Afghanistan shock Australia to keep semi-final hopes alive

T20 World Cup, Super 8s, St Vincent

Afghanistan 148-6 (20 overs): Gurbaz 60 (49); Cummins 3-28

Australia 127 each retired (19.2 overs): Maxwell 59 (41); Gulbadin 4-20

Afghanistan won by 21 runs

Scorecard. Tables

Afghanistan shocked Australia to support their T20 World Cup hopes live pinch an historical 21-run triumph successful St Vincent.

Needing a triumph to debar elimination, Afghanistan posted 148-6 connected a challenging aboveground connected nan backmost of a superb opening guidelines of 118 betwixt Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran.

They quickly reduced Australia to 32-3 successful nan pursuit but Glenn Maxwell’s 35-ball half-century recovered nan business for nan 2021 champions.

But conscionable erstwhile Australia seemed to person nan advantage, Gulbadin Naib removed Marcus Stoinis and Tim David earlier claiming nan prize scalp of Maxwell.

From location Australia collapsed from 106-6 to 113-9 and Afghanistan sealed nan triumph - their first complete Australia successful immoderate shape of cricket - successful nan last over.

Pat Cummins had earlier taken his 2nd hat-trick successful arsenic galore games - nan first subordinate to execute nan feat successful T20 internationals - but contempt Australia's fightback pinch nan ball, Afghanistan's full proved to beryllium beyond them.

Rashid Khan's broadside are now firmly backmost successful contention to scope nan semi-finals and look Bangladesh successful their past Super 8s crippled (Tuesday, 01:30 BST).

Meanwhile, Australia return connected India successful St Lucia (Monday, 15:30 BST) and will apt request to triumph to advancement to nan past four.

More to follow.