Vic Marks’ match report
All told, they did it easy. 34.5 overs were enough to chase down Afghanistan’s 207 to begin Australia’s title defence. Finch was excellent early on, clearing the rope four times in his 66. The opening stand of 96 with Warner all-but settled things, even if Khawaja (15) and Smith (18) fell before the result was secured.
Warner, named man of the match, was in no hurry. Indeed, it is one of his slowest ODI hands, facing 114 balls for his unbeaten 89. The boos were there all day but he didn’t seem to mind, just ticking over and finishing what he started at the beginning of what will be a long summer of scruitny the former leadership duo.
And that’ll just about do us, I think. On behalf of Sam and myself, thanks for your company through the course of the day on the OBO. We’ll be back tomorrow morning at The Oval when South Africa play Bangladesh. Enjoy the football!
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AUSTRALIA WINS BY SEVEN WICKETS! (209-3: Warner 89, Maxwell 4)
First ball in the middle, with three to win, Maxwell loads up and creams Mujeeb over cover for four. That’s very Glenn Maxwell. Warner finishes unbeaten on 89.
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WICKET! Smith c Zazai b Mujeeb 18 (Australia 205-3)
Oh dear. With three to win, Smith gets a thick edge to short third man. And he’s FURIOUS at himself in the long walk off the ground as the crowd give it to him.
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34th over: Australia 204-2 (Warner 88, Smith 18) Target 208 Rashid to Warner, who picks up a couple through the gap at midwicket. He gives the strike to Smith, turning it immediately back to the opener. Can he finish it this over? Nup - he’s happy to take the single on offer at midwicket to retain the strike instead.
33rd over: Australia 199-2 (Warner 84, Smith 17) Target 208 Mujeeb didn’t have a good day here in the warm-up game against Pakistan and hasn’t had much going on here today either. Every ball of this over is scored off in 1s and 2s.
Agree with @Cricket_Mann: it's an utter waste of energy to have the floodlights on at Bristol. No doubt there are regulations in place, but this game will be over long before the sun even threatens to set. Be greener, cricket!
— Lawrence Booth (@the_topspin) June 1, 2019
32nd over: Australia 191-2 (Warner 80, Smith 13) Target 208 Dawlat gives Smith one on his pads to begin, which he misses and gets angry at himself. As Geoff notes on TMS, that’s the Smith we know so well. Warner adds a couple to move into the 80s but there is really not a lot else to see here, I’m afraid. I’m surprised they haven’t charged to the finish line with NRR in mind, but maybe they have calculated that these two walking off with red ink is more important right now.
31st over: Australia 188-2 (Warner 79, Smith 11) Target 208 Warner takes a couple from Mujeeb to begin, which leaves him still technically within striking distance of a ton, but he gives the strike back to Smith with a single down the ground so that probably isn’t on his mind. It definitely won’t be now with Smith deflecting a boundary to third man. It’s the first we have seen Mujeeb since the third over of the innings with his creative brand of spin. Okay fellas, time to finish this off.
30th over: Australia 180-2 (Warner 76, Smith 6) Target 208 Dawlat gets a second opportunity to show Bristol what a lovely bowling action he has. And a wicket should have come from the first ball of his spell, via a run out. Smith was gone by miles but Dawlat was nowhere near his stumps when the throw came in from backward square. The direct his wasn’t on target but there was more than enough time for the bowler to do the job. Sigh. Sure enough, Warner responds later in the over by smacking him over his head for his eighth four. I didn’t notice this before but they have on TMS: there are two people on the balcony at the other end of the ground dressed up as blocks of sandpaper. Fair play, that’s commitment.
29th over: Australia 171-2 (Warner 67, Smith 6) Target 208 Australia have West Indies next at Trent Bridge on Thursday, with Afghanistan in Cardiff on Tuesday against Sri Lanka. Graeme Swann believes that Jason Holder’s side should stick with their short-pitched approach. “Australia’s egos will demand that they take them on.” That could be fun. Five singles from Rashid’s seventh over.
28th over: Australia 166-2 (Warner 64, Smith 4) Target 208 Hamid continues to charge in at Warner at pace, zippy enough to get through his defence prompting a massive shout for leg before. It’s turned down and righty so having pitched outside leg, Rashid having blown their review in the previous over.
