Sleepless in St Vincent!

Afghanistan pulled off an upset of epic proportions with a shock 21run win over mighty Australia in T20 World Cup with Gulbadin Naikrsquos fourwicket haul upending Pat Cumminsrsquos hattrick to produce one of most memorable days in Afghan cricketUsing the slower balls smartly on a difficult batting wicket Afghanistan defended their total of 148 for six for their firstever win over Australia in international cricketRashid KhanAustralia were all out for 127 in 192 overs and they are now staring at early elimination from the World CupAfghanistan openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz 60 and Ibrahim Zadran 51 forged a 118run partnership setting up base for a challenging total but Cummins registered his second successive hattrick spread across two overs to restrict Afghanistan to a manageable totalAlso ReadRain lashes out in St Lucia ahead of IndiaAustralia clash in Super EightsGulbadin Naib shinesAustralia were reduced to 323 in the Powerplay but Glenn Maxwell slammed a 41ball 59 to somewhat resurrect the chase However Naibrsquos timely strikes proved crucial in toppling the 2021 championsPat Cummins after claiming hattrick against AfghanistanAfghanistan exacted revenge for their defeat in Mumbai during the ODI World Cup Maxwellrsquos breathtaking double hundred denied a distraught Rashid Khan forty winks during November last year but the Afghanistan skipper can now be happily awake after settling scores with Australia for that mindnumbing defeat in MumbaiThe Aussies recovered miraculously from 917 to chase down 292 with Maxwell striking a tornadolike unbeaten 201ldquoI think I can sleep better now But that was a night which didnrsquot let me sleep The game kept coming into my mindrdquo Rashid said at the postmatch media conference recollecting that epic fightback by a hamstrung Maxwell who hit 21 fours and 10 sixesldquoDefinitely I didnrsquot sleep the whole night on November 7 2023 and I feel like tonight because of the happiness I wonrsquot be able to sleepThatrsquos how happy the whole team isrdquo said a visibly happy RashidThe spinner then tried to provide an elaborate perspective to what the victory meant for a warravaged Afghanistan where their cricket teamrsquos biggest win is an escape from daily hassleslsquoGreat achievementrsquoldquoItrsquos a massive win for us as a team as a nation Itrsquos not just like a bilateral game Itrsquos a World Cup game and definitely in a World Cup yoursquore beating the best side Itrsquos a great achievement And yoursquore Australia the winners of the 2021 T20 World CuprdquoAfghanistanrsquos win also kept Group 1 in Super 8s aliveRashid wasnrsquot off the mark when he said cricket was the only source of happiness for people in Afghanistan which is now ruled by the Taliban ldquoCricket is the only source of happiness back home Thatrsquos the only source left in Afghanistan where people could celebrate And if we keep that source away from us as well I donrsquot know where Afghanistan will remainrdquo Rashid one of the prominent global ambassadors of his country saidTalkMichael VaughanMichaelVaughanItrsquos no surprise anymore that Afghanistan produce performances like we have just witnessed Extremely skillful set of players amp brilliantly led by rashidkhan_19Tom MoodyTomMoodyCricketThis is bighellip ACBofficials topple Australia for the very first time Hats off to rashidkhan_19 and his team of true fightersSanjay ManjrekarsanjaymanjrekarGreat win for Afghanistan Used 8 bowlers to defend 148 Shows the benefits of having batters who can roll their arm overAdam Gilchristgilly381Congratulations to rashidkhan_19 and the Afghanistan team History made Looking forward to seeing how Aussies bounce backThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever