How Afghanistan knocked Australia, India’s nemesis, out of T20 World Cup en route to reaching maiden ICC semifinals

The 2024 T20 World Cup continues to throw surprises. Australia, the 2021 champions have been knocked out, following Afghanistan’s historic win against Bangladesh in the final Super Eight fixture in Kingstown on Tuesday. After finishing their innings on 115/5, not many gave Afghanistan a chance, but thanks to some spirited bowling, Afghanistan did the unthinkable, pulling off a narrow eight-run DLS win and, in the process, sending Australia back home.

The equation was simple. Ahead of the game, Australia and Afghanistan were on 2 points each, with the already-qualified India leading the group with six points. In order for Australia to qualify, they needed Bangladesh to beat Afghanistan, albeit not too comprehensively. Simply out, Bangladesh needed to chase down 116 in 12.1 overs or before (12.4 if they hit a six after levelling the scores). Anything after 12.1 overs and Australia would have qualified.

Bangladesh were rocked early, getting reduced to 23/2, so they had to play out the rest of the innings carefully. The chances of Bangladesh qualifying were over as they reached the 12.1 over margin way below the number of runs needed. It then brought it down to Afghanistan vs Australia – a one-way shoot out for a place in the semifinals. If Afghanistan won, they would go through and Australia out. If Bangladesh rallied through to win the contest, Australia would have a shot at a second T20 World Cup title.

Too many twists and turns

Bangladesh lost wickets at regular intervals but Liton Das kept their hopes alive with a 41-ball fifty. With rain causing as many as four interventions during the match – the penultimate rain brought DLS into the equation, with Bangladesh needing to knock off 114 in 19 overs. And they were well on their way with Liton holding one end up.

But then came the moment every Afghanistan fan was waiting for. With 9 runs still needed to win off 9 balls, Naveen-Ul-Haq produced an over for the ages, first having Taskin Ahmed play on and then trapping Mustafizur Rahman out LBW for a first-ball duck, paving the way for Afghanistan’s first-ever T20 World Cup semifinals and breaking countless Australia hearts.