It’s a gorgeous evening in Bristol. This might technically be a day-night game but the floodlights, as Simon Mann notes on TMS, do not need to be on as they have been for the duration of this chase. The good news about the early finish is that everyone will be well into their pub of choice in time for the Champions League Final in in 65 minutes from now. Not in my case, I stress. We’ll be working through it then heading back to London. Rock ‘n’ Roll.
27th over: Australia 164-2 (Warner 62, Smith 3) Target 208 Rashid Khan is very keen on a leg before shout when Warner misses a reverse sweep, so keen that he sends it upstairs. Warner knows that it was off his glove, though, so he’s straight back to his crease. A quick single from the ball that follows, Smith taking on short fine leg and running to what becomes the danger end but the throw isn’t on target.
“If everyone else is too lazy to do it, I’ll do it,” writes Peter Salmon. Bless you. This is his Queen Victorian XI.
Joe Darling, W G Grace, Victor Trumper, Clem Hill, Syd Gregory (c), Monty Noble, Wilfred Rhodes, Harry Bullocky (wk), George Giffen, Fred Spofforth, Johnny Briggs.
“Wilfred Rhodes debuted in 1899 so sneaks in. I’ve made Harry Bullocky my wicketkeeper (Jack Blackham having got the gong for the Vic state team) - he kept wicket on the 1868 Aboriginal cricket tour of England.”
That’s impressive work on a Saturday night. Thanks for your efforts.
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26th over: Australia 160-2 (Warner 62, Smith 1) Target 208 The loudest boos of the day are reserved for Smith as he walks out to join Warner. He is greeted with a fist bump and a pat on the back from his former deputy as the western side of the ground get very loud in their chanting. Hamid Hassan is back to bowl at Warner initially, who takes one from the first ball. A wide down the legside is the first delivery that Smith has to deal with, the second pushed to cover to get him off the mark. The jeers continue each time he faces up. Feels a bit... forced? I don’t know.
WICKET! Khawaja lbw b Rashid Khan 15 (Australia 156-2)
Yep, that’s very out. Rashid’s straight one beats Khawaja on the inside edge. They consider sending it upstairs but don’t bother in the end. That brings Smith to join Warner. This could be eventful.
25th over: Australia 156-2 (Warner 60) Target 208
24th over: Australia 150-1 (Warner 55, Khawaja 14) Target 208 Nabi skips through his over giving away just two singles to begin. Warner wants to be there at the end.
Warner to 50!
23rd over: Australia 148-1 (Warner 54, Khawaja 13) Target 208 Rashid Khan is back into the attack from our media centre end and he’s immediately cut for four by Warner, taking him to a half-century at the first time of asking in this his return to Australian colours. It took 74 balls to reach the milestone but that won’t bother him. There are boos but only really from the western side of the ground, one chap audible in calling him “a knob head” to the amusement of those around him.
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22nd over: Australia 142-1 (Warner 49, Khawaja 12) Target 208 Nabi, now into his fifth overs, registers his second batch of five wides, Shahzad this time not as much at fault with the ball sprayed down the legside to Khawaja. From another delivery in this direction later in the over, the Queensland captain gets back early to pull and makes no mistake, splitting the gap at midwicket for his first four.
21st over: Australia 130-1 (Warner 48, Khawaja 6) Target 208 The wheels might be falling off for Afghanistan, unexpectedly while Gulbadin is at the bowling crease, who has been good until now. First, he gave Warner enough room to cut into the gap for four. You can’t do that. Next, he overstepped. Then, with the free hit, he bowled a wide. To be fair, the re-bowled free hit was a good slower-ball bouncer, which Warner miscued, but it didn’t matter that the catch was put down. 13 from the over. The remaining 77 runs that Australia need shouldn’t take long to make.
20th over: Australia 117-1 (Warner 40, Khawaja 3) Target 208 Urrrgh, more poor fielding, this time from the keeper Shahzad. To be fair, Nabi’s wide off-break to Khawaja turned from beyond the tram tracks but he should have got a glove to it. Instead, five wides go onto the Australian total. I get the feeling Australia might put the foot right down now with Net Run Rate front of mind.
19th over: Australia 109-1 (Warner 39, Khawaja 1) Target 208 Gulbadin isn’t doing a lot wrong here. As Geoff Lemon notes on TMS, he has quite the body. At his press conference yesterday, I was captivated by his biceps. Geoff suggests a “rig off” between the Afghanistan captain and Marcus Stoinis. I endorse this. Anyway, an otherwise good over is annoyingly sullied when Zazai misfields at fine leg, Warner the lucky beneficiary of the error.
“How about an XI of Victorian Victorians? Spofforth and which ten others?” Adrian Armstrong, I like the way you think. I fear though, that we’ll run out of time.
“Keeping on the OBO from Caucasus mountains in Mestia, Georgia through pretty rubbish internet,” emails Mark and Alyssa. Hello to you both! “How about Bert Ironmonger?” they continue. “A QUEENSLANDER who made his test debut as a Vic at aged 46. He took 74 test wickets as a left arm finger spinnner without an index finger, which he lost as a kid. That’s a hard man. Just look at his pic.”
18th over: Australia 103-1 (Warner 34, Khawaja 0) Target 208 Warner leans back in the crease and places Rashid delicately off the face of his bat to third man for four, bringing up Australia’s 100. Shot. Khawaja is in no hurry when he gets his first opportinity of the World Cup, defending to cover a couple of times to finish. They take a drink. Given it is now that time of night, I suggest we all do.
17th over: Australia 98-1 (Warner 29, Khawaja 0) Target 208 Crossing in the air as Finch was dismissed, Warner is back on strike and happy to play the rest out with a straight bat before taking one to keep the strike behind square leg.
I’m not going to win this battle with the Victorian vs Victorian teams, am I? Peter Salmon is sliding into my inbox with his: Bill Lawry, Bill Ponsford, Dean Jones, Neil Harvey, Lindsay Hassett, Warwick Armstrong, Keith Miller, Hugh Trumble, Shane Warne, Jack Blackham, Merv Hughes.
“Trumble is interesting,” he adds. “Most wickets in Tests when her retired - 141 at 21.78. His action was described by his team-mate and bowling partner, Monty Noble, as ‘sidelong and insinuating, with his neck craned like a gigantic bird.’”
WICKET! Finch c Mujeeb b Gulbadin 66 (Australia 96-1)
He’s done plenty of damage but he Australian captain is gone, Finch miscuing the captain Gulbadin high in the air out to cover, taken well by Mujeeb. His 66 from 49 balls included four sixes and six fours. Neat.
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16th over: Australia 94-0 (Finch 64, Warner 28) Target 208 Finch cuts a couple off Rashid to keep the good times rolling off the leggie to start his second over before giving Warner the strike. Oh, and there’s his wrong’un - a delivery that has netted him so many wickets. It beats Warner; they share a smile. But approach here is clear and working well: to handle the spinner by scoring off him at every opportunity, seven added to the total across this over, all through 1s and 2s.
15th over: Australia 87-0 (Finch 60, Warner 25) Target 208 To settle things down a touch after the busy previous over, Nabi races through a brisk over of darts, four singles added along the way.
Finch to 50!
14th over: Australia 83-0 (Finch 58, Warner 23) Target 208 Here we go: it’s Rashid Khan. How will Australia approach the best legbreaker on the planet? Oh, Aaron Finch answers that question in the space of two balls, using the depth of the crease to cut him for four and bring up his half-century (in 40 balls), then going back again to cream a poor follow-up delivery for six over midwicket. With the sweepers found a few more times, it makes 14 from the over - the biggest of Australia’s response. More to the point, they’ve left an early dent in Rashid, top-ranked bowler in the world. And Finch is well on his way to a ton.
13th over: Australia 69-0 (Finch 47, Warner 20) Target 208 Afghanistan so close to the breakthrough they crave, Warner getting himself into a tangle after missing a cut off Nabi, the wicketkeepr Shazad taking the bails just after he dived into safe ground. The TV umpire confirmed that he was back, but not by far. A couple of further singles are exchanged to end the over, but that’s their lot.
12th over: Australia 66-0 (Finch 45, Warner 19) Target 208 Gulbadin got through his first over for one run but Finch wasn’t going to let that continue, picking up a ball from the line of the stumps and thumping it into the crowd at midwicket - his third six, taking him into the 40s.
Abhijato Sensarma has emailed me before I specified that we were after players from the 1800s, and I can’t argue with many of his nominations.
Aaron Finch, Bill Lawry, Bill Woodfull (captain), Neil Harvey, Dean Jones, Brad Hodge, Keith Miller, Glenn Maxwell (because he’s the true GOAT and has got to be in any list he’s even vaguely eligible for), Peter Siddle, Merv Hughes, and Shane Warne.
