Gulbadin Naib emerged as Afghanistan's hero, orchestrating a remarkable 21-run victory over previously unbeaten Australia in their Group One Super Eight clash at the T20 World Cup held at Arnos Vale Stadium.

Chasing a target of 149 runs, Australia seemed on track with Glenn Maxwell's brisk 59, but Naib's crucial wickets turned the tide. His spell of 4 for 20 restricted Australia to 127 all out, marking Afghanistan's historic first win over the cricket giants in a senior international match.

An elated Gulbadin Naib expressed pride in his performance, stating, "It is a great moment for me, my nation, my people." His strategic bowling proved decisive, earning him the well-deserved Man of the Match award.

Earlier, Afghanistan's innings saw Rahmanullah Gurbaz (60) and Ibrahim Zadran (51) set a strong foundation with a century opening partnership. Despite a middle-order slump, they managed a competitive total of 148 for six.

Pat Cummins' second consecutive hat-trick curtailed Afghanistan's momentum, but the Afghan bowlers defended their total expertly, led by Naib's pivotal contributions.

Reflecting on the defeat, Australian captain Mitchell Marsh admitted, "We were simply outplayed by a better team on the night." Meanwhile, Afghanistan's captain Rashid Khan credited his team's belief and strategic decisions for the historic win.

With both teams on two points, Australia faces a crucial match against unbeaten India to secure a semi-final berth. Afghanistan, buoyed by their performance, will take on Bangladesh, aiming to qualify for their first T20 World Cup semi-finals.

Afghanistan's victory over Australia not only shakes up Group One but also underscores their growing prowess in international cricket. As the T20 World Cup unfolds, all eyes will be on how these teams navigate their remaining matches to advance in the tournament.