Top 5 wins by Afghanistan across formats in international cricket

The Afghanistan cricket team have recorded a few unexpected victories in the last couple of years.

The Afghanistan cricket team made their ODI debut in 2009, T20I debut in 2010, and test debut in 2018. Their rapid rise in international cricket over the past decade has simply been phenomenal and heartening, considering that cricket is a major source of happiness in a country that is in a rut of endless struggle.

In the first decade of their cricket, they regularly won over lower-ranked cricket nations, the likes of Ireland and Zimbabwe. They used to give some tough fights to teams like Pakistan, Bangladesh and India, however, they would falter in crunch moments.

But, in the past few years, with their players getting exposure in T20 leagues where they play under high pressure and alongside the best white-ball players in the world, Afghanistan have taken down a few giants of world cricket and stunned everyone.

In this article, we will look at five of their most memorable wins against the more experienced cricketing nations.

Top 5 wins by Afghanistan across formats in international cricket:

5. First-ever victory in an ODI World Cup match

Afghanistan made their ODI World Cup debut in the 2015 edition in Australia and New Zealand. Out of six matches, they won only one match – against Scotland in Dunedin. This victory came in a thrilling encounter, which they won by only one wicket and with three balls remaining.

Their bowlers did very well to bowl Scotland out for 210, with Shapoor Zadran and Dawlat Zadran combining to take seven wickets. In the chase, only two of their top nine batters got into double figures.

Opener Javed Ahmadi scored 51 (51) and middle-order batter Samiullah Shinwari scored 96 (147). They were 192/9 when Shinwari got out but the last-wicket pair, Hamid Hassan and Shapoor Zadran, got them over the line with 15* and 12* respectively in the last over of the chase.

4. Win against England in 2023 World Cup

Afghanistan failed to win a single match at the 2019 World Cup and lost their first two games in the 2023 World Cup as well. But, they rocked back in the tournament by thumping England, the defending champions, by 69 runs in Delhi.

On a pitch that had low bounce and some turn, the Afghan bowlers stunned the England batters while defending their total of 284. England were in a decent position at 91/3, but once Naveen-ul-Haq knocked over England captain Jos Buttler’s stumps, the Three Lions collapsed. They were bowled out for 215 with almost 10 overs left in their innings.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan took three wickets each.

3. First-ever win against South Africa in ODIs, 2024

Considering what they had already achieved so far, their maiden ODI win over South Africa was hardly a surprise. Yet, it was a major victory as it was their first-ever ODI triumph over the Proteas in their maiden bilateral series.

In the first ODI of the three-match series in September 2024, Afghanistan utterly demolished South Africa in Sharjah. Bowling first, Fazalhaq Farooqi was on fire as he nipped out South Africa’s top three before spinner Allah Ghazanfar got into the act with a three-wicket haul.

At one point, the Proteas were in deep trouble at 36/7. Wiaan Mulder’s 52 helped them avoid getting bowled out under 100. They were bundled for 106, which Afghanistan chased down in 26 overs with six wickets in hand.

2. Win against Pakistan in 2023 World Cup

One of the most celebrated wins in Afghanistan’s cricket history is their victory over Asian neighbours Pakistan at the World Cup 2023 in Chennai. In a crucial match for both teams, Hashmatullah Shahidi’s team came out on top of Babar Azam’s side while chasing 283.

Afghanistan got off to a terrific start from Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran as the pair posted a 130-run opening stand off 21.1 overs. While Zadran played the anchor role, Rahmat Shah scored 77 off 84 and then Shahidi scored 48 off 45. Afghanistan crossed the finishing line with unusual calmness and won by eight wickets.

1. First-ever win over Australia in international cricket at the T20 World Cup 2024

Perhaps the most famous and historic win in Afghanistan’s cricket history so far is their triumph over Australia at the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. They met in the Super Eight round in Kingstown.

On a bowling-friendly surface, Afghanistan dragged themselves to a competitive total of 148. With the ball, they started off well by knocking over Australia’s top three in the powerplay. Glenn Maxwell then threatened them with his 59 (41).

However, once Maxwell was dismissed in the 15th over, Afghanistan pounced on the Aussies. Naveen and Naib shared seven wickets between them and bowled Australia out for 127, winning the match by 21 runs.

This result played a huge role in Afghanistan reaching the semi-finals of the tournament, while knocking Australia out.

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