Matthew Wade
Matthew Wade (Image Credit: Twitter)

Australia beat Afghanistan by four runs in their last Super 12 match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 at the Adelaide Oval on Friday, November 4. Afghanistan put up a tough fight against Australia, but the defending champions won in a thrilling match. With this victory, the hosts kept alive their hopes of reaching the tournament’s semi-finals.

Australia are in the second spot in the Group 1 points table behind New Zealand with 7 points at a net run rate of -0.173 with 3 wins from 5 matches. England, who are currently placed in the third spot, will face Sri Lanka at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday, November 5. Australia will qualify for the semifinals if Sri Lanka wins against England.

Australia National Cricket Team
Australia National Cricket Team. Pic Credits: Twitter.

We Will Be Hoping For An Upset – Matthew Wade

Australia’s stand-in skipper, Matthew Wade, hoped their slow start to their title defense at the T20 World Cup doesn’t come back to haunt them. Wade said that his team will remain in Adelaide to watch the final Group 1 Super 12 encounter between England and Sri Lanka in Sydney, with the result of the match deciding their semi-final chances.

Matthew Wade
Matthew Wade. Pic Credits: Twitter

“We will stay here tonight and watch the game tomorrow, we will be hoping for an upset. We put ourselves in this position from the get-go, we have been slow in this tournament and hopefully it doesn’t cost us,” Wade said during the post-match presentation on Friday.

Read More  Did Sanju Samson fool BCCI and Jay Shah vs Delhi Capitals? Video releases justifying Ricky Ponting and Sourav Ganguly's heated exchange

All-Rounder To Bowl The Last Over Is Pretty Nerve-Wracking – Matthew Wade

Rashid Khan’s never-say-die attitude gave some tense moments to Australia, as he scored a sensational 48 runs off 23 balls with three fours and four sixes at a strike rate of 208.70. Needing 22 off the last over, Rashid managed to smash Marcus Stoinis for two fours and one six, but it was not enough.

Rashid Khan. PC- Getty
Rashid Khan. PC- Getty

“We gave Stoinis the last over, to have an all-rounder to bowl the last over is pretty nerve-wracking. I played him in IPL and I have seen him do it for 3-4 times. But never felt entirely sure at any point,” Wade said.

Also read: BAN vs PAK: “Even Now Anything Can Happen, There Can Be Miracles And It Can Happen” – Bangladesh Pacer Taskin Ahmed Remains Optimistic About Bangladesh’s Semifinal Chances