AFG vs AUS T20 World Cup 2024 LIVE Scorecard: Afghanistan need to win to stay alive in T20 World Cup.© AFP

Afghanistan will take on Australia in the 48th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, 2024. The Super 8 fixture is set to be played at the Arnos Vale Ground, Kingstown, St Vincent on 23rd June 2024 at 06:00 AM IST.

AFG vs AUS, Super Eight – Match 7 Preview

Australia comes into this match with momentum, having defeated Bangladesh by 28 runs in their previous outing. Pat Cummins was the standout performer for the Aussies, amassing 91 fantasy points.

On the other hand, Afghanistan faced a setback in their last game, losing to India by 47 runs. Rashid Khan was the top fantasy performer for Afghanistan, scoring 111 points.

AFG vs AUS, Head-to-Head

Historically, Australia has dominated Afghanistan in T20Is, winning the only match played between these two teams. The pattern suggests the Aussies will likely to continue their dominance. Australia’s batters have generally outperformed Afghanistan, while the Afghan bowlers have been their main contributors.

The last meeting between these teams was in Match 38 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, 2022, where Australia’s Glenn Maxwell and Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan scored the highest fantasy points.

Key Players to Watch

Fazalhaq Farooqi (AFG)

Afghanistan’s Fazalhaq Farooqi, a left-arm medium-fast bowler, has been in stellar form, taking 15 wickets in his last five matches.

Marcus Stoinis (AUS)

Batting all-rounder Marcus Stoinis, known for his swashbuckling approach and right-arm medium-fast bowling, has scored 156 runs and has also taken seven wickets for Australia.

Rashid Khan (AFG)

Afghanistan skipper, Rashid Khan, who bowls right-arm leg-break has led his team’s bowling unit in the tournament and has also taken nine wickets in his last five matches.

Adam Zampa (AUS)

Adam Zampa, a star leg spinner from Australia, has been one of the highest wicket-takers in this tournament. Zampa’s slow leg-break bowling has yielded 11 wickets.

Travis Head (AUS)

Australia’s explosive top-order batter, Travis Head, has amassed 179 runs in the recent five matches at an average of 44.8.

Ibrahim Zadran (AFG)

Right-handed top-order batter, Ibrahim Zadran, smashed 160 runs in the recent five matches at an average of 32 for Afghanistan. Zadran’s form will be crucial for Afghanistan’s success in the Super 8 stage.

File image of Suryakumar Yadav.© AFP

Jasprit Bumrah was the only Indian who made the cut in a 2024 T20 World Cup ‘Team of the Tournament’ made by England greats Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain. The team, which has been made on the premise of the group stage of the T20 World Cup, saw the likes of Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant and Arshdeep Singh be left out, despite stellar performances. The English duo – who are now reputed commentators – analysed and explained their choices on Sky Sports Cricket.

Virat Kohli – the all-time highest run-getter in T20 World Cup history – will be hoping to make the Team of the Tournament at a later stage, having scored just five runs so far.

“We had Bumrah, obviously. He had to be in,” quipped Nasser Hussain. Bumrah has picked up five wickets in India’s first three games, including two Player of the Match awards, against Ireland and arch-rivals Pakistan.

Atherton and Hussain showed a lot of love for some of the unsung heroes of the tournament. Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Scotland’s Brandon McMullen and USA’s Aaron Jones all made their XI.

After winning IPL 2024, Gurbaz has been exceptional, scoring 167 runs in four innings at a striker rate of more than 150. McMullen has scored at an even faster rate, boasting a strike rate of 170.

Australia’s Marcus Stoinis was the only all-rounder picked by Atherton and Hussain. Stoinis is the third top run-scorer of the 2024 T20 World Cup so far, at a phenomenal strike rate of 190. Incredibly, he has also picked six wickets in four games, with an economy of just 5.77.

The Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup gets underway on Wednesday, June 19, as hosts USA face South Africa in Group II.

Atherton and Hussain’s ‘Team of the Tournament So Far’:

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Travis Head, Brandon McMullen, Aaron Jones, Marcus Stoinis, David Miller, Alzarri Joseph, Akeal Hosein, Adam Zampa, Jasprit Bumrah, Fazalhaq Farooqi.

