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Australia has registered a shock 21-run defeat to Afghanistan that throws its semifinal hopes into jeopardy at the men's Twenty20 World Cup.
Afghanistan's first win over Australia in any format came after openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz (60 off 49 deliveries) and Ibrahim Zadran (51 off 48) defied a fiendish St Vincent wicket for a 118-run stand in the Super Eight match.
It was the highest opening partnership recorded against Australia in men's T20s.
With his second hat-trick in as many matches, Pat Cummins (3-28) helped Australia claw back and restrict Afghanistan to 6-148 on Sunday AEST.
But chasing 149, Australia was bamboozled by the tough conditions, falling to 3-32 late in the powerplay as the Afghan quicks began a dominant stay at the crease.
Glenn Maxwell (59 off 41) played himself back into form with the bat and threatened to reprise his role as Afghanistan's bogeyman, following a double-century at the ODI World Cup last year.
But Afghanistan could smell victory when the all-rounder clipped player-of-the-match Gulbadin Naib (4-20) to backward point, where Noor Ahmad took a tough chance in the 15th over.
Australia was all out for 127 in the final over, left to rue some sloppy fielding and a sluggish start with the bat.
The loss means Australia may need to rely on net run-rate to make the final four even if it is able to beat India in its last Super Eight match on Tuesday AEST.
"It becomes really clear now we just need to win and there's no better team to do it against than against one of the biggest challenges in world cricket," Australia captain Mitch Marsh told Prime Video.
"We'll remain positive. We had an off night tonight.
"Absolute full credit to Afghanistan, I thought they were brilliant."
Afghanistan had reason to celebrate after its historic victory over Australia.(Getty Images: Gareth Copley)
Afghanistan's historic victory keeps its hopes of a fairytale semifinal berth alive ahead of its third Super Eight match against Bangladesh.
"We [were] waiting for a long time," Gulbadin said.
"It's a great moment for … not only for me, [but] for my nation, for my people.
"It's a big achievement for our cricket."
After winning the toss, Australia dropped five chances in the field, the first two coming during the blistering opening stand.
Marcus Stoinis shows his frustration during Australia's loss to Afghanistan.(Getty Images: Darrian Traynor)
As Gurbaz and Ibrahim wreaked havoc, Matthew Wade missed an easy opportunity for a stumping and Australia twice leaked fours following misfields from Ashton Agar, who was named ahead of Mitchell Starc.
After dropping an earlier chance, Marcus Stoinis (1-19) had a long-overdue breakthrough when Gurbaz picked out David Warner at deep backward square leg.
When that wicket eventually came — in the 16th over — it was the longest Australia had gone in a T20I without taking a wicket.
Adam Zampa (2-28) and Cummins ensured Afghanistan's batting order never clicked back into gear once the opening partnership was broken.
Cummins became the first player to take hat-tricks in consecutive T20 matches when Gulbadin (0) pulled him to Maxwell at deep midwicket in the final over.
He could have had another wicket off the next ball had the usually reliable Warner held onto Nangeyalia Kharote at deep point.
Naveen-ul-Haq (centre) was superb with the ball for Afghanistan.(Getty Images/ICC: Darrian Traynor)
Naveen-ul-Haq (3-20) vindicated the decision to start Afghanistan's innings with pace, swinging the ball into Travis Head's middle stump on the third ball of Australia's innings.
The removal of Head (0) and Marsh (12) inside three overs raised the alarm, and Australia was officially in panic mode when Afghanistan injected spin for the first time.
Warner (3) skied Mohammad Nabi (1-1) to short fine leg on the off-spinner's first delivery and set the stage for Maxwell to haunt Afghanistan again.
But when Maxwell's gutsy knock came to an end, Australia was into the bowlers and limping to the finish at 6-106.
With Australia requiring 24 runs from the final over, Azmatullah Omarzai sealed victory when Zampa hit him to Nabi at long on with four balls left.
AAP
Look back at how the action unfolded in our blog.
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Congratulations again to Afghanistan, who records its first win over Australia in any format.
Despite Pat Cummins snaring a second consecutive hat-trick and Glenn Maxwell posting a half-century, the Australians found themselves on the back foot throughout the match.
A win would have sealed a semifinal berth for Australia, who was unbeaten heading into the encounter.
Australia and Afghanistan both sit on two points in the Group 1 standings in the Super Eight stage, with India on top with four points.
