T20 World Cup 2024: Australia v Afghanistan – live

Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran are at the crease as Australia double down on their bowling change with finger-spinner Ashton Agar taking the new ball. Game on!

Afghanistan XI

Australia XI

Australia win the toss and elect to field

Form guide

Australia and Afghanistan have only previously faced one another in a single T20I, though that at least was a memorable encounter during the 2022 T20 World Cup.

Glenn Maxwell (54 not out from 32) and Mitch Marsh (45 from 30 balls) did the damage with the bat as Australia reached 168-8, then had Afghanistan on the ropes at 103-6 in the chase in Adelaide. That was until a late cameo from Rashid Khan (48 not out from 23) almost snatched a shock victory that would also have ended the hosts’ title defence.

Australia hung on to win by four runs but were knocked out the next day anyway, when England drew level on three wins but with a superior net run-rate to claim a semi-final spot on their way to the T20 World Cup crown.

It was admittedly in a different format but was still an all-time classic when the two sides faced off at last year’s 50-over World Cup. Australia were 91-7 chasing 292 when Maxwell (201 not out from 128) plundered the most outrageous unbeaten double-century to break Afghanistan hearts – ICYMI see more in the video below.

Maxwell has not had nearly the same sort of impact at this tournament, as Australia’s opening pair David Warner and Travis Head have dominated from the top of the order with Marcus Stoinis so far the most likely to add runs later on.

Afghanistan have also relied on fast starts from their top-order, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran both notching two half-centuries from five innings so far. Where the runs will come from if one or both of those 22-year-olds fall cheaply must be a concern against Australia’s three-pronged pace attack and white-ball wizard Adam Zampa.

The leg-spinner is yet again among the leading wicket-takers at an ICC event, this time with 11 scalps from five innings. Pat Cummins might have stolen the plaudits with his hat-trick against Bangladesh, but it was Zampa that picked up wickets at crucial times to ensure Australia made it a perfect five-wins-from-five at this T20 World Cup.

Afghanistan’s own spin magician Rashid is also within reach of the top of the wicket-taking table with nine victims so far, while their left-arm quick Fazalhaq Farooqi is out in front with 15.

Farooqi might have bolstered his tally against Uganda (5-9) and PNG (3-16), but showed he can also trouble the Test-playing nations when facing New Zealand (4-17) and India (3-33).

The toss and team news is coming shortly – but now is an ideal time to email your thoughts or get in touch on X @martinpegan, or just to remember Maxwell’s most incredible of knocks:

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