Australia have started their World Cup campaign strongly, dismantling Afghanistan at the Bristol County Ground.
Playing a team like Afghanistan so early in the tournament shaped as a danger game for the Aussies, who had won eight straight coming into the tournament against India and Pakistan.
But, even the spin barrage of the Afghanis wasn’t going to be enough to shut down the Australians, after they were set just 208 for victory.
It was Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins who got the Aussies off to a good start after they were asked to bowl first by new Afghani captain Gulbadin Naib.
Naib would have been wishing he had of elected to bowl after his side found themselves at 2 for 5 in the second over as Mohammad Shahzad lost his stumps to Starc, then Hazratullah Zazai edged through to Alex Carey from the bowling of Cummins.
Rahmat Shah was the only man who held things together for Afghanistan during the first 20 overs of their innings, with Hashmatullah Shahidi falling to Adam Zampa, and Mohammad Nabi being ran out brilliantly by Steve Smith.
The middle eastern nation, who had to qualify for the tournament, found themselves at 5 for 71 when Rahmat got himself out as captain Gulbadin Naib and Najibullah Zadran joined up at the crease.
The wheels started to fall off Australia’s bowling during their partnership of 83, with far too much short-pitched stuff, and Zampa struggling for any consistency
One of Zampa’s overs went for 22, as Najibullah managed to bring up a half-century. Topped off by some big hitting down the lower order from Rashid Khan, who scored 27 off just 11 balls, and Mujbeen Ur Rahman, who was the last man out, Afghanistan made it all the way to 207.
While Australia were the better side throughout the match, there are certainly some concerns to take out of their bowling performance, and allowing Afghanistan to end up where they did after being 5 for 71 simply won’t cut it against some of the stronger opposition.
Afghanistan will be frustrated they couldn’t turn it into an even larger score though, given they gave up 70 balls by being bowled out, and that the wickets of Naib and Zadran fell in the same over, both to very poor shots.
In reply, it was all Aaron Finch early on as he dominated a strong opening partnership with David Warner. By the time their stand of 96 came to an end, Finch had blasted 66 from just 49 balls, clearing the small boundary rope in Bristol four times.
It was the hit out Finch needed after struggling through the warm-up games, with only Hamid Hassan threatening either him or Warner during the opening exchanges.
Warner went on to finish not out, batting within himself right throughout the innings, to uncharacteristically finish with a strike rate of under 80 for his 89.
Australia dealt with the Afghanistan spin trio solidly, and while Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith both got out reasonably cheaply, there was never a question about the result in what had the potential to be a banana peel game.
The Aussies will now take on the West Indies next Thursday in another danger game, while Afghanistan will continue their search for victory against Sri Lanka after a short turnaround on Tuesday.
Afghanistan 10/207 (38.2) – Najibullah Zadran (51), Rahmat Shah (43), Gulbadin Naib (31), Pat Cummins 3/40, Adam Zampa 3/60, defeated by Australia 3/209 (34.5) – David Warner (89), Aaron Finch (66), Gulbabin Naib 1/32
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VivGilchrist
Roar Rookie
I would’ve had Handscomb in front of both. Can accelerate quicker, better between wickets, great fielder, and a back up wk.
Neel
Roar Guru
Warner finding some form out there. Finch was brilliant. Bowling besides Starc and Cummins looks a bit iffy early on. As for the Afghanis, well, Rashid and Mujeeb looked like they were exposed a wee bit against tougher opposition.
Censored Often
Roar Rookie
I distinctly remember the English press and their upper class cricket hob knob calling Aussie cricket fans all types of low rent for booing their cricketers last Ashes tour 9or every ashes tour for that matter). I guess low rent is better than being hypocrites....
Paul
Roar Guru
hi Asthon, I too feel Khawaja should play ahead of Marsh, but should bat a 4 and Smith at 3. Perhaps you're right about the guy who got him out, this tournament will help define his place in ODI cricket, but Khawaja's shot or no-shot looked a tad lazy to me. It'll be interesting to see what the selectors do in the next 2 games with the order
Roar GOAT
Roar Rookie
Given they are playing in England, taking it back 18 months to include the games played IN England is not only convenient it’s also the most logical.
Gee
Roar Rookie
Coulter-Nile is not a bad third quick though, not as good with the ball but a handy batsman and good enough to field in the inner circle.
Gee
Roar Rookie
He did get caught the second time, Faf is a hundred times the cheat Smith or Warner is.
Asthon
Roar Rookie
That’s because you chose 18 months at your convenience. Why not 3 months, 6 months, 12 months? How about 24 or 30 months? Taking it back just to include his century in England will of course inflate his numbers. Classic example of statistical manipulation. Also 18 months ago, the 3 best current bats (khawaja, Warner and smith) were not in the team.
Roar GOAT
Roar Rookie
Marsh has been the best performed ODI player for Australia over the last 18 months. He would have something to complain about based on that.
Joshua Kerr
Roar Guru
I think the only change that could be made would be putting Lyon in for Zampa.
Asthon
Roar Rookie
Rashid has taken big name players from all of those countries in the IPL, with nonchalant ease sometimes. You can’t dismiss IPL form when that was the whole basis of Warner’s selection etc. He might not get as many stumped or edge type dismissals because the wicket keeper is not as good as he has in franchise cricket. However his bowled and LBW type dismissals where he is not reliant on anyone else will continue to be huge threat based on recent IPL performances. Overall I think we fielded the best team and this team should continue for now. Only question would be if stoinis gets pegged by marsh if management feel we need slightly stronger batter at 5 or 6.
Asthon
Roar Rookie
Getting done by Googlie by a leg spinner is hardly a brain fade doesn’t matter who the batsman is including maxwell, ussie or anyone else for that matter! Going for a slog when it’s not necessary is the most common brain fade by batsmen, which Warner masterfully avoided.
jose
Roar Rookie
Bowling certainly looked rusty, if they bowl this kinda of trash (like Zampa and Stoinis did at times) against teams like India and England, they will be chasing 350+ scores, they miss Jhye Richardson and Hazlewood for sure. I think they should Jason Behrendorff a chance soon.
Peter Warrington
Guest
seemed a pretty brainless dismissal for Ussie after the reverse sweep the ball before? can only imagine the outrage if Maxi got out like that?
Peter Warrington
Guest
91 not out off 102 in UAE as he anchored a successful chase of 290. better than a century, that. sorry but you sounded like Lehmann or Langer deriding Maxwell for a moment. he also 54, 131, 39 against a dominant India in Australia - that was 2019, too.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Marsh’s record in 2019 is an average of 48 with one century so not bad form. The blip was the three low scores in India. But I’d agree he hasn’t looked as good as he did last year and Khawaja has looked a bit sharper lately. The dilemma is that Khawaja doesn’t have a great record down the order or starting against spin.
Ben
Guest
But Due Plessis never actually ball tampered the second time??? The punishment he got from the ICC was already a joke, if he got banned it would have been a disgrace.
Lawrence
Roar Rookie
Shame Mitch Marsh & Faulkner didn’t show enough. Those two in form would bolster the batting & bowling.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
True, no questions were answered.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Agree - as glad as I was blogging the game for the slightly earlier finish, if you make the Aussies set a target, it takes a level of control right out of their batting.