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Pat Cummins’ second T20 hat-trick in as many games was not enough to prevent Australia from falling to a 21-run defeat to Afghanistan. The Afghans needed a win to keep their semi-final hopes alive. If Rashid Khan’s team would have lost, they would have been out.

The men in blue went about their challenge admirably. Opening pair Rahmanullah and Ibrahim Zadran put on 100 for the opening wicket, which helped the Asian side set a potentially tricky target of 148-6.

Having been 118-1 after 16 overs, the Aussie bowlers went about their task impressively, including Australian test-captain Cummins who became the first man to take back T20 hat-tricks.

Australia in reply, went about their chase in disastrous fashion and after five overs were 32-3. Travis Head, skipper Mitchell Marsh, and the soon-to-be retiring David Warner were all back in the pavilion.

Glenn Maxwell’s 59, halted the Afghan steam strain, but in reality, Afghanistan were stalled in their victory charge but on the day they weren’t to be denied. Naveen Ul-Haq (3-20) and Gulbadin Naim (4-20) were the chief destroyers.

The 2021 T20 World Cup winners will be kicking themselves, they were in the driving seat to qualify for the semi-finals, but now it’s not going to be quite as simple.

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