Australia vs Afghanistan, Final: 7 key moments, ball by ball
Afghanistan beat Australia by 4 wickets.
Afghanistan beat Australia by 4 wickets in Final of Hong Kong Sixes — Play Offs. Here is how the match turned, ball by ball: the overs that changed it, the wickets that mattered and the numbers behind the result.
Key moments, ball by ball
- AUS Over 2 — 26 runs came off the over, bowled by Gulbadin Naib: nb 0 6 2 0 6 6
- AUS Over 3.4 — Max Bryant out for 44 (14), caught by Nangeyalia Kharote. 54/1
- AUS Over 6 — 24 runs came off the over, bowled by Sediqullah Pacha: wd 6 4 6 4 3 0
- AFG Over 2 — 31 runs came off the over, bowled by Chris Green: nb 6 4 6 W 6 wd 6
- AFG Over 4 — 27 runs came off the over, bowled by Max Bryant: 1 6 wd 4 1 wd 6 wd 6
- AFG Over 5.2 — Imran Mir finished it off with a four off Alex Ross
- AFG Over 5.2 — Imran Mir brings up a fifty off 14 balls
How the runs came
Australia were 53 after 3 overs and finished on 115/2. Afghanistan were 66 after 3 overs and finished on 119/2.
Phase by phase
| Phase | AUS | AFG |
|---|---|---|
| Powerplay (1-2) | 36/0 (RR 18.00) | 46/2 (RR 23.00) |
| Middle overs (3-7) | 76/2 (RR 19.00) | 73/0 (RR 23.05) |
In the powerplay, Afghanistan scored 10 more than Australia.
Australia innings: over by over
Australia faced 7 dot balls (18%), hit 10 fours and 9 sixes, and got 3 extras. The best stand was 54 off 22 balls between Jack Wood.
Fall of wickets: 54-1 (Max Bryant, 3.4), 82-2 (Nick Hobson, 5.1)
Afghanistan innings: over by over
Afghanistan faced 3 dot balls (9%), hit 4 fours and 14 sixes, and got 9 extras. The best stand was 86 off 21 balls between Farmanullah Safi & Imran Mir (unbroken).
Fall of wickets: 15-1 (Karim Janat, 0.6), 33-2 (Gulbadin Naib, 1.5)
Our view
Australia put up a competitive 115/2, with Max Bryant leading the attack through his explosive 44 off just 14 balls. Gulbadin Naib's second over proved expensive, as Australia collected 26 runs, while Sediqullah Pacha conceded another 24 in the final over. However, Afghanistan responded with even greater aggression. They scored 31 runs in Chris Green's second over, quickly taking control of the chase.
Imran Mir was the standout performer, smashing 53 off just 14 balls. His unbroken 86-run partnership with Farmanullah Safi kept Afghanistan firmly ahead of the required rate. The 27-run fourth over further reduced the pressure, and Mir finished the match with a boundary in the 5.2 over. Afghanistan's six-hitting power and quick chase secured a convincing four-wicket victory in the final.
Top performers
- Imran Mir — 53 (14 balls)
- Max Bryant — 44 (14 balls)
- Alex Ross — 29 (10 balls)
- Nangeyalia Kharote — 1/17 (1 ov)
- Karim Janat — 1/27 (2 ov)
- Chris Green — 1/30 (1 ov)
Full scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary: Australia vs Afghanistan
