honked over the leg side, one-bounce four! But it won't be enough for Afghanistan... and although Australia win by 4 runs, it may not be enough for them either. They know if England beat Sri Lanka tomorrow, they're out
Australia vs Afghanistan, 38th Match, Group 1 at Adelaide, T20 WC, Nov 04 2022 - Ball by Ball Commentary
10.15pm: Time for the captains to speak, starting with Mohammad Nabi: "Really good game of cricket. They started really well but at the end Naveen and Farooqi bowled well and it wasn't a big total on that pitch. We started well in the powerplay and the middle, but threw away four wickets back to back and that put us under pressure. [Two washouts] Tough when you play first game and then don't play for 10 days. We didn't get that momentum but improved every game from there."
Australia's Matthew Wade: [Feelings at the end?] "Okay, four overs out probably, brought our bowlers forward and gave Stoiny the last. Knowing you have the allrounder to bowl one of the last two is a bit nerve-wracking but I've seen Rash do that plenty of times. Never really felt safe. [Eng-SL game] We'll stay here and watch that game, hoping for a bit of an upset. We put ourselves in that situation, been trying to chase a bit of run rate but it hasn't gone our way. Bit slow out of the blocks this tournament, hopefully it doesn't cost us. [Finch, David fitness?] Yeah, hopeful they'll be right to go if we make the semis."
Right, that's it from amazing Adelaide tonight. Afghanistan missed out on a famous win despite Rashid Khan's blitz, but Australia's failure to boost their NRR in the City of Churches has left them on their last prayer as defending T20WC champs. You can catch up with how it all played out on the Live Report, and Valkerie's full write-up will be in the slot shortly. Tomorrow we head back to the SCG for England versus Sri Lanka and the conclusion of Group 1. Join us then... for now, from myself, Matt and Raghav, it's goodnight. Bye!
10.07pm: Raucous finish at Adelaide Oval, courtesy of Rashid Khan's dead-eyed tonking. But the mood is subdued for both teams as they leave the field. Afghanistan finish winless, having had two of their five games washed out, while Australia's semi-final hopes are hanging by a slender blue-and-yellow, fully recyclable thread. Oh, and speaking of Sri Lanka - they're out, even if they beat England in the final group game
Here is Player of the Match Glenn Maxwell: [Got close at end] "Certainly did, Afghanistan played well, struck the ball cleanly. Started well in the powerplay and we were able to haul it back, but there was some pretty clean hitting at the end. [Run-out, catches] Nice to have an impact in the field, knew I wouldn't bowl much. The wicket was quite slow during the day, quite hard to push on. Had to put a total on to give ourselves a chance to win the game. They executed well and we couldn't get away. [Eng-SL game] We'll be following it, we put ourselves in this situation but hopefully SL can do the job for us."
Stoinis just needs to land this straight
this one goes straight up, but lands safely! Back-of-the-hander full outside off, Rashid is looking to launch but can only plink a couple between long-on and long-off
Two more of those to win it...
banged into the crowd over deep square! Pace off again and Rashid is waiting, sits back and wallops it 83m over the leg side
another slowie out the back of the hand, wide of off and Rashid mistimes to long-on. Won't be running here
helped away to long leg! Stoinis is trying to tuck him up, the legcutter sliding down leg and Rashid swivels to belt it to an untended part of the field
slower delivery, Rashid looks to swing it leg side but gets an inside edge. Declines a single to square leg
loopy delivery down leg, and they run on the wide... Wade misses with an attempt to run out Rashid, but Stoinis makes no mistake at the bowler's end, Darwish well short. But there are still six balls in the over for Rashid to target
Stoinis to bowl it, Darwish on strike
pitched up and powered through long-off!! Afghanistan are still dreaming here! Rashid hammers another boundary over the man in the ring. Brings it down to 22 from the last 6
dug in short, swing and a miss. Rashid chides himself for the lapse
slaughtered! Wristy whippage over deep midwicket! Sits up nicely and he targets the shorter part of the ground, into the stands for a 72m six
full and wide, Rashid swings himself off his feet but fails to connect! He launched into a crouching, rolling attempted slog-sweep... and ended with his face in the mud
moves across his stumps, Hazlewood slips in a 140kph/87mph wide yorker, dug out for one
Darwish leaves a wide length ball... but it was inside the tramlines
Hazlewood back, 33 needed from 12. Australia will have to bowl one of Stoinis or Green (or Maxwell) for the 20th
Look out: Afghanistan's chances up to 6.5% on Forecaster!
slammed over long-off! Rashid helicoptering to the rescue? Slightly too full and Rashid frees his arms, hits it a long way back
This is from Rajesh: "Confirmed now (when Afg reached 122) that any margin of win for Eng will be enough for them to stay ahead of Aus on NRR"
creamed into the stands! Expansive mow of the bat, hauling a length ball over deep midwicket for six
short ball with pace off, sliced high over point, lands between two men out on the rope
fullish on the stumps, big wind-up from Rashid but he can only plink another single leg side
pitched up and blapped through the covers
"SL is officially out from the race." Not quite, Deepak Khanal. Afghanistan haven't lost this yet
short of a length outside off, pulled for one
Richardson again
Here's Sid with the size of it: "England destiny in their own hands... Win and through to SF or go HOME"
bumper with pace on, brings a swing and a miss
Over 20 • AFG 164/7