Can Afghanistan Shock Australia Again In Their Final Group Game?
Author: Vishnu Reddy
Updated At:
Over the past decade, Afghanistan’s rise in cricket has been nothing short of spectacular. Once winless in the 2015 World Cup, they now take down giants like Australia and England. In the ongoing Champions Trophy, their momentum remains strong. They have a different equation with Australia. In the cricket world, their head-to-head clash with the Aussies scripts the bae of another rivalry. Are they the next exciting rivals of the global stage?
The Thrilling Afghan-Aussie Clash In The 2023 ODI World Cup
From not even winning a single match in the 2015 World Cup to delivering a stellar performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup, Afghanistan shined with brilliance on the global stage. But the cricket world witnessed a thriller when Afghanistan and Australia locked horns on the big stage of the 2023 ODI World.
In that match, Afghanistan batted first. Josh Hazelwood dismissed Rahmanullah Gurbaz early on. As Afghanistan’s batting line-up was struggling, Ibrahim Zadran stood tall and played an unbeaten knock of 129 runs in 143 deliveries, and Afghanistan put on a big total of 291 runs, depending on that brilliance.
While defending the total in the second innings, the Afghan bowlers snatched the momentum. Naveen ul Haq put on early pressure, dismissing Travis Head on a duck. That was a huge moment.
Rashid Khan and Azmatullah Omarzai secured 2 wickets each. As both sides were involved in an intense clash, Maxwell’s unbeaten double century paved the way for the Aussies to secure the win. Though they took the win, Afghanistan’s fighting effort took the limelight.
Afghanistan’s Dominance Over The Aussies Shines In The T20 World Cup 2024
It is still a mystery why Australia brings out the best from Afghanistan. After a close defeat in the 2023 ODI World Cup, the Afghans took revenge on the big stage of the T20 World Cup 2024.
While batting first, Afghanistan got an impressive start as Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran maintained a thrilling 118-run opening partnership. The duo scored half-centuries and pushed the side to score a total of 148 runs.
Defending the total, the Afghan bowlers nailed the big stage. Naveen ul Haq secured the early blood after sending Travis Head on s duck again. After that, he dismissed Mitchell Marsh and ended the match with a tally of 3/20.
But Gulbadin Naib stole the show with an incredible four-wicket haul. In front of that bowling attack, the Australian side remained toothless, and the Afghans shone with a 21-run victory.
What To Expect From The AFG vs AUS Face-Off?
As the cricket world is enjoying the ongoing Champions Trophy, Afghanistan is all set to face Australia on February 28 in their last group stage match. Both sides are standing in very different situations. After a massive defeat in the first match, Afghanistan made a remarkable bounce back while facing England in their previous match of Champions Trophy 2025.
On the other side, Australia registered a thrilling win over England in the first clash, and their next match was abandoned. Afghanistan is shining bright with their exceptional form, and Australia is participating in the tournament with some of their big names, which might affect them.
A high-stakes showdown awaits as both teams fight for a semifinal spot. A win for Afghanistan propels them to second place, knocking Australia out. But if Australia triumphs, they seal their knockout berth. With Afghanistan in red-hot form, fans eagerly await another thrilling chapter in this growing rivalry.
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