“This team is admittedly a bit light on bowling, but it’s the best I, as a sixteen year old Indian, could come up with after research on the internet and banking on my remembrance of the merits of modern players. Your thoughts?”
That’s a very good effort, young man. Bill Johnston might be worth a look. And as much as I enjoyed Brad Hodge, I don’t think he would have himself in this team.
11th over: Australia 58-0 (Finch 38, Warner 18) Target 208 With the field out, it’s time for spin via the journeyman Mohammad Nabi. I read somewhere the other day that he has played international cricket against 35 countries (correct me if I have remembered that wrong) across his amazing journey in the sport. Warner, who plays with the offspinner at Sunrisers Hyderabad, takes one to cover then Finch deflects a couple behind point before carefully defending the rest. They know Nabi is a man they have to show plenty of respect to.
“I’m reminded of the 12th Man impression of Bill Lawry - “Got him, yes!” - and the love of fellow Victorians,” emails Huw Swanborough. Yes, a major part of my childhood a well. “For my choice of Victorians, how could anyone look past Merv Hughes?”
A very fair nomination if we were going to do that team, but I reckon this will be more fun if we decide on an XI of those who played only during the reign of Queen Victoria. How’s that sound? Hit me up.
10th over: Australia 55-0 (Finch 36, Warner 17) Target 208 For the the final over of the power play, the captain Gulbadin brings himself on for his right-arm belt-and-braces medium pace. He’s right on the money straight away to Warner, who plays the first half of the set watchfully before grabbing one to midwicket. Finch then plays out the rest defensively, too. An excellent start from the skipper.
9th over: Australia 54-0 (Finch 36, Warner 16) Target 208 Finch makes his mind up to take on Zadran while the field is up, waiting for a short ball before loading up and smashing him over the midwicket rope, the longest boundary on this field. Overcompensating at the end of the set, he is able to lean safely into a classical cover drive, through the gap and away for four more. Zadran has a gorgeous outswinger but he’s not getting any meaningful movement at the moment.
8th over: Australia 44-0 (Finch 26, Warner 16) Target 208 A second maiden from Hamid Hasan to Warner! This is an excellent, accurate spell. It’s such a shame that he has missed the bulk of the last four years on the bench injured but he’s back for the tournament that matters most, so let’s enjoy his skill and passion.
7th over: Australia 44-0 (Finch 26, Warner 16) Target 208 Dawlat is tailing the ball nicely back towards Warner, who plays him with respect until a shorter ball comes, which he tries to pull but doesn’t get much of it. Finch tucks a couple off the pads after watching a bouncer fly through that is called a wide. Without wanting to state the bleedingly obvious, they need to get rid of one of these fellas right away to give Rashid Khan a chance to start at Khawaja while both men are fresh.
6th over: Australia 40-0 (Finch 24, Warner 15) Target 208 Warner has been DROPPED at first slip. Urrrgh, Hasan deserved an early breakthrough but he’s let down by Rahmat at slip moving too slowly to his left. In response, he sends one down at 90mph! This is proper fast bowling, don’t worry about that. In now at Finch, he cuts him in half and they are up for caught behind but they don’t get the decision they want and decline the chance to go upstairs. The eventful over continues with a short ball that bites Finch on the tummy. It won’t look that impressive in the scorebook with five runs taken from it but that was a fine set.
“You mention Finch as a Victorian (3rd over),” writes John Starbuck. “As the Beeb are running several programmes, art, science, culture generally, to celebrate 200 years since Victoria was born, how about a documentary on famous Victorian cricketers (both senses). Could you make up an XI?”
Good grief, what a challenge. Shall we try and do the Victorian era rather than the state of Victoria? I am here to learn. I have Scyld Berry, the Telegraph’s mighty correspondent, sitting next to me. Having literally written the history of cricket in an acclaimed book four years ago, I am sure he will have a nomination or two.
5th over: Australia 35-0 (Finch 24, Warner 10) Target 208 Giving up 24 in two overs, Mujeeb has been dragged. He’s usually been very good at the start of an innings, never going for more than 13 in the first couple of overs when operating with the new ball, Andy Z tells me on TMS. Dawlat Zadran with his lovely, classical bowling action is replacing him. Four years ago in this corresponding fixture he had the Australians in trouble for about four overs before they slapped 400-odd, Warner making a massive ton. He’s overstepped to begin here though, giving the former vice-captain a free hit. Sure enough, clearing the front leg, he slaps it right back over his head for a boundary - his first this evening. The seamer improves as he goes on, giving away just one further single.
