David Warner and Aaron Finch fire Australia to opening World Cup win over Afghanistan
He was booed every time he touched the ball and was watched by fans dressed in sandpaper outfits. But it was David Warner who had the last laugh in Australia’s World Cup opener.
David Warner fell 11 runs short of his maiden century in England but marked his return to international cricket with a scratchy and then significant innings as Australia crushed Afghanistan.
It appeared Warner and Steve Smith would be at the crease together as Australia walked to an easy victory chasing just 208 runs, but Smith threw away his wicket with just three runs required.
Glenn Maxwell then smashed the next ball, which was his first ball, to the boundary to put Afghanistan out of its misery.
“There were nerves getting back into the (Australian) camp and getting back into the full intensity of training,” Warner said.
Smith and Warner took Australia to the brink of victory in their first official match together after their bans
“I was a little bit more relaxed once Finchy (Aaron Finch) started going. Playing Twenty20 cricket over the last 12-14 months hasn’t really moved my feet at all.
“To get back into a rhythm out there, start moving in the right direction and get my head over the ball was a positive.”
The Bristol locals bristled when Smith (18 off 27) and Warner (unbeaten 89 off 114) walked to the crease but the pair, yet again, responded with their bats. Australia has now won 42 out of their past 45 World Cup games and while the five-time champions didn’t exactly make a statement, it was the country’s ninth consecutive ODI victory.
Warner warmed into his innings and was booed as he fielded, came out to bat and posted his first half-century in six innings since his ball-tampering ban, five of which were practice games.
David Warner top scored for Australia with 89
Two fans watched on from an apartment balcony overlooking the ground dressed as giant sheets of sandpaper, often rubbing a big cardboard cricket ball against themselves.
Captain Aaron Finch (66 off 49) looked far more fluent and aggressive, and that allowed Warner to poke around until he found his rhythm, with no real urgency required in the minor run chase.
Warner – who overcame a strain to his right glute to play – scored just two fours and 29 runs from his first 56 balls.Warner’s first boundary was a nick past first slip and the second came courtesy of a free hit as he smacked a straight one back past the bowler.
English fans went to great lengths to taunt the Australian team.
Warner’s 50 came off 74 balls. After 100 balls Warner had scored 76 runs, his second-fewest amount from a 100-ball stretch in ODI cricket.
Finch targeted two of Afghanistan’s three star spinners but showed more respect to Big Bash teammate Mohammad Nabi.
Finch blasted three fours and one six off Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s first two overs and then 10 runs from Rashid Khan’s first two balls.
While Steve Smith came to the crease with just 52 runs required, his infectious energy and sharp fielding helped Australia bowl Afghanistan out. A brilliant Smith run-out removed danger man Nabi as the former captain made a sparkling return to international cricket before even picking up his bat.Smith executed a great stop with his left arm, quickly got to his feet and threw the ball to wicket-keeper Alex Carey in a sharp bit of play.
That run-out followed a nice catch and Smith then recorded a trifecta with another reflex stop while fielding in the slips saving four runs.Smith, 29, underwent serious elbow surgery earlier this year and said last week he was still throwing at just 80 per cent.
But Smith’s agility in the field was a pleasing sight after he went through the entire Indian Premier League and barely attempted an overarm throw.
Smith has had to be dragged off the training track in his 30 days back in the Australian fold with his work ethic once again dropping jaws.“I think he's got a bit more spare time on his hands (not being captain),” skipper Aaron Finch said.
“He gets bored pretty easy. That is why he is training for hours on end. He doesn't like it when he is told he can't train for the day.”
Aaron Finch laid the platform for Australia's successful chase
Smith also appeared to offer Finch and the bowlers plenty of advice in the field.
SHORT STUFF
Australia's fast bowlers had a clear plan against Afghanistan – hammer them with short stuff.
Quicks Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Coulter-Nile used bouncers effectively and that has been the flavour of the first few World Cup games.
West Indies star Andre Russell’s first 16 deliveries were bouncers yesterday while Cummins forecast that would be his main wicket-taking delivery.
Whether Australia has enough variation – Yorkers, slower balls, around the wicket – against stronger batting line-ups remains to be seen. But short balls went a long way to bowling Afghanistan out in just 38.2 overs.
