India’s spinners crushed a woeful England side in the T20 World Cup semi-final as they secured a dominant 68-run victory at the Guyana National Stadium.
India will meet unbeaten side South Africa, who earlier thrashed Afghanistan for 56 all out, in the final in Barbados on Saturday (3pm), live on Sky Sports.
Rohit Sharma’s men posted 171-7 in a rain-interrupted innings after being asked to bat first, and then bowled England out for 103 with 20 balls to spare, with left-arm spinner Axar Patel (3-23) and wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav (3-19) doing the damage as the defending champions were unable to counter the attack.
England looked in trouble when they lost Jos Buttler (23) and Phil Salt (5) early on in the powerplay and were unable to recover during their innings, losing their final five wickets for only 35 runs against a rampant India side as they fell from 68-6 in the 11th over to 103 all out.
Earlier, Rohit Sharma (57) brought up his third half-century of the tournament and shared a 73-run partnership with Suryakumar Yadav (47) between the rain delays, to help their side post a strong total on a pitch with low bounce and high turn.
England’s Chris Jordan (2-27) took two wickets in two balls in the 18th over, removing Hardik Pandya (23) and Shivam Dube (0), while Adil Rashid, Reece Topley, Jofra Archer and Sam Curran all took one wicket each.
More to follow…
Watch the T20 World Cup final in Barbados from 3pm on Saturday (3.30pm first ball), live on Sky Sports Cricket.
Afghanistan all-rounder Gulbadin Naib has made light of his controversial injury delay as his side prepare for a historic appearance in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup.
Gulbadin was at the centre of a strange moment during his side’s Super 8s game against Bangladesh, dropping dramatically to the ground and clutching his leg despite standing still at slip.
Moments earlier, with Afghanistan narrowly ahead on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method and with rain beginning to fall, head coach Jonathan Trott could be seen gesturing animatedly from the dugout encouraging his team to slow the game down.
Highlights from the T20 World Cup Group 1 match as Afghanistan defeated Bangladesh to reach their first-ever semi-final where they’ll play South Africa.
Afghanistan eventually bowled out Bangladesh to win the game, edging out Australia, with a mysteriously fit-again Gulbadin bowling two overs and taking an enthusiastic part in his team’s celebrations as they made the final four at a global event for the first time.
Former New Zealand international Simon Doull had branded the incident “unacceptable” while commentating, while fellow pundit Ian Smith joked: “I’ve a dodgy knee for the last six months. I am going to see Gulbadin Naib’s doctor straight after the game.”
The reactions continued to flow in, with former England captain Michael Vaughan posting on X: “Great to see Gulbadin become the first cricketer in the history of the game to get a wicket 25 mins after being shot”.
Australia spinner Adam Zampa posted a video of Gulbadin’s tumble on Instagram with the caption “the old rainstring”.
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan suggested in post-match interviews that his team-mate had suffered an attack of cramp, but there was a mischievous tone to their subsequent social media posts.
Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain discuss why the two T20 World Cup semi-finals will be played to different playing regulations because of the schedule of the tournament.
Gulbadin – who is expected to be fit for the semi-final – posted a picture of himself smiling broadly with physio Prasanth Panchada on Instagram, writing: “Wonders can happen”.
He also commented on a video posted by pace bowler Naveen-ul-Haq, which saw footage of Gulbadin running crudely cut into a movie clip, writing: “Hey mate I am not felling well (sic)…Hamstring problem.”
Live ICC Men's T20 World Cup
Thursday 27th June 1:00am
What’s next?
Afghanistan face South Africa in the first semi-final in Trinidad (live on Sky Sports Cricket on Thursday, first ball at 1.30am), with the Proteas having topped Group 2 of the Super 8s ahead of England.
Speaking on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain discuss whether England have finally settled on their strongest line-up in time for their semi-final against India.
India took top spot in Group 1 and in doing so set up a Thursday date with England in Guyana (live on Sky Sports Cricket from 3pm, first ball at 3.30pm).
There is no reserve day available for the second semi-final between England and India – although an extra 250 minutes is available on the scheduled day – so if the game cannot be completed due to weather India will advance by virtue of topping their Super 8s pool.
Catch every match from the T20 World Cup, including the final in Barbados on Saturday June 29, live on Sky Sports. Stream Sky Sports live with no contract on a Month or Day membership on NOW.