4th over: Australia 29-0 (Finch 24, Warner 5) Target 208 Hamid hits 89mph on the radar early in the over then 88mph later... Great Scot! He deserves a lot better than a boundary from his final ball, via a thick Finch edge. That ends two excellent overs from the man with the zinc. I’m so glad he’s back in an Afghanistan shirt.
3rd over: Australia 24-0 (Finch 20, Warner 4) Target 208 Great stat from Andy Zaltzman on TMS, the nine runs scored by Finch in the first over was the most he’s taken from over number one in an ODI. Quite remarkable when you consider how heavily the Victorian has scored at the top of the list over the last eight years or so. He’s taken his nine and made it 20 by the end of this Mujeeb over, lauching him looooong into the stand at long-on. That’s a lovely strike, at a ground that rewards straight hitting, so short are the boundaries. When Warner gets his turn, he strokes through the gap at cover for three. Finch to finish, and he tucks away a misdirected delivery, adding another boundary. 20 from 10 balls, he is.
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2nd over: Australia 10-0 (Finch 9, Warner 1) Target 208 The great Hamid Hasan, the man with the headband and war paint, is taking the new ball from the nothern end, recently back into the Afghanistan side after a long injury layoff. And he beats Warner first up with a lovely seed, angling away from the southpaw. Maintaining this line throughout the over, the punchy Aussie opener is happy enough in defence, picking out the man on the circle between backward point and cover. A maiden it is.
I neglected to mention, we should chat! Email or tweet. Find me on Friendster or Four Square. ICQ or AOL. My point: this works better when we talk, even if your attention is on the other blog in Madrid. As the great meme asks, why not have both?
1st over: Australia 10-0 (Finch 9, Warner 1) Target 208 Yep, they’re going to tuck in quickly alright. Finch is off the mark with a single to square leg then Warner does likewise with one in the same direction from his first ball back in the big time. Finch again, who goes crunch through cover then wallop over the circle a fraction straighter for a pair of boundaries. “There was an attempt to get a boo going,” notes Graeme Swann on TMS of Warner’s arrival. “But not many people joined in.”
The players are on the field! Yep, Warner copped a chorus of boos from the western stand, but I sense that’s because this is what they are expected to do? Anyway enough of that for now: Finch is on strike, the finger spinner Mujeeb has the ball in his hand. PLAY!
Thank you, Sam. Nicely done. That was quite a lot of fun towards the end, Afghanistan piling on 41 runs in 20 balls for their final two wickets. Rashid Khan, who was very much Blur over Oasis during the Britpop War, makes my heart swell. More to the point, the Afghanistan fans to my right at cow corner was giving it huge, well supported by neutral fans who would love to see them defend 207.
The best bit was when they engineered a flag conga line of sorts during the second drinks break, sprinting from one length to the other, leaping over any hurdle in their way. That’s the passion we’re here for in this World Cup. They were also the first team to show some real fight, adding 130 after falling to 77/5 when it looked like everyone would be safely in the pub in time for the Champions League final.
And look, maybe that still will be the case with Australian bound to attack this chase with Net Run Rate in mind, given that’s exactly what West Indies and New Zealand have in their modest chases. We know that it will be Warner not Khawaja who partners with the captain Finch when they return in a few minutes from now - his first competitive international innings since you-know-what. Smith will do likewise at four (after Khawaja).
There will be some booing, I’m sure, but not much. Indeed, when Warner went to the boundary rope when Zampa was operating, there was a queue five deep for selfies and autographs. Likewise, when Smith nailed a crazy run out, there was genuine applause. My point: it’s a pretty chilled out and happy afternoon here in Bristol. The perfect setting, let’s hope, for a tricky little chase.
Australia requires 208 to win
An innings of bursts. First, Starc and Cummins did the damage, before Rahmat and Shahidi were able to put on fifty and frustrate their defending champion counterparts.
To start with Starc - if he’s swinging it, Australia look like World Cup finalists. When not, less so. His third ball today was evidence enough that he’s shaping the ball, but whether he can do it consistently - and/or find the conditions to assist - will go a long way to deciding his country’s tournament fortunes.