Starc and Cummins removed Afghanistan's opening batsmen for a pair of ducks, both striking in their first over. While Starc got a bit of swing, that faded quickly as the new ball softened up.
Mitchell Starc took a wicket inside his first over
IGNORE ZAMPA’S RUNS COLUMN
Adam Zampa took three wickets – and that’s all that really matters.
While Zampa’s eight overs leaked 60 runs, including one over that was whacked for 22, he is in the team for his wicket-taking ability in the middle overs.
That was a key weakness for Australia and Zampa’s leg-spin is the fix. When Zampa came on in the 14th over he immediately struck and it soon became a double breakthrough.
Zampa’s job is to make sure the death bowlers aren’t bowling at set batsmen. Well, against Afghanistan there were no death overs with the bowlers doing the job in the 39th over. When Rashid Khan started raining sixes with Afghanistan’s tail batting fearlessly, Finch turned to Zampa.
Khan smoked Zampa’s first ball for six over his head and the next ball he was gone lbw. That sums up Zampa’s role in the team. Zampa took just 20 balls to become Australia’s first leg-spinner since Shane Warne in 1999 to take two wickets in a World Cup match. He is a key.
Adam Zampa went for a few runs but importantly took three Afghan wickets.
WILL THEY MAKE CHANGES?
Spinner Nathan Lyon will be strongly considered by selectors to make his World Cup debut in Nottingham on Thursday. The defensive tweaker is a good match-up for the West Indies, given their glut of left-handed batsmen.
If Lyon plays he would replace third seamer Nathan Coulter-Nile (0/36 off eight overs). That would be a break from tradition with Australia rarely ever playing dual specialist spinners at the World Cup. Usman Khawaja made just 15 (20) at No.3 before Rashid Khan’s googly trapped him lbw although as the world’s leading run-scorer in 2019 you suspect he’s done enough for another go at a new position. Sorry, Shaun Marsh.
AFGHAN PASSION IGNITES
It was a pro-Afghanistan crowd in Bristol with bays of fans cheering and signing at every chance. It appeared each time an Afghan batsman put bat on ball the fans would erupt. They would also turn their heads to watch every replay with plenty of adults painting their faces and decked out in the country’s black, green and red flags. It was impressive passion that matches Afghanistan’s rapid rise as a cricketing nation.
Afghanistan fans backed their team throughout the contest.
RASHID CAMEO
Rashid Khan’s cameo with the bat was the highlight of his team’s innings.
The legspinner – who started his career as an opening batsman – plays unorthodox but effective strokes. Khan smoked Zampa for a six over his head and, in a power play for his team, tonked 20 runs off five consecutive Marcus Stoinis deliveries.
Khan skipped down the wicket to hit a six over long-on, then faced a dot before going four, four, six with the last maximum a ridiculous hook over square leg. It was a shame he couldn’t replicate that magic with the ball (1/52).
Updates
Gah! With three runs left to get Smith errs and gifts his wicket to Mujeeb.
SMITH GONE for 18 off 27 balls.
It was the extra bounce that surprised him, a casual waft at it finding the edge and looping the ball up to Zazai at third man.
A let down for headline writers that Smith and Warner aren't together at the moment of success. And to some of the more agitated locals who were probably looking forward to a final session of booign as the two villains walked off together.
It was left instead to Maxi to apply the final flourish. First ball faced and he just clubs it to the fence for the four runs that seals victory.
AUSTRALIA WIN BY SEVEN WICKETS
SMITH GONE; AUSTRALIA WIN ANYWAY
Steve Wilson
Gah! With three runs left to get Smith errs and gifts his wicket to Mujeeb.
SMITH GONE for 18 off 27 balls.
It was the extra bounce that surprised him, a casual waft at it finding the edge and looping the ball up to Zazai at third man.
A let down for headline writers that Smith and Warner aren't together at the moment of success. And to some of the more agitated locals who were probably looking forward to a final session of booign as the two villains walked off together.
It was left instead to Maxi to apply the final flourish. First ball faced and he just clubs it to the fence for the four runs that seals victory.
AUSTRALIA WIN BY SEVEN WICKETS
The shadows are lengthening on the ground on a pleasant summer's evening in Bristol, and likewise for Afghanistan's challenge in the match.