Following his side’s five-wicket win over Scotland in their ICC T20 World Cup match, Australian skipper Mitchell Marsh said that facing a tough challenge brings the best out of team as a team and the WC will start once again in the Super Eights stage for them as they will be playing all the top nations throughout that phase. Half-centuries from Travis Head and Marcus Stoinis helped Australia end the group stage unbeaten and defeated Scotland by five wickets in their ICC T20 World Cup match at Saint Lucia on Sunday.

Speaking after the game in the post-match presentation, Marsh said, “We spoke about sticking to our game. We spoke as a group to stay really consistent in how we wanted to play. Having already qualified, there was little less pressure on us. Whenever our team is challenged, it brings the best out of us. Today we were challenged and it was a good experience and a good game of cricket. The World Cup kind of starts again now.”

Marsh also lauded Scotland’s progress over the years to have recorded their best performance in an ICC tournament, saying, “Scotland are a good team, they have improved a lot and we certainly wanted to respect them.”

On playing a much hectic schedule in Super Eights, Marsh said, “It’s going to be a busy schedule. T20 is a hard format. We are excited for what is to come.”

With this win, Australia tops Group B with four wins in four games and eight points. Scotland failed to qualify for the Super Eights, finishing third with two wins, a loss and a no result, giving them five points. Defending champions England have walked into the Super Eights with this big assistance from their arch-rivals, as they also have the same win-loss record and points as Scotland, just the higher net-run-rate.

Coming to the match, Australia put Scotland to bowl first. After losing Michael Jones early, George Munsey (35 in 23 balls, with two fours and three sixes) and Brandon McMullen (60 in 34 balls, with two fours and six sixes) put a quickfire 89-run partnership to put Scotland back in the game. A fine knock from skipper Richie Berrington (42* in 30 balls, with a four and two sixes) took Scotland to 180/5 in 20 overs.

Glenn Maxwell (2/44) was the pick of the bowlers for Australia. Ashton Agar, Nathan Ellis and Adam Zampa got a wicket each.

In the run-chase of 181 runs, Australia lost some early wickets and were 60/3 at one point. Then, a 80-run partnership between Travis Head (68 in 49 balls, with five fours and four sixes) and Marcus Stoinis (59 in 29 balls, with seven fours and two sixes) took Australia to the brink of a win and Tim David (24* in 14 balls, with two fours and a six) applied some fine finishing to get the win with two balls left.

Mark Watt (2/34) was the pick of the bowlers for Scotland.

Stoinis took home the ‘Player of the Match’ award.

Australia did their arch-rivals England a massive favour with a five-wicket win over a gritty Scotland as the Richie Berrington-led side crashed out of the T20 World Cup Super Eight stage race in St Lucia. With England hammering Namibia earlier in the day in a rain-truncated game, all that Jos Buttler’s side needed was Australia’s win over Scotland to a get a lifeline. Australia scored 186/5 while chasing 181 in 19.4 overs after Scotland fought right until the end to keep their hopes alive.

After putting on a formidable total on board, Scotland had even reduced an edgy Australia to 60/3 at one stage but their most successful batters in this World Cup – Travis Head (68) and Marcus Stoinis (59) – delivered again.

With Australia’s chase appearing to be falling apart, the in-from Head and Stoinis joined forces to bring them back in the game.

On a wicket where batters could swing their willows without fretting much over the pace or movement off the surface, the two seasoned campaigners put the Scottish resolve to a stern test with a sturdy 80-run association for the third wicket off only 44 balls.

Head smacked four sixes and five fours to top score with 68 off a mere 49 balls but Stoinis was more aggressive, cracking nine fours and two sixes to make a quickfire 59 from a mere 29 balls.

But before that, there were some nervous moments for the former champions when David Warner (1) was removed from the equation early, skipper Mitchell Marsh failed to impose himself, and Glenn Maxwell’s torrid run with the bat continued.

Maxwell was done in by one from Mark Watt that straightened enough to beat his bat and crash into the top of the off-stump, extending the all-rounder’s struggles further with the bat, even though he claimed two wickets in the first half.

Earlier, Scotland put their best foot forward in terms of setting a formidable total against the heavyweights, finishing at 180 for five after being asked to bat first.

