Afghanistan make history with landmark Australia victory

Afghanistan had never beaten Australia before in international cricket, but their 21-run victory has blown open their Super Eight group

Kingstown: Afghanistan 148-6, Australia 127 - Afghanistan win by 21 runs

Afghanistan have defeated Australia for the first time, winning by 21 runs to spark jubilant scenes in St Vincent and blowing their Super Eight group wide open.

Afghanistan's opening batters, Ibrahim Zadran (51) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (60), once again starred in a similar performance to the one that brushed New Zealand aside, before Naveen-ul-Haq and Gulbadin Naib shared seven wickets on a memorable night at Kingstown.

Australia had elected to field after winning the toss, but they were unable to break a 118-run opening stand between the two buccaneering openers, whose platform was in contrast to much of the batting that followed for the rest of the evening.

Afghanistan themselves were unable to build on it and reached 148 for 6, with an important four-ball cameo of 13 from Mohammad Nabi at the death, as Pat Cummins ended with figures of 3 for 28 in his four overs, including a second hat-trick in two games, on a tricky surface that saw Ashton Agar race through four overs for just 17 runs.

That total looked all the better as the game wore on, though, with Australia always struggling to get ahead in their run-chase.

^{Gulbadin Naib took four wickets for Afghanistan (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)}

Naveen dismissed Travis Head in the first over of the reply and Mitchell March in the third, before Nabi – who has now beaten 45 different countries as an international cricketer – had David Warner caught by Noor Ahmad – one of two important catches for the young left-arm wrist-spinner – in the last over of the powerplay.

Glenn Maxwell, scourge of Afghanistan with his remarkable double hundred at last winter's 50-over World Cup, threatened to repeat the dose and appeared to be building a recovery for Australia alongside Marcus Stoinis, but Stoinis was the first of four victims for Gulbadin Naib, a veteran of the Afghanistan story.

He then trapped Tim David in front and had Maxwell excellently caught by Noor at backward point as the tide turned, with Rashid Khan then picking up Matthew Wade as 71 for 3 became 127 all out, the tail unable to wag on a tricky surface against a high-class attack.

"We were waiting for a long time," said Gulbadin. "It is a great moment for me and for our nation and our people. I have no words to say; thanks to our fans for supporting our cricket journey."

For Australia, meanwhile, their clash with India on Monday becomes a hugely important game. Afghanistan face Bangladesh on Tuesday.

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