They haven't been blown away buy any measure but Australia have been in some sort of control throughout.
And now Smith and Warner are slowly, calmly applying the final strangulation.
There looks little danger of either man leaving the scene before the job is done. But when they do walk off they can expect to do so to the tune of a large number of English fans giving them a less than respectful send off.
That won't bother them.
The sight of Smith and Warner steering Australia to a win in a game that matters has been long overdue.
All the signs are good on opening night.
THE END IS NEAR
Steve Wilson
The shadows are lengthening on the ground on a pleasant summer's evening in Bristol, and likewise for Afghanistan's challenge in the match.
They haven't been blown away buy any measure but Australia have been in some sort of control throughout.
And now Smith and Warner are slowly, calmly applying the final strangulation.
There looks little danger of either man leaving the scene before the job is done. But when they do walk off they can expect to do so to the tune of a large number of English fans giving them a less than respectful send off.
That won't bother them.
The sight of Smith and Warner steering Australia to a win in a game that matters has been long overdue.
All the signs are good on opening night.
Steve Wilson
Smith and Warner keen to get this done quickly. But perhaps too keen in scampering for two runs when it wasn't on.
A hesitation from Smith left him three meters short had there been a direct hit.
Don't be surprised to see a 1,000 think piece on what that says about the pair's communication or lack thereof.
No damage done, mind, and we continue on our inexorable march towards an opening win for Australia in this World Cup.
THE BAND'S BACK TOGETHER
Steve Wilson
Warner and Smith on national duty together in an official match for the first time since, well, you know when.
An encouraging sign for Australia fans.
But not, perhaps as encouraging as the stats on the screen here. Remember, that win percentage was achieved *without* Smith and Warner involved.
Happy days.
Khawaja done all ends up by some class bowling from Rashid Khan.
The Afghan threw down a leg break that didn't turn much and was travelling on, that Khawaja just stepped across and presented his pads to end his short stay at the crease.
KHAWAJA GONE for 15 from 20 balls.
The cheers and applause for Khan gives way quickly to jeers and boos as Smith walks out to replace Khawaja.
Smith and Warner back batting together for Australia. And how pelasign it would be for the side if this pair could see them home from here?
KHAWAJA GONE
Steve Wilson
Khawaja done all ends up by some class bowling from Rashid Khan.
The Afghan threw down a leg break that didn't turn much and was travelling on, that Khawaja just stepped across and presented his pads to end his short stay at the crease.
KHAWAJA GONE for 15 from 20 balls.
The cheers and applause for Khan gives way quickly to jeers and boos as Smith walks out to replace Khawaja.
Smith and Warner back batting together for Australia. And how pelasign it would be for the side if this pair could see them home from here?
50 UP FOR WARNER (BOO, HISS, ETC AND SO ON)
Steve Wilson
Boos ring out across the evening air in Bristol.
That can mean only one thing, Warner is raising his bat after working hard for a gutsy, combative half century.
That will do his state of mind no end of good. It hasn't been easy for him, nor as fluid as we've seen him in the past.
But it has been impressive. And summed up by the shot that brought him to the milestone – Khan going a fraction short and wide, Warner on the back foot and a picture of concentration to cut behind point. A textbook cricket stroke, judging the ball on its merit and putting it away without fuss.
Not universally celebrated, but you can't please everyone, eh?
Afghanistan not helping themselves in the field, specifically the obvious lack of athleticism from Shahzad behind the pegs.
twice in relatively quick succession the rotund golveman has let balls squirm through his fingers and away to the ropes.
Nabi the bowler to suffer on both occasions. That's eight runs Afghanistan just haven't got to play with.
Meanwhile, any concerns over Khawaja's ability to get in the game and start scoring quickly when he isn't opening have, on this small sample size at least, been dispelled.
He's going at a run a ball with a couple of classy boundaries off Nabi, just waiting for the loose one and dispatching it to the ropes.
A suite of fresh faces are poised to included in an Australia A squad that will take on India A later this month, with the country’s most promising batsman inching closer to a shock Test debut.
Australian selectors will provide an early steer on potential replacements for Cameron Green when they unveil an Australia A squad, with a former Test opener appearing to be a good chance for selection.
