Based on the win, Australia moved up to second place in Group 1 with seven points from five matches, similar to New Zealand, who became the first team to qualify for the semi-finals due to a better net run rate.
Australia, however, failed to surpass England’s net run rate as the hosts needed to restrict Afghanistan to 106 after posting 168 for eight.
This means that if England beat Sri Lanka in their final match in Sydney on Saturday, they too will finish with seven points and join New Zealand in the semi-finals from Group 1 with a better net run rate.
Glenn Maxwell was the top scorer for Australia as he hit a quick half-century but Afghanistan pulled things back nicely in the last five overs to restrict the defending champions to a decent total.
Maxwell scored 54 off 32 balls, including six boundaries and two boundaries, when Afghanistan invited Australia to bat.
In reply, Afghanistan rode on the pyrotechnics of Rashid (48 not out off 23 balls) to register a sensational victory, but ultimately lost.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz started Afghanistan well with 30 off 17 balls during which he hit two fours and as many sixes but Australia bounced back, removing both the openers.
Gulbadin Naib (39) and Ibrahim Zadran (26), however, were in no mood to give up without a fight as they added 59 off 46 balls for the second wicket.
Naib and Zadran both made good impact of an inside shot on the infield and kept the Afghans in the hunt.
Maxwell had to do a great job from the outfield to break the stand. Maxwell hit a straight from deep mid-wicket to shorten Naib’s innings and then off the very next ball, Zadran patted Adam Zampa to Marsh.
Zampa hit another missed time shot to dismiss Najibullah Zadran as Afghanistan lost the plot in the 14th over.
In the end, Rashid struck some quick strikes and combined with Darvesh Rasuli to put up a quick partnership of 45 runs off 28 balls to reduce the equation to 22 of the final over.
Rashid managed to hit Marcus Stonis for two fours and a six in the final over but it was not enough.
Earlier, Australia lost Cameron Green early on but David Warner (25 off 18) and Mitchell Marsh (45 off 30) kept the run rate up with their quick strokeplay.
But two quick wickets in the sixth over in the form of Warner and Steve Smith reduced the hosts to 52 for 3 in the powerplay.
While Warner was bowled by a Naveen-ul-Haq off-cutter as the batsman went for an exceptional switch hit, Smith was declared lbw three balls later.
Marsh then put Mujeeb ur Rahman (1/42) on top for a slog sweep and Gurbaz took a good high to pack the batsman in as Australia were reduced to 86 for 4 in the 11th over.
Maxwell and Stoinis (25 off 21) again joined hands and shared a 53-run stand for the fifth wicket off just 29 balls.
While Maxwell looked ominous as the Afghan bowlers cut, dragged and bounced over the boundary, Stoinis struggled with his timing.
Stoinis hit just two sixes in his 21-ball knock before being handed a simple catch to Usman Ghani at backward point off Rashid.
Stand-in captain Matthew Wade also did not bother the scorer much as he was clean bowled by a toe-crushing yorker from Fazlhaq Farooqui.
At 133 for 4 in 15 overs, Australia lost wickets to lose momentum as Maxwell found boundaries coming after a promising start.
Maxwell reached his half-century in 29 balls off Farooqui in the final over and again fenced off the last ball to end the innings on a high.
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