AUS vs AFG Highlights: Australia survive Rashid Khan scare, beat Afghanistan by 4 runs, fate hangs in balance, Watch ICC T20 World Cup 2022 Highlights

AUS vs AFG Highlights: Australia survive Rashid scare, beat Afghanistan by 4 runs, fate hangs in balance, Watch ICC T20 World Cup 2022 Highlights

Chasing a target of 169, Afghanistan got off to a bad start as they lost their openers Usman Ghani and Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the powerplay. However, Ibrahim Zadran and Gulbadin Naib took charge and rescued Afghanistan from the situation with a 58-run stand.

Gulbadin and Zadran then opened their hands and slammed Richardson for 17 runs with the help of two fours and one six. Adam Zampa then sent Zadran packing after scoring 26 off 33, on the fourth delivery of Zampa’s over saw the bowler deliver a stunning bowl to dismiss Najibullah Zadran for a two-ball duck. In the 14th over delivered by Zampa Australia bagged three wickets while conceding just three runs, leaving Afghanistan tottering at 99/5. Soon, Josh Hazlewood dismissed Mohammad Nabi to make it 103/6.

But just when it seemed like a cakewalk for Australia, Rashid Khan changed the game. He slammed back-to-back sixes in the 18th over of the game. Courtesy of Rashid’s fone innings Afghanistan’s winning equation went down to 21 needed off the final over.

On the first ball of the last over Darwish Rasooli was run out by Marcus Stoinis after scoring 15 off 13. Rashid then slammed two fours and a six in the last over but failed to guide his team home and handed Australia a 4-run victory in a thrilling clash.

AUS vs AFG Highlights: Australia survive Rashid scare, beat Afghanistan by 4 runs, fate hangs in balance, Watch ICC T20 World Cup 2022 Highlights

Earlier, Glenn Maxwell’s half-century propelled Australia to 168/8 against Afghanistan at the Adelaide Oval in the Super-12 encounter. Mitchell Marsh and Maxwell played handy knocks for the team to take Australia to a par score after losing wickets at a regular level.

After being put into bat first, Australia started fiercely with opener David Warner firing on all cylinders from the start of the inning. Warner smashed three boundaries in the second over to bag 16 runs off the second over.

However, his opening batter Cameron Green could not replicate Warner’s success and walked back to the pavilion after getting dismissed for 3(2) in the third over. Mitchell Marsh walked in at number three with great responsibility on his shoulders in the absence of Aaron Finch.

Warner kept scoring boundaries for the Aussie team to keep the scoring rate at a decent pace and Australia looked on course to a great powerplay but Naveen-ul-Haq bowled a superb last powerplay over to dismiss Warner and Steve Smith to reduce Australia to 54/3 at the end of the six overs.

AUS vs AFG Highlights: Australia survive Rashid scare, beat Afghanistan by 4 runs, fate hangs in balance, Watch ICC T20 World Cup 2022 Highlights

Marsh looked to place the ball in gaps before exploding in the ninth over to smash Gulbadin Naib for 16 runs with the help of a six and two boundaries. Australia reached the 10-over mark at 85/3 with Marsh and Marcus Stoinis at the crease.

Afghan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman dismissed Marsh in the 11th over to bring out Glenn Maxwell on the crease. Maxwell went after the Afghan bowlers right from the start to help Australia up its run rate.

Stoinis on the other hand was struggling to get going and was dismissed by Rashid Khan for 25(21) in the 16th over. Despite the fall of wickets Maxwell continued playing the big shots and notched up his half-century off 29 deliveries. He helped Australia get to 168/8 at the end of the 20 overs. The batter remained unbeaten and carried his bat through the inning. Naveen-ul-Haq was the pick of the bowlers picking up three wickets while giving away just 21 runs.

Afghanistan Scorecard:

Australia Scorecard: