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T20 World Cup: Afghanistan claim historic Australia scalp to keep semi-final hopes alive | Cricket News

On: June 23, 2024 By: admin

Afghanistan kept their T20 World Cup semi-final hopes alive by stunning previously unbeaten Australia by 21 runs in a thrilling encounter on Saturday.

Despite Pat Cummins becoming the third bowler in history to claim a hat-trick in successive innings, Afghanistan posted 148-6 after being asked to bat first on a tricky pitch at the Arnos Vale Ground.

Afghanistan pair Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran put on 118 for the highest opening partnership against Australia in a T20 match before Australia’s bowlers rallied late, including Cummins’ second career hat-trick – just two days after his first.

Australia then stumbled with the bat and were all out for 127, with only Glenn Maxwell (59 off 41 balls) coming to grips with the superb Afghanistan bowling attack and the turning wicket.

Man of the match Guldabin Naib took four wickets in an inspired spell in the middle overs to stall Australia’s chase before Azmatullah Omarzai had final wicket Adam Zampa caught in the deep in the final over to complete a stunning win amid jubilant celebrations among the Afghan players and team management.

The victory moves Afghanistan to two points in Group 1 and level with Australia, but behind on net run rate. India lead the group on four points. Bangladesh are bottom after two losses but still have a chance of qualifying for the semifinals.

“It’s a massive win for us as a team and as a nation in the World Cup beating (the) champions,” captain Rashid Khan said.

“It’s so important for us back home and for everyone all around the world. Where Afghanistan people, the Afghans are there, they are badly missing this win and I’m sure they would have been so proud of and they would have enjoyed the game and I think it’s just the beginning now for us.”

Earlier, Gurbaz scored 60 off 49 balls, while Zadran made a steady 51 off 48 balls as they laid a solid platform – helped by some uncharacteristically poor fielding by Australia.

Marcus Stoinis eventually made the breakthrough in the 16th over, dismissing Gurbaz which led to a flurry of wickets as the momentum shifted.

Adam Zampa (2-28) took two wickets in the next over, including Zadran’s, before Pat Cummins again came to the fore. The seam bowler had Rashid Khan (two) caught by Tim David in the deep with the final ball off the 18th over.

Cummins (3-28) returned to bowl the final over of the innings and with his first ball had Karim Janat (13) again caught by David.

For the hat-trick ball, Cummins cleverly disguised a slower delivery which Guldabin Naib could only loft to Glenn Maxwell running in from the boundary to claim the catch.

Australia stumbled early in the chase as it lost Travis Head bowled by Naveen-ul-Haq for no score with the third ball of the innings.

Captain Mitchell Marsh (12) played two big shots before he was Naveen’s second wicket and when David Warner (three) was out to spinner Mohammad Nabi’s first ball the Aussies were in trouble at 32-3 in the sixth over.

Stoinis and Maxwell steadied the Australian innings as they reached 70-3 at the halfway stage.

Gulbadin (4-20) was the eighth bowler used by Afghanistan inside the first 11 overs and it paid a near instant dividend as Stoinis could only sky a pull shot which was caught by Gurbaz.

Gulbadin then removed David (two) and when the allrounder had Maxwell spectacularly caught by Noor Ahmad an upset victory appeared likely.

Australia’s lower-order batters couldn’t find the big hits that the moment demanded either and when veteran Nabi took a catch on the boundary to dismiss Zampa (nine), Afghanistan’s deserved victory was confirmed.

What’s next?

Australia face India in St Lucia on Monday (live from 3pm on Sky Sports Cricket, first ball 3.30pm), while Afghanistan round off their Super 8s campaign against Bangladesh on Tuesday (live from 1.30am on Sky Sports Cricket. The two semi-finals take place on Thursday June 27, ahead of the final on June 29.

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Euro 2024- Kris Boyd says Scotland ‘did the nation proud’ as Switzerland draw keeps last 16 hopes alive | Football News

On: June 19, 2024 By: admin

Former Scotland striker Kris Boyd said Steve Clarke’s side “did the nation proud” after they kept their Euro 2024 last 16 hopes alive with a draw against Switzerland.

The Sky Sports pundit labelled their 5-1 defeat to Germany in the tournament opener as “embarrassing” but was quick to heap praise on the players after their much-improved performance in their second Group A match.

A win against Hungary on Sunday would likely see Scotland progress beyond the group stages at a major tournament for the first time.

