Afghanistan fans revel in the experience of their country's opening World Cup 2019 match against Australia. Afghanistan, batting first, made 207, with Najibullah Zadran, Rashid Khan and Gulbadin Naib treating the fans to plenty of big hits at the County Ground in Bristol.
Najibullah Zadran and Afghanistan captain Gulbadin Naib shared a 83-run partnership for the sixth wicket, helping their recover from 77 for five. Zadran top-scored for Afghanistan with a 49-ball 51, while Naib made 31. Naib and Zadran were dismissed in the same over (34th of the innings) by Marcus Stoinis.
Mitchell Starc gave Australia the perfect start by removing Mohammad Shahzad off just the third ball of the innings. It was a sharp inswinging delivery that crashed into the stumps after hitting Shahzad's pads.
Adam Zampa (centre) finished with three for 60 and cut short a dangerous partnership between Hashmatullah Shahidi and Rahmat Shah to help Australia take control of the match after Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins had removed Mohammad Shahzad and Hazratullah Zazai with the new balls.
Chasing 208, Australia captain Aaron Finch set the tone with a blazing start to the innings. With a full exhibition of strokes all round the ground, Finch stamped his authority on the Afghanistan bowling attack, with Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman paying the price for faltering with their lengths time and again. Finch reached his half-century off 40 balls and was out for 66 off 49 balls, miscuing a cutter from Afghanistan captain Gulbadin Naib.
David Warner played the sheet anchor to perfection to guide Australia to a seven-wicket win. With Aaron Finch going all guns blazing at the other end, Warner made his intention to spend time at the crease clear by leaving balls outside off-stump and defending a majority of balls at the start of his innings. He was batting on 29 off 54 balls before upping the ante. Warner marked his return to international cricket with an unbeaten 89 off 114 balls.
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