England have safely negotiated a rocky route and a fair bit of rain to reach the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup – but could the weather again be set to scupper Jos Buttler’s side?
After opening their tournament with a rain-off against Scotland in Barbados which, followed up by defeat to Australia, had England on the brink of elimination before the holders turned things around to sneak into the Super 8s and then secure a final four spot.
But the forecast is again poor for their Thursday semi-final date against India in Guyana – live on Sky Sports Cricket from 3pm (first ball, 3.30pm)– and so what would that mean for England’s hopes of defending their title? We attempt to break it all down for you…
Live ICC Men's T20 World Cup
Thursday 27th June 3:00pm
What is the forecast like for England’s semi-final?
According to the Met Office, as of Tuesday, the weather forecast for Thursday in Guyana is currently showing as “thunder showers changing to heavy showers by late morning”, with a 60 per cent chance of rain predicted.
Guyana hosted five matches in the initial group stage of the tournament, none of which were rained off, albeit the last of them came over a fortnight ago on June 8.
As for the first semi-final between South Africa and Afghanistan in Trinidad on Wednesday evening – live on Sky Sports Cricket from 1am Thursday morning (first ball, 1.30am) – the Met Office suggests there will be “light showers changing to clear by early evening”, around the time the match is scheduled for.
Image: Rain washed out England’s opening group game of the tournament against Scotland in Barbados
What are the rules if it were to rain?
There is no reserve day available for the second semi-final between England and India – although an extra 250 minutes is available to look to complete the match on the scheduled day.
It means that if the game cannot be completed due to poor weather, India will advance by virtue of topping their Super 8s pool.
The first semi-final between South Africa – who topped Group 2 – and Afghanistan, on Wednesday evening in Trinidad, does have a reserve day factored in for Thursday.
Highlights from the T20 World Cup Group 1 match as Afghanistan defeated Bangladesh to reach their first-ever semi-final where they’ll play South Africa.
Section 13.6.2.1 of the ICC’s playing conditions for the tournament states: “The Final on 29 June will have a reserve day on 30 June. The semi-finals will each have additional time added in order to complete the match which will total 250 minutes.
“For the first semi-final on 26 June, 60 minutes will be available at the end of the day’s play with the remaining 190 minutes scheduled for 2pm on 27 June. Whilst the additional 250 minutes for the second semi-final scheduled on 27 June will be utilised if needed through extended playing hours on the scheduled day.”
Why are England playing in the second semi-final?
It was pre-determined that if India reached the final four of the tournament, they would play in the second semi-final as it is at a more friendly time for their country’s TV audience (8pm India).
None of India’s matches in the competition have come at the scheduled time of the first semi-final (6am India).
Highlights from St Lucia as Rohit Sharma’s 92 from 41 balls powered India to victory over Australia and into the T20 World Cup semi-finals.
With India finishing as Group 1 winners in the Super 8s and England as runners-up in Group 2, it therefore ensured they’d drop into the second semi.
What do the experts say? – ‘I don’t think it’s ideal at all’
Sky Sports’ Michael Atherton: “England and India’s semi-final doesn’t have a rain day. If there’s rain in that game, whoever finished first in their group goes through.
“The vagaries of the organisation have put pressure on the organising of the tournament, and it’s meant that the two semi-finals are played to slightly different rules and regs.
“Secondly, India knew all along that they were going to be in Guyana for the semi-final and, therefore could plan for it. Their logistics were already in tow for Indian supporters a chance to get to Georgetown… England fans won’t have that chance because it’s so late.
“One team knew that they were going to that semi-final and I don’t think it’s ideal at all.”
Speaking on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain discuss whether England have finally settled on their strongest line-up in time for their semi-final against India.
Sky Sports’ Nasser Hussain: “You can’t have two semi-finals with two different playing conditions, where one has a rain day and the other one doesn’t.
“The first one is made up over two days effectively or a day and a half. The second one, the England-India game, is made up over that whole day – it’s 250 minutes that they can make up.
“We could rock up at 8am in the morning for a 10.30am start (local) and still be there at 10pm at night trying to finish off that game!
“The second semi-final is a 10.30am start because the players, the teams, the officials have to then fly to Barbados for the Saturday final.
“And it’s given to India because of the TV audience in India, the biggest audience for the ICC [International Cricket Council]. Not just India, but Bangladesh, Pakistan and that part of the world.