Following those early wickets, Rahmat looked particularly assured before he disappointingly pushed one to Smith. Two more wickets fell soon after, before the partnership of the innings - between Najibullah and Naib, entertained everyone. Najibullah was especially enterprising, showing a cavalcade of reverse sweeps to give Zampa a hard time, and they just about clawed Afghanistan back before a bouncer barrage brought the Australians back into it.
“Afghanistan played some pretty fearless cricket,” said Adam Zampa just now, speaking to Michael Clarke. “But we’re happy with what we’re chasing.”
One got the impression there’s still plenty to work on for Australia in the field. There were wides, no-balls, and more than a few misfields. They’re by no means over the line here, especially if Rashid and co can break through early.
To take you through it all will be Adam Collins, who will join shortly. From me, and big thanks for keeping me company through the first innings. Enjoy the second, with any luck there’ll be a few twists and turns.
WICKET! Mujeeb b Cummins 13 (Afghanistan all out 207)
A classic tenth wicket. Mujeeb clears to leg (I mean, really clears) and Cummins cleans up the stumps. I wouldn’t say it was in stumpsplosion territory, but not far away. He finishes with three-fa.
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38th over: Afghanistan 207-9 (Hamid 1, Mujeeb 13)
Before Zampa got Rashid, the latter hoisted him deep over the long off fence. There were singles thereafter. Plenty to think about for the Aussie bowlers here. Not sure the guys they lined up to do the damage have necessarily done so.
If you're not supporting Afghanistan, you have no soul. #AFGvAUS
— Radio Cricket (@RadioCricket) June 1, 2019
WICKET! Rashid LBW Zampa 27 (Afghanistan 205-9)
So Zampa does it - which flies in the face of the Aussie pace-battery theory a little. From Rashid, as valuable a cameo as you could really ask for. 27 from 11 balls. What a cricketer he is.
REVIEW!
Zampa’s got Rashid leg before - the umpire’s given it. Rashid’s checking. He’s sweeping, if anything it’s missing leg. Let’s see...
37th over: Afghanistan 198-8 (Rashid 21, Mujeeb 11)
Oh man, now ten from this over. Mujeeb Ur Rahman smokes one through mid-wicket from ball two, before a leg-clearing top edge flies for six later in the over, Cummins appeared to destroy Mujeeb’s bottom hand the following ball when following him with a quick delivery, but Mujeeb is staying out there. More entertainment please, more.
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36th over: Afghanistan 187-8 (Rashid 21, Mujeeb 0)
Khan goes hard, and gets just rewards. It goes wide, dot, six, dot, four, four, six! hard to separate either six for shot of the over - the first is down the ground, the second is thumped over square leg! It’s 21 from the over, and Afghanistan are creeping to something that might worry Australia, especially if their spinners are on song.
It is a really lovely atmosphere at Bristol. Crowd of all ages, races, backgrounds in the sunshine having a great time.
— Elizabeth Ammon (@legsidelizzy) June 1, 2019
35th over: Afghanistan 166-8 (Rashid 1, Mujeeb 0)
Cummins was hooked to the boundary before he claimed Dawlat - so from Dawlat’s perspective, I guess the lesson is that it’s tough to hook Cummins to the boundary consecutively.
WICKET! Dawlat c Carey b Cummins 4 (Afghanistan 166-8)
Now Cummins bounces out Dawlat. It was somewhere between a strangle and a bouncer. Cummins dug it in, Dawlat could only fend it around the corner, and Carey took an easy catch. He thwacks the ground with his bat when he departs. This has turned around very quickly.
34th over: Afghanistan 162-7 (Rashid 1, Dawlat 0)
Stoinis manages a double break-through, bringing both Rashid Khan and Dawlat Zadran to the crease. Before Najibullah went, he had a heart-in-mouth moment as he uppishly pulled Stoinis in between Cummins and Khawaja on the square leg boundary - but he went the next ball he faced anyway. Credit to Stoinis - the bouncer surprised two set batsmen. It now brings two newies.
"To lose one set batsman skying a Stoinis short ball may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness." #AFGvAUS
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) June 1, 2019
WICKET! Najibullah c Carey b Stoinis 51 (Afghanistan 162-7)
Now Najibullah goes! This was a carbon copy of Naib’s dismissal, but reversed for the left-hander. Clears his leg, attempts to slap the Stoinis short ball, but it’s too quick on him. It’s a slightly easier catch for Carey (he doesn’t have to come forward as far), and Afghanistan are on the back foot again.
