 14th over leaving Afghanistan at 99/5. After adding 4 runs to the total, Hazlewood sent Nabi back to pavillion.

Rashid failed to rescue

All-rounder Rashid Khan gave a mini heartattack to Australia scoring quick runs for the team. He smashed two sixes off the 18th over and one six and a four in the 19th to shift momentum towards Afghanistan. He played career best T20I innings at his Big Bash League home ground. He quickfired 23 ball 48, but failed to take Afghanistan off the line. They could only manage to score 167/7.

Not quite enough to get over the line…but what a stunning knock from Rashid Khan. 48* off 23. Australia win…but only just. What a game! #AUSvsAFG pic.twitter.com/1Ysf5U8MPy

— Aatif Nawaz (@AatifNawaz) November 4, 2022

Result

Australia won by 4 runs.Man of the match- Glenn Maxwell was chosen as the man of the match for his brilliant performance.

Qualification scenario

The calculations in Group 1 are quite clear. New Zealand are through to the semis & the result of England vs Sri Lanka will decide the second semifinalist. If England wins, they will go through & in case of no result due to rain or Sri Lanka’s winning, Australia will qualify.