“My thoughts are that the first part of the tournament seemed to meander along a little bit, with the long gaps… you could have got those games a bit closer together, rather than at the real business end have just one day between a crucial second semi-final and a final.”
Has something similar ever happened before?
Image: Rain forced the abandonment of the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup semi-final between England and India
England’s Women were dumped out of the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup after a washout in their semi-final against India due to heavy rain in Sydney.
Again there was no reserve day scheduled, allowing for India to qualify for the final by virtue of finishing top of their group, compared to England who were runners-up in theirs after suffering an opening loss to South Africa.
Image: England captain Heather Knight can only watch on as rain wrecks her side’s semi-final against India in the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup
Hosts and eventual winners Australia – runners-up to India – appeared to be facing the same fate, with both semi-finals being played at the same venue on the same day on this occasion, until the clouds cleared sufficiently to see them beat South Africa to a place in the final.
How did England reach the semi-finals?
After England’s hopes of progressing through to the Super 8s were hanging by the proverbial thread due to the Scotland rain-off and Australia loss, they then dismantled Oman – skittling the associate nation for 47 before completing the run chase in just 19 balls to, crucially, take their net run rate above Scotland’s.
Highlights of England’s win over Oman at the T20 Cricket World Cup, as they sprinted to a chase of 48 in just 3.1 overs in Antigua.
They then managed to beat the rain and Namibia in Antigua, comfortably winning a 10-over-a-side encounter by 41 runs on DLS after initially fearing a tournament-ending washout.
Even with those back-to-back wins, Buttler’s side were reliant on Australia beating Scotland in their final match and they would have been jittery when the Scots posted 180-5 batting first and even more so when Australia needed 89 runs still from the final seven overs of their chase, before the 2021 champions ultimately romped home two balls to spare.
Highlights of England’s win against the West Indies at the T20 Cricket World Cup.
Having squeezed into the Super 8s, England truly arrived by dismantling hosts West Indies by eight wickets in their best performance of the tournament, chasing down a challenging target of 181 with 15 deliveries to spare thanks to an unbeaten 87 from 47 balls from Phil Salt.
A seven-run defeat to South Africa followed, despite a late revival from Harry Brook (53 off 37) and Liam Livingstone (33 off 17) threatened to see them over the line.
Highlights of England’s thumping 10-wicket win over USA as they cruised into the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup
A thumping win over the USA was therefore required to ensure a semi-final spot and England duly delivered one as Chris Jordan bagged the England men’s team a first T20 international hat-trick before Buttler (83no off 38) hammered his team into the last four as they chased down 116 inside 10 overs and with all 10 wickets in hand.
When are the semi-finals and final?
Thursday June 27
Semi-final #1 – South Africa vs Afghanistan, Tarouba, Trinidad and Tobago (1.30am)
Semi-final #2 – India vs England, Providence, Guyana (3.30pm)
Saturday June 29
Final – Bridgetown, Barbados (3.30pm)
Catch every match from the T20 World Cup, including the final in Barbados on Saturday June 29, live on Sky Sports.
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Afghanistan reached a first ever World Cup semi-final courtesy of a dramatic eight-run victory over Bangladesh which in turn knocked Australia out of the T20 tournament.
Bangladesh came into the game with a chance to progress or send Australia through with a victory but – chasing a Duckworth-Lewis-Stern revised target of 114 in 19 overs as rain affected their innings – were bowled out for 105.
Captain Rashid Khan (4-23) and Naveen-ul-Haq (4-26) each took four wickets in the victory that secures Afghanistan a historic first World Cup semi-final against South Africa in Trinidad on Wednesday evening.
Highlights from the T20 World Cup Group 1 match as Afghanistan defeated Bangladesh to reach their first-ever semi-final where they’ll play South Africa.
Score summary – Afghanistan vs Bangladesh
Afghanistan 115-5 from 20 overs: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (43 off 55 balls), Rashid Khan (19no off 10); Rishad Hossain (3-26)
Bangladesh 105 all out from 17.5 overs: Litton Das (54no off 49); Rashid Khan (4-23), Naveen-ul-Haq (4-26)
Afghanistan’s hopes were earlier dented when restricted to a modest 115-5 batting first, Rahmanullah Gurbaz top-scoring, but using up 55 deliveries to reach 43.
Rishad Hossain (3-26) ultimately dismissed the opener Afghanistan suffered a dramatic collapse from 84-1 to 93-5 in the space of 11 balls, before Rashid later blasted three sixes in his 10-ball 19.