India is already through to the semis, meaning Australia's fate will be decided in the final round of matches.
The Aussies face India on Tuesday AEST, while Afghanistan will play Bangladesh.
Thanks for your company today and we hope you will join us on Tuesday for Australia's crucial clash with India.
Bye for now!
AFGHANISTAN WINS!
AFGHANISTAN DEFEATS AUSTRALIA BY 21 RUNS!
What a victory for Afghanistan and richly deserved!
Adam Zampa is the last Australia batter out, caught by Mohammad Nabi from the bowling of Azmatullah Omarzai.
The Aussies are all out for 127 following an outstanding bowling display from Afghanistan.
Gulbadin Naib is named player of the match after taking 4-20 in Australia's innings.
Afghanistan's win was built on a solid batting performance, highlighted by the opening stand of 118 from Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran.
Australia was set a difficult target, with only Glenn Maxwell (59) making an impression with the bat.
Well done Afghanistan!
19th over: Aussies stay in the fight
Fazalhaq Farooqi is back into the attack for Afghanistan.
Can he finish off the Aussie challenge?
Josh Hazlewood gets a single before Adam Zampa finds the boundary with a four.
Zampa scoots through for one run to leave Hazlewood on strike for the final delivery.
The Aussies run for two but receive a free hit.
However, it's a dot ball and Australia finishes the over 9-125, needing 24 for victory.
Can the Aussies do it?
18th over: Aussies in further trouble
Naveen-ul-Haq is bowling and on his second ball it's a WICKET!
A brilliant catch from Gulbadin Naib after Ashton Agar launches a powerful cover drive.
Agar out for 2 and Australia is 9-113.
Josh Hazlewood joins Adam Zampa at the crease and they add three runs to Australia's innings.
Ahead of the final two overs, the Aussies are 9-116.
17th over: Aussies lose Cummins
It's a tall order, with Australia needing 38 runs from 24 balls for victory.
Gulbadin Naib begins his final over and Afghanistan uses up its last review after Pat Cummins survives from the first delivery.
But two balls later and it's another WICKET!
Cummins is bowled for 3, as Gulbadin claims his fourth wicket of the Australian innings.
Australia 8-111 in the 17th over.
Adam Zampa is now at the crease for the Aussies, joining Ashton Agar out in the middle.
Almost a run-out on the fifth delivery, but still a wicket over and Australia is struggling at 8-113.
16th over: Afghanistan breaks through again
WICKET!
Rashid Khan strikes for Afghanistan to begin his final over.
He removes Matthew Wade, who attempts a sweep shot but hits the ball to Karim Janat to be out for 5.
Australia 7-108.
Ashton Agar joins Pat Cummins at the crease and the Aussies add three runs after the dismissal of Wade to be 7-111.
15th over: Aussies lose Maxwell
Australia is not out of the contest, especially with Glenn Maxwell at the crease.
He's unbeaten on 59 as Gulbadin Naib begins the 15th over.
Gulbadin bowls tightly and on the fourth delivery it's a WICKET!
MAXWELL IS OUT!
The Aussie all-rounder is caught by Noor Ahmad at backward point to be out for 59.
Is that the last chance for the Aussies?
Not if Pat Cummins has anything to do with it.
He comes to the crease and gets off the mark with two runs, as Australia finishes the 15th over 6-108, chasing 149 for victory.
14th over: Naveen back into the attack
Naveen-ul-Haq got two wickets in his opening spell - what can he do in his second?
He's not helped by some poor fielding from Karim Janat at deep point, as Glenn Maxwell manages a boundary from the second ball.
Australia adds another seven runs during the over to move to 5-105.
13th over: Aussies lose the wicket of David
Gulbadin Naib continues his spell, with Australia needing 65 runs from 48 balls.
Glenn Maxwell gets a single from the first ball, but do Afghanistan have a wicket from the next delivery?
Afghanistan launches a confident appeal for LBW with Tim David on strike.
The on-field decision is OUT, but the Aussies ask for a review.
The final decision?
DAVID OUT!
Tim David departs for 2, trapped LBW by Gulbadin.
Matthew Wade is the new Aussie batter out in the middle.
Wade is off the mark from the first ball he faces, before Afghanistan concedes a bye.
Wade gets another single and then Maxwell goes down the ground and SIX!
The ball just makes it over the rope and it's another six to Maxwell, who brings up his 50.