Australia had expectedly rested some of their frontline pacers and their absence was felt with the others not producing as much impact and control as their first-choice bowling attack can.

Brandon McMullen was the star with the bat for the Scots as he took on the Australian bowling, hitting six sixes and two fours to race to 60 from a mere 34 balls and set up a strong platform for his side following an early blow.

Aston Agar had cleaned up opener Michael Jones for two in the first over but the pair of McMullen and George Munsey produced an excellent recovery for Scotland, putting on 89 runs for the second wicket in a mere 48 balls.

If McMullen was more belligerent of the two, Munsey played his part well with a 23-ball 35, which was studded with three sixes and a couple of fours.

After the pair was separated, Scotland skipper Richie Berrington took charge of taking his side forward as he forged multiple crucial stands with the following batters to take them to 180.

Berrington made 42 not out from 31 balls with two sixes and a four to keep pushing on for the Scots, even as Australia looked to pull things back in the last five overs, conceding 42 runs. 

Arjun Tendulkar (L) and Marcus Stoinis© X (formerly Twitter)

Arjun Tendulkar dismissed Marcus Stoinis in his first over of IPL 2024 but the happiness was short-lived as the decision was overturned by the third umpire during the match between Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants on Friday. Arjun Tendulkar was included in the MI playing XI for the first time this season as the team management decided to give Jasprit Bumrah some rest. During the second over of the match, Arjun’s delivery crashed into Stoinis’ pads and a loud appeal resulted in the on-field umpire raising his finger. The youngster, who is the son of legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, was ecstatic and he marked the occasion with a celebration made famous by veteran India batter Shikhar Dhawan.

Excellent 1st over from Arjun Tendulkar#MIvsLSG #MIvLSG pic.twitter.com/rXvYNor3DE

— King Run Machine (@kingrunmachine) May 17, 2024

However, Stoinis looked confident and quickly went for a review. Replays showed that the ball was bouncing too much and it would have missed the stumps. The decision was reversed by the on-field umpires as Arjun’s wait for a wicket in IPL 2024 continued.

Earlier, MI captain Hardik Pandya won the toss and opted to bat against LSG.

“We’re going to bowl. Chasing is better in Wankhede. It comes on nicer in the evening. It’s always about playing for the badge, playing for pride – all those words are important in the group. We know where we stand. But ending the season playing good cricket will always be appreciated. It gives us more freedom maybe to go out there and express ourselves.” Hardik said at the toss.

Playing XIs:

Mumbai Indians: Ishan Kishan (wk), Naman Dhir, Dewald Brevis, Suryakumar Yadav, Nehal Wadhera, Hardik Pandya (c), R Shepherd, Anshul Kamboj, Piyush Chawla, Arjun Tendulkar, Nuwan Thushara.

Impact Substitutes: Rohit Sharma, Tim David, Akash Madhwal, Kumar Kartikeya, Shams Mulani

Lucknow Super Giants: KL Rahul (c/wk), Devdutt Padikkal, Marcus Stoinis, Deepak Hooda, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Krunal Pandya, Arshad Khan, Matt Henry, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan

Impact Substitutes: Naveen-ul-Haq, Ashton Turner, M Siddharth, Prerak Mankad, K Gowtham.

SRH vs LSG Live: A look at squads –

Lucknow Super Giants: Quinton de Kock, KL Rahul (c & wk), Deepak Hooda, Ayush Badoni, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Krunal Pandya, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan, Shamar Joseph, Yash Thakur, Manimaran Siddharth, Prerak Mankad, Arshad Khan, Krishnappa Gowtham, Amit Mishra, Kyle Mayers, Ashton Turner, Matt Henry, Naveen-ul-Haq, Devdutt Padikkal, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Mayank Yadav, Arshin Kulkarni.

Kolkata Knight Riders: Shreyas Iyer (c), KS Bharat (wk), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Rinku Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Sherfane Rutherford, Manish Pandey, Andre Russell, Nitish Rana, Venkatesh Iyer, Anukul Roy, Ramandeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine, Vaibhav Arora, Chetan Sakariya, Harshit Rana, Suyash Sharma, Mitchell Starc, Dushmantha Chameera, Sakib Hussain, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Gus Atkinson, Allah Ghazanfar, Phil Salt.