During their tense T20 World Cup match, Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan lost his cool and threw his bat at his partner Karim Janat following a miscommunication over a second run against Bangladesh
In the final over, the Afghanistan skipper was so desperate for late runs that he hurled his bat at his batting partner Karim Janat in fury when refused a second run.
Image: Final Group 2 standings in the Super 8s of the T20 World Cup as India and Afghanistan progress through to the semi-fnals
Needing to chased down their target inside 12.1 overs in order to seal a semi-final spot themselves, Bangladesh came up well short in their rain-affected reply.
Litton Das struck an unbeaten 54 from 49, but wickets regularly tumbled at the other end, including two in two balls for Rashid in the 11th over that reduced the Tigers to 80-7.
Image: Afghanistan’s captain Rashid Khan (left) and Gulbadin Naib celebrate after clinching at T20 World Cup semi-final spot
Naveen then wrapped up the innings and the semi-final-clinching victory with his own double-strike with back-to-back deliveries in the penultimate over, prompting tearful celebrations from the Afghanistan players.
India, who beat Australia by 24 runs earlier on Monday in St Lucia to leave the qualification hopes of the 2021 champions hanging by a thread, will take on holders England in the second semi-final.
Highlights from St Lucia as Rohit Sharma’s 92 from 41 balls powered India to victory over Australia and into the T20 World Cup semi-finals
What’s next?
Afghanistan face South Africa in the first semi-final in Trinidad (Thursday, 1.30am UK and Ireland), with the Proteas having topped Group 2 of the Super 8s ahead of England.
India took top spot in Group 1 and in doing so set up a Thursday date with England in Guyana (3.30pm).
There is no reserve day available for the second semi-final between England and India – although an extra 250 minutes is available on the scheduled day – so if the game cannot be completed due to weather India will advance by virtue of topping their Super 8s pool.
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Rohit Sharma struck a stunning 92 from 41 balls as India beat Australia by 24 runs to clinch a T20 World Cup semi-final against England and leave their opponents in danger of elimination.
Rohit – who hit eight sixes, including his 200th in T20 internationals – raced to fifty off just 19 balls and looked on course for a sixth ton before being bowled by Mitchell Starc, the player he had crunched for four sixes and one four in a 29-run third over in St Lucia.
The skipper’s innings underpinned India’s total of 205-5, a score the 2007 champions would perhaps have hoped to better after being 127-2 in the 11th over with Rohit and Suryakumar Yadav (31 off 16) at the crease, but they went on to score only 43 runs from the final five.
Image: T20 World Cup Group 1 as it stands, with Australia needing the final result between Afghanistan and Bangladesh to go their way
Travis Head (76 off 43) fired for Australia in the reply, helping his side to 125-2 after 12 overs, but they slumped once Glenn Maxwell (20 off 12) was dismissed by Kuldeep Yadav (2-24) at the start of the 14th, with the 2021 champions only mustering 181-7 as India clinched top spot in Group 1 and a Thursday date with England in Guyana (3.30pm).
Australia remain second in the pool but will be dumped out if Afghanistan beat Bangladesh in the final Super 8s fixture in St Vincent and the Grenadines on Tuesday (1.30am) while they could also miss out on net run-rate to Bangladesh if the Tigers record a handsome victory and join Australia and Afghanistan on two points.
South Africa await whichever of the three teams progress in the first semi-final in Trinidad (1.30am Thursday), with the Proteas finishing top of Group 2, ahead of England.
Reigning champions England decimated a timid India by eight wickets in the 2022 semi-finals in Adelaide but they will come up against a more aggressive side now – and one unbeaten in this tournament – with captain Rohit leading that shift in mindset.
Rohit racks up runs in India win
After seeing opening partner Virat Kohli (0) caught on the pull off Josh Hazlewood (2-14) in the second over – Kohli is now averaging 11 across six knocks in the tournament with two ducks and a top-score of 37 – Rohit exploded in the third, hitting Starc for sixes over cover, point, midwicket and deep third as well as a four over mid-on.
Australia begin their must-win game in great fashion, after Virat Kohli goes for a duck in the second over
He then mowed Pat Cummins over midwicket for a 100m six moments before a rain delay and clinched his half-century – the fastest in this World Cup, ahead of the 22-ball efforts from USA’s Aaron Jones and South Africa’s Quinton de Kock – upon the restart.
