Afghanistan vs Australia

Afghanistan and Australia faced each other in the 39th match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. It was a thrilling encounter that went down to the wire, with Afghanistan falling short by just four runs in their chase of 344. Here are some of the highlights and key moments from the match.

Australia bats first and posts a considerable total

Australia won the toss and opted to bat first, hoping to exploit the flat pitch and the small boundaries. They got off to a flying start, with David Warner and Aaron Finch adding 87 runs in the first ten overs. Warner was aggressive, smashing ten fours and a six in his 48-ball 64. Finch was more sedate but still managed to score 51 off 56 balls.

Afghanistan fought back with some quick wickets, as Rashid Khan dismissed both the openers in his first two overs. He also got rid of Steven Smith for 12, leaving Australia at 156 for 3 in the 23rd. However, Australia recovered well, thanks to a brilliant century from Marnus Labuschagne and a quick-fire 81 from Glenn Maxwell.

Labuschagne played a classy knock, rotating the strike and finding the gaps with ease. He reached his hundred off 97 balls and scored 133 off 121 balls, with 11 fours and two sixes. He shared a 128-run stand with Maxwell, who was in his destructive mode. Maxwell hit seven fours and four sixes in his 49-ball innings and took the Afghan bowlers to the cleaners.

Australia finished with a mammoth total of 343 for 9 in their 50 overs, with Rashid Khan being the pick of the bowlers for Afghanistan. He took 4 for 59 in his ten overs, while Naveen-ul-Haq and Gulbadin Naib took two wickets each.

Afghanistan chased bravely but fell agonisingly short

Afghanistan had a daunting task ahead of them, but they showed no fear in their chase. They lost Mohammad Shahzad early, but Hazratullah Zazai and Rahmat Shah kept them in the hunt with a 72-run stand for the second wicket. Zazai was the aggressor, hitting six fours and three sixes in his 41-ball 54. Rahmat Shah was more composed, scoring 45 off 51 balls.

Afghanistan suffered a mini-collapse, losing three wickets for 19 runs, including Zazai and Rahmat Shah. They were reduced to 115 for 4 in the 20th over, and Australia seemed to have the upper hand. However, Afghanistan refused to give up and staged a remarkable fightback, led by their captain, Asghar Afghan, and their all-rounder Mohammad Nabi.

Asghar Afghan played a captain’s knock, anchoring the innings and keeping the scoreboard ticking. He scored 89 off 92 balls, with seven fours and two sixes. He found an able partner in Nabi, who played a sensational innings of 95 off 65 balls, with eight fours and five sixes. The duo added 164 runs for the fifth wicket and brought Afghanistan within touching distance of a historic win.

Afghanistan needed 65 runs off the last ten overs with six wickets. They seemed to have the momentum, but Australia did not give up. They brought back their strike bowlers, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, and tightened the screws. Starc broke the partnership as he dismissed Nabi in the 44th over. Nabi tried to hit a full toss over midwicket but found the fielder on the boundary.

Afghanistan still had a chance, as they had Asghar Afghan and Rashid Khan at the crease. They needed 38 runs off the last four overs, but Australia bowled superbly in the death overs. Cummins bowled a brilliant 47th over, conceding just three runs and taking the wicket of Rashid Khan. Rashid Khan tried to slog a short ball but only managed to edge it to the keeper.

Afghanistan needed 28 runs off the last two overs, but Starc and Cummins did not allow them to score freely. Starc bowled the penultimate over and gave away only seven runs while taking the wicket of Asghar Afghan. Asghar Afghan tried to hit a yorker over long-on but holed out to the fielder. He returned to a standing ovation from the crowd as he had played a brave innings.

Afghanistan needed 21 runs off the last over with three wickets in hand. Cummins bowled the final over and started with a dot ball. He then bowled an expansive, giving Afghanistan a glimmer of hope. However, he followed it up with two more dot balls, and the equation became 20 off 3. Naveen-ul-Haq hit a six off the fourth ball, but it was too little, too late. Cummins bowled a perfect yorker to dismiss him off the fifth ball and sealed the win for Australia. Afghanistan finished 339 for 9 in their 50 overs, falling short by four runs.

It was a heartbreaking loss for Afghanistan, who had fought so hard and came so close. They received warm applause from the crowd and the Australian players, who appreciated their spirit and skill. It was a thrilling match that showcased the best of cricket. Australia secured their place in the semi-finals, while Afghanistan bowed out of the tournament with pride.

Key players and moments

• Marnus Labuschagne was the star for Australia, scoring a magnificent century and setting up a massive total for his team. He was named the player of the match for his performance.
• Mohammad Nabi played a blistering knock for Afghanistan, scoring 95 off 65 balls and almost taking his team to a historic win. He also bowled well, taking 1 for 54 in his ten overs.
• Rashid Khan was the best bowler for Afghanistan, taking 4 for 59 in his ten overs. He also scored a quick 21 off 12 balls and gave his team some hope in the chase.
• Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins were the heroes for Australia in the death overs, as they defended 65 runs in the last ten overs. They took five wickets between them and bowled with pace and accuracy.
• The 164-run partnership between Asghar Afghan and Mohammad Nabi was the highest for the fifth wicket in World Cup history. It was also the highest partnership for any wicket for Afghanistan in ODIs.
• The match was the second-highest-scoring ODI in World Cup history, with 682 runs scored. It was also the closest margin of victory for Australia in World Cup history, as they won by four runs.