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Australia have somehow kept themselves alive in the semi-final race at the ongoing T20 World Cup 2022 after managing to beat Afghanistan in a thriller at Adelaide Oval on Friday.
Chasing the massive target of 169, Afghanistan were in the game when Gulbadin Naib and Ibrahim Zadran were in the middle. The duo formed a vital stand of 59 runs for the third wicket and were looking solid to cruise through. But a direct hit from deep mid-wicket by Glenn Maxwell and theꦡn some ordinary batting saw the Afghans lose the momentum completely.
However, another twist came when senior player Rashid Khan took charge and kept the fight alive with his dead-eye tonking. But he had too much to do in the end and couldn’t take the team home as Afghanistan fell four runs short. Rashid entertained one and all with an unbeaten 23-🥃ball 48, including three fours and 4 sixes.
Earlier, Glenn Maxwell smacked🧔 an undefeated 54 from 32 deliveries to power Australia to 168/8 in 20 overs. Maxi hit six fours and a couple of maximums during his game-changing knock. Apart from the Victorian, Mitchell Marsh also shined with the bat, scoring 4ꦓ5 off 30 balls, including three fours and two sixes.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
A brilliant fight from Afghanistan, but Australia come out on top in Adelaide 💪 | | 📝ꦛ:
— ICC (@ICC)
ꦰAustඣralia hold on to claim victory! What a display from Rashid Khan though. Wow.
The defending c🎃hamps now need Sri Lanka t🧔o beat England tomorrow
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau)
Love Rashid Khan .. Incredible cricketer ..
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan)
Australia wins the match but Rash💞id Khan wins the day 🔥 what a brilliant display.
— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB)
Few better entertainers in our game than .
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha)
Rashid Khan has incredible wrists, not just as a wrist 🅷spinner but as a batter too!
— Shikha Pandey (@shikhashauny)
What a wonderful game. Afghanistan lost but the talk was all about them. Loved how the narrative changed from how well Australia could win to whether t๊hey could actually win.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha)
The only way Aജustralia can quꦡalify now is if Sri Lanka beat England tomorrow or if Eng vs SL is washed out.
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad)
Hold your head high, Rashid Khan. That was a stꦑupen💛dous innings.
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell)
Rashid Khan almost took Afghanistan home.
Scorecard:— betvisa68.com (@CricketTimesHQ)
Scenes tomorrow 😅
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14)
Rashid Khan at in T20 matches
Takes a wicket every 15.7 balls bowled
Hits a six every 7.9 balls faced
— Swamp (@sirswampthing)
Rashid Khan with ball, with bat, in field – What a freak in T20 format.
A genius, Rashid Khan.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns)
Well that was so much fun.
You're a legend
— Tim Michell (@tim_michell)
3 for 25 off the last four overs with two bowlers used, exceptional stuff. Not to often you keep Maxwell and Wade quiet inဣ these moments. Naveen and Farooqi well bowled.
— Brad Hogg (@Brad_Hogg)
Not quite enough to get over the line…but what a stunning knock from Rashid Khan. 48* off 23. Australia win…but only just. What a game!
— Aatif Nawaz (@AatifNawaz)
Rashid Khan played a fantastic knock of 48* (23) – his highest score in T20Is but Australia just inch home by 4 runs!
— ThePoppingCrease (@PoppingCreaseSA)