Australia 5-94 after 13 overs.
12th over: Maxwell goes big
Glenn Maxwell has been here before, with Australia struggling under intense pressure from Afghanistan.
He goes big and hits a six on the third ball of Rashid Khan's third over.
With the addition of two singles during the 12th over, Australia is 4-84.
11th over: Stoinis out as Aussies lose another wicket
WICKET!
Gulbadin Naib is introduced into Afghanistan's attack and he makes a breakthrough with his third ball, removing Marcus Stoinis for 11.
Stoinis mistimes a shot and he is caught by Rahmanullah Gurbaz.
A key breakthrough for Afghanistan, as Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell had put on 39 runs for the fourth wicket.
Tim David joins Maxwell at the crease.
Australia 4-71 when Stoinis departed but they add five runs to finish the over on 4-76.
10th over: Rashid continues
Rashid Khan bowls his second over.
Four consecutive singles are followed by a boundary to Glenn Maxwell, who beats extra cover to find the rope.
Maxwell will keep the strike after taking a single from the last ball of Rashid's over.
Australia 3-70 as players take drinks.
Ninth over: Afghanistan makes another bowling change
Noor Ahmad is thrown the ball but he makes a poor start, giving up five runs via a wide with his first delivery.
A player review follows on the next ball, with Afghanistan appealing for an LBW decision with Marcus Stoinis on strike.
Stoinis is not out and on the third delivery he sweeps for four to move his score to 8.
He then gets a single to put Glenn Maxwell on strike.
Maxwell finishes the over with a single.
An expensive over for Afghanistan, with Noor conceding 11 runs.
Australia 3-61, chasing 149 for the win.
Eighth over: Rashid enters the attack
Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan brings himself into the bowling attack.
No fireworks from Australia, but it does add four runs to its total to be 3-50.
Seventh over: Afghanistan continues with spin
Nangeyalia Kharote is given the ball as Afghanistan looks to make another breakthrough via spin.
An exchange of singles is followed by a four to Glenn Maxwell, before he finishes the over with a SIX!
Maxwell clears the deep midwicket boundary to give the Aussies some hope.
He's 22 and Australia is 3-46 after seven overs.
Sixth over: Warner departs as Aussies struggle
Afghanistan looks to the spin of Mohammad Nabi with immediate effect.
WICKET! Nabi removes David Warner for 3, with the Aussie opener caught by Noor Ahmad.
The Aussies are in deep trouble at 3-32.
Marcus Stoinis is the new batter and he gets off the mark from his third ball.
Glenn Maxwell doesn't trouble the scorers and Australia finishes the sixth over at 3-33.
Fifth over: Afghanistan makes bowling change
Naveen-ul-Haq is given a breather after his two wickets, as Azmatullah Omarzai enters the attack for Afghanistan.
A single puts Glenn Maxwell on strike and the Aussie all-rounder manages two fours to move to 11.
Australia finishes the over 2-32, chasing a victory target of 149.
Fourth over: Aussies look to recover
Fazalhaq Farooqi is bowling his second over, with David Warner on strike.
Warner takes a single, before Maxwell does likewise to get off the mark on the second delivery of the over.
Another single to Warner puts Maxwell back on strike.
Maxwell doesn't add to his total until the final delivery, with two runs moving him to 3.
Australia 2-23 after four overs.
Third over: Danger man Naveen continues
Naveen-ul-Haq got a wicket in his first over, what can he do in his second?
Well, Mitch Marsh opens the over with a four through cover as he moves his innings along to 12.
WICKET! Marsh is gone as Naveen strikes again.
Marsh is enticed to go long and he lofts a shot to Mohammad Nabi, who makes no mistake with the catch.
Marsh out for 12 and the Aussies struggling at 2-16 as the third over continues.
Glenn Maxwell is the new batter at the crease but Warner is on strike.
Warner gets off the mark with a single on the fifth delivery of the over.
A dot ball and Australia is 2-18 from three overs.
Second over: Farooqi with the ball
Fazalhaq Farooqi enters the Afghanistan attack.
First ball and it's four leg byes to Australia with Mitch Marsh on strike.
Marsh takes two from the next delivery.
Third ball and it's a four to the Aussies! Marsh goes down the ground and doesn't bother running as the ball makes its way to the rope.
Marsh gets off the strike with a single and Warner sees out the over.
Australia 1-12 after two overs, chasing 149 for victory.
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