Rohit tucked into Marcus Stoinis (2-56) as well, with three boundaries in a row in the eighth over including sixes over deep backward square and cover, but his knock was ended when he deflected a Starc yorker onto his stumps in the 12th.
Shivam Dube (28 off 2) hit Starc’s next ball to the fence but India could only manage eight further sixes or fours from that point – Hardik Pandya (27no off 17) nailing two maximums on the trot off Stoinis in the 19th over – with Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins (0-48) and Adam Zampa (0-41) largely restricting their opponents.
Australia’s innings are off to a bad start as David Warner is dismissed for six after a delivery from Arshdeep Singh and a catch from Suryakumar Yadav
Australia lost David Warner – in what is potentially his last game for his country – in the first over of the chase as the veteran opener snicked Arshdeep Singh to Suryakumar at slip for six, only for skipper Mitchell Marsh (37 off 28) and Head to crunch a second-wicket partnership of 81 from 48 balls.
That stand was snapped in stunning style in the ninth over as Axar caught Marsh one-handed on the rope at deep square leg but Australia continued to charge for a while as Head clinched a 24-ball half-century with a four off Hardik and powered three boundaries off Ravindra Jadeja in the 11th.
India’s Axar Patel takes a sensational catch off his own delivery to dismiss Ireland’s Barry McCarthy in their T20 World Cup clash
However, Maxwell was then bowled dancing down the pitch at Kuldeep before Stoinis reverse-swept Axar to point and the innings hit the skids, with the only bright spot for Australia that they kept their net run-rate above Afghanistan’s and held on to second spot – for now.
What’s next?
Afghanistan play Bangladesh in St Vincent and the Grenadines on Tuesday (1.30am UK and Ireland), before the semi-finals take place on Thursday. The first game is in Trinidad from 1.30am, with the second in Guyana from 3.30pm.
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In a game of small margins, Jos Buttler ensured his side wouldn’t be left teetering on the edge of semi-final qualification.
Instead, the England skipper showcased his breath-taking, solar panel-breaking, batting abilities, hitting an unbeaten 82 off 38 balls, to catapult his team into the penultimate stage of the T20 World Cup, and take the lead in the Group 2 table.
But this victory wasn’t solely a tale for the batters.
Earlier, England’s bowlers set up the platform for a rapid victory bowling USA out for 115 on a dry pitch in Barbados, with Chris Jordan taking a hat-trick in the final over, in his hometown, in front of former Barbadian cricketer Sir Garfield Sobers, for the first time in England’s Men’s T20 internationals.
Chris Jordan picked up an incredible hat-trick – England men’s first in T20 internationals – as he bagged four wickets in five balls against USA
“It was quite a statement,” said Sky Sports Cricket’s Ian Ward.
“I know it was just the United States of America and England are expected to beat sides like them, but the way it was finished off by the captain was some statement.
“Some of the striking from Jos Buttler was magnificent, especially on a pitch that dried out significantly. England, historically, can sometimes stumble a little bit when those pitches get tired but they won the game in some style today.
“It has not been smooth sailing, as we know, but England have done it, and you compare and contrast that with South Africa who have won all of their games so far but if they lose this evening, they’re out of the T20 World Cup.
“If you go back to the 50-over World Cup in 2019 when Eoin Morgan’s side won, they stumbled as well. They had a position where they had to win all their remaining games to qualify and they did.
Highlights of England’s win against the USA at the T20 Cricket World Cup
“And if you go back to the T20 World Cup in Australia in 2022, the same thing happened here. England had their backs against the wall and they found a way of winning.
“It’s an underlying strength of this side and if there’s any question marks about them, it stems from what happened in India, but I think lessons from that disastrous World Cup have been learnt.”
England’s Harry Brook vowed to give USA a “a good battering”ahead of their clash, a sentiment that certainly resonated in how their team obliterated the associates.
It only took Buttler 9.4 overs to pulverise USA as he smashed seven sixes, one of which broke the solar panels at the Kensington Oval, and four boundaries.
Captain Jos Buttler smashes five sixes in an over to lead England to victory against USA
“Topping the group and net run-rate was on my mind,” Buttler admitted in the post-match press conference.
“Once we got through the first overs it was really about trying to target this side with the wind.
“I think we’ve got great options for our team. We chose Jordan because we wanted the all-rounder capabilities and he executed that fantastically, a World Cup hat-trick is a great effort.