They went in front early on when Scott McTominay dispatched Callum McGregor’s cut-back, via a deflection off Fabian Schar, following a rapid counter-attack.

Switzerland soon levelled through veteran Xherdan Shaqiri, who produced a brilliant, first-time finish from the edge of the box after pouncing on Anthony Ralston’s loose pass.

“There were questions and criticism after the performance on Friday night and rightly so,” Boyd told Sky Sports News.

“Tonight they’ve responded and it’s been more like Scotland, right in their faces.

“Switzerland are no mugs at this level but they’ve more than matched them and they come away with a draw.

“Yes they rode their luck at times but I think Steve Clarke will be relatively happy with that result.

“From where we were on Friday night there had to be a response and we’ve got that this evening.

“There were probably a few harsh words flying around the training ground over the last few days, but that’s life of a footballer. There are ups and downs.

“Scotland have shown they can compete at this level. It’s a quick turnaround but they’ve done the nation proud tonight.”

Clarke: We got what we expected

Scotland manager Steve Clarke:

“That’s what we expected. This is the way we’ve been playing as a team the last three or four years and it’s why we’re here at a major tournament.

“We knew what we had to do, the players knew what they had to do. I thought it was a good team performance against a good opponent.

“It’s just about doing better all the time. Sometimes as a footballer or a manager it doesn’t go your way, and it certainly didn’t go our way on Friday night. Tonight was just about getting back to what we’re good at.

“The reality is, when the draw was made and we were drawn against the host nation in the opening game, you’re looking at the second two games in the group and thinking ‘maybe that’s where the points are going to come from’ and that’s the way it’s turned out.”

T20 World Cup: Pakistan beat Canada to keep tournament hopes alive | Cricket News

On: June 12, 2024 By: admin

Pakistan kept their hopes of reaching the T20 World Cup Super Eights stage alive with a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Canada.

Mohammad Rizwan scored a timely half-century and Babar Azam played a captain’s knock as Pakistan bounced back from successive defeats to beat Canada at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in Westbury, New York.

Following their shock opening loss to co-hosts USA, and defeat against rivals India, Pakistan’s tournament would have been over if they failed to triumph at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on Tuesday. The 2009 T20 World Cup winners now sit third with two points after one win in three matches, with Tuesday’s win meaning they still have a shot at finishing in the top two in Group A.

Azam won the toss and put Canada into bat, with opener Aaron Johnson beginning the innings with back-to-back boundaries.

The impressive Johnson (52) waged a lone battle against Pakistan’s pace attack. Mohammad Amir (2-13) and Haris Rauf (2-26) led the charge for Pakistan, while Shaheen Afridi (1-21) and Naseem Shah (1-24) helped ensure Canada were unable to find rhythm.

Only three Canadian batters reached double digits and if not for Johnson’s maiden World Cup fifty and a late flurry from Kaleem Sana (13 not out), Canada would have struggled to reach the modest total of 106-7 they posted.

The temporary arena in East Meadow, where India and South Africa defended less than run-a-ball targets in recent days, looked on course for another competitive low-scoring match as Saim Ayub (6) fell early and Pakistan looked shaky at 21-1 after five overs.

Skipper Babar steadied the ship, though, bringing up the 50 partnership with opener Rizwan from 49 balls.

Rizwan (53 not out) and Babar (33) took few risks, the captain playing in measured fashion as he hit one six and one four before he fell to Dillon Heyliger (2-18), but Pakistan comfortably reached their target with 15 balls to spare.

Pakistan now know if Ireland beat hosts United States on Friday then a win for them over the Irish on Sunday would secure progression.

Canada, also on two points, need a win over India on Saturday to stay in the top-two race.

What they said

Pakistan captain Babar Azam…

“Good for us, we [needed] this win. I think all credit to the team because we started well in the bowling.

“To be honest, in this pitch here, five or six overs can be very crucial because the ball is not coming properly and one pace. Sometimes it’s low, sometimes it’s double pace behaviour, but I think after the sixth over the pitch is a little bit settled and then we attacked.

“We are going to [have] the same mindset to win [the next] match, for sure. We can play our best cricket over there (at Central Broward Regional Park Stadium in Florida), [those] conditions are much better than here.

What’s Next?

Two games take place in the early hours of Wednesday June 12, as Sri Lanka also take on Nepal from 12am (midnight) live on Sky Sports Action, followed by Australia vs Namibia live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Cricket from 1am.

Then, on Wednesday afternoon, hosts USA face India live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Cricket from 3pm.

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