Gulbadin Naib bowled Afghanistan to a tense 21-run victory over previously unbeaten Australia in a T20 World Cup Super Eight encounter in St Vincent on Saturday.

Set a target of 149, Glenn Maxwell (59 off 41 balls; six fours, three sixes) kept the Test and ODI world champions on course until he became Gulbadin’s third wicket in the 15th over, opening the door to a result which keeps the duel for semi-final spots alive going into the final two fixtures in the group on Monday.

Gulbadin finished with 4-20 from his four overs of medium pace to turn the match as Australia suffered their first defeat to the Afghans in a senior international encounter, being dismissed for 127 with four balls left in the match.

Earlier, Pat Cummins claimed his second hat-trick in as many matches as Afghanistan lost momentum after another century opening stand from Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, settling for a total of 148-6 after being put in.

Both teams are on two points after two games – with Australia facing Group 1 leaders India in their final match while Afghanistan play Bangladesh, who have lost both their Super Eights games.

© Agence France-Presse

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