“Really important to take this form into the semi-finals, I’ve been feeling good all year, I’m hitting the ball well and it’s nice to get that confidence.
“It’s important for me to look after my own game as well, as much as trying to be a captain and have a broad view, I’m still one of 11 and have to do my job.”
Catch every match from the T20 World Cup, including the final in Barbados on Saturday June 29, live on Sky Sports.
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.
Pat Cummins became the first player to register a hat-trick in consecutive T20 World Cup matches as he took three wickets in a row against Afghanistan
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.”
Image: Afghanistan players celebrate after defeating Australia by 21 runs in their men’s T20 World Cup cricket match
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.
Image: Pat Cummins became the first player in T20 history to take a hat-trick in successive matches
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.
Image: Afghanistan players celebrate after defeating Australia by 21 runs in their men’s T20 World Cup match
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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Emma Raducanu is through to her first semi-final since 2022 after Fran Jones withdrew from their Nottingham Open quarter-final.
Raducanu has looked in good form on her return after a six-week hiatus to prepare for the grass-court season, beating Ena Shibahara and Daria Snigur on her way to the last eight.
A quarter-final with Jones was waiting on Saturday afternoon, but her British compatriot has had to withdraw due to a shoulder injury.
That sets up an all-British blockbuster between Raducanu and defending champion Katie Boulter later on Saturday.
Boulter won her quarter-final on Friday as she looks to retain the title she won last year.
Jones was on court on Friday afternoon ready to play Raducanu before rain forced play to be abandoned for the day and she woke up on Saturday and chose to withdraw.
Jones said: “Unfortunately today I’ve had to withdraw from what was an exciting match with Emma.
“Hopefully everyone can understand that with the big events coming up, I’m not in a position to be taking many risks especially with my last couple of years.
“I think it’s a massive shame, I’ve really enjoyed playing this week and I’ve played at a good level, but I need to continue to think big picture which has got me into the place I’m in so far this year.”
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Seventeen-year-old Mirra Andreeva reached her first Grand Slam semi-final as she shocked Aryna Sabalenka in the last eight at Roland Garros, beating the world No 2 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 6-4.
Sabalenka, struggling with illness throughout the contest, still managed to claim a remarkable opening set, which saw six breaks of serve, courtesy of a tie-break.
Having comfortably won her last two meetings with Andreeva, the Belarusian had raced into a 3-1 before her own serve came undone in the opening set.
Image: Aryna Sabalenka received medical assistance during her quarter-final as she struggled with illness
After losing four games on the bounce to trail 5-3, Sabalenka called for the trainer out and took some medication before regrouping to force a tie-break which she edged.
But the Australian Open champion would continue to struggle physically at the start of the second set and received a time violation at one point for taking too long between games, crouching to her knees to try and recover.
Andreeva would go on to force a decider and, after an exchange of breaks, the pair were locked in a high-quality battle that thrilled fans on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Andreeva would go on to clinch a memorable victory as the teenager broke Sabalenka in the final game, lobbing her opponent for the win on her second match point.
Paolini knocks out Rybakina in quarter-final classic
Jasmine Paolini booked a place in the final four of the French Open for the first time, knocking out fourth seed Elena Rybakina in an epic quarter-final.
Image: Jasmine Paolini celebrates her quarter-final win over Elena Rybakina at Roland Garros
The 28-year-old Italian staved off a fightback from the Kazakh former Wimbledon champion to seal a stunning 6-2 4-6 6-4 win, setting up a semi-final meeting with Andreeva.
Playing in her first career Grand Slam quarter-final, Paolini got off to a confident start, cruising through the opening set but suffered a major wobble when losing four service games in a row across the second and third.
The 12th-seeded Paolini had twice broken Rybakina in the second set, only to immediately be broken back and, rather than clinch victory in straight sets, she was suddenly forced into a decider as she lost her serve yet again.
Image: Rybakina mounted a comeback in the second set but was ultimately denied a first French Open semi-final
The two players traded four further breaks to open the third set before Paolini finally returned to the level she showed early in the match, taking advantage of a slew of Rybakina errors to earn the decisive break in the ninth game before serving out for a famous victory.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling. It was a really tough match,” Paolini said after clinching a semi-final spot.
“I think I was a little bit too emotional in the second set but I said to myself, ‘it’s good, she’s a great champion, so it can happen’.
“I tried to stay there every point. I managed to come back, stay focused and fight again.”
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