WICKET! Naib c Carey b Stoinis 31 (Afghanistan 160-6)
An entertaining partnership comes to an end. Naib - as has been his wont - clears the front leg to slap through the off-side, and splices it high in the air, where it’s comfortably taken by Carey. Naib has helped to bring Afghanistan back into the game; credit to him. Stoinis is on the board this World Cup, too. He needed that.
33rd over: Afghanistan 160-5 (Naib 31, Najibullah 50)
Najibullah is happy to clear the front leg now with regularity, but can’t do too much damage to Starc this over. Still looks a fraction quick - no shame in it. Then a ripsnorting short one rears up at Najibullah - he executes a cover-my-face-and-helmet-with-gloves-while-standing-on-one-leg to perfection. It hits the gloves, flies over Carey’s head for four, and that’s his fifty! It comes from 46 balls, and what a knock.
32nd over: Afghanistan 153-5 (Naib 31, Najibullah 45)
Regular rotation now for both batsmen, who manoeuvre Coulter-Nile around with ease. The over is capped perfectly when Naib strikes the West Aussie long and high over long-on for six, making it a twelve run over. Rashid Khan will be liking this! Interestingly, hard to see what Australia’s answer is here.
31st over: Afghanistan 143-5 (Naib 24, Najibullah 42)
Two more boundaries for the Afghani’s, this time from Starc’s bowling. Again an effort to knock over some middle-lower order batting with pace, again it comes unstuck. Starc was first helped around the corner for a boundary from Najibullah’s blade, before Naib swiped one over mid on to finish the over. Onwards, Afghanistan!
Looks like the Afghani crowd are loving it - as you would.
Back to back sixes from Najibullah and the Afghanistan cheersquad are giving it big. They’re now running the length of the ground with their flags at drinks. Great supporters. 134/5 (30). #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/mX4TWr3b5a
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) June 1, 2019
30th over: Afghanistan 134-5 (Naib 20, Najibullah 37)
So the fifty run partnership came up last over, at a run a ball. A 22-run over will help that cause, I’d venture. Suspect Zampa will be given a rest now. Coulter-Nile continues here, conceding an inside-edged one after Naib tried to put him in the stands, and then a wide, before another one is conceded through overthrows.
Naib then swings one to deep midwicket for two, and suddenly this is getting quite entertaining. It’s only five from the over, but there’s clear intent from these two. Can they get 250?
Drinks
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29th over: Afghanistan 129-5 (Naib 17, Najibullah 36)
A few singles to start the over before Najibullah executes a lovely, finessed lap from Zampa’s bowling for four - no doubt premeditated - followed by the walloping of a long hop to deep extra cover for four. And then, he hammers him over long on for six! And, oh yes, another six - this time from a full toss! It sails over midwicket, making it 22 from the over and lifting Afghanistan to 129.
28th over: Afghanistan 107-5 (Naib 16, Najibullah 15)
More short stuff from Coulter-Nile, and Naib is late on most of them. He gets himself a maiden for his troubles.
If you missed the result of NZ v Sri Lanka, catch the Guardian report here:
27th over: Afghanistan 107-5 (Naib 16, Najibullah 15)
And again, a loose third ball and a boundary makes for an over of shared spoils. This time Zampa delivers a shin high full toss, which Najibullah dispatches to the extra cover boundary, slicing it away deliberately into the gap.
26th over: Afghanistan 102-5 (Naib 15, Najibullah 11)
Now Coulter-Nile gets the ball, and he’s whacked through the off side midway through the over for a boundary. In keeping with the innings, that seems to be enough for both contestants, and short pitched bowling suffices for the remainder, where there’s no runs.
'Phases won' in ODI cricket, a rather pointless exercise.
— Daniel Cherny 📰 (@DanielCherny) June 1, 2019
25th over: Afghanistan 98-5 (Naib 15, Najibullah 7)
Oooh, yes. Najibullah reverse brooms Zampa hard behind square for a boundary - probably the most satisfying shot of the day. He then hoicks him with similar intent, but far less precision, and gets one. A productive over though - seven from it - before Zampa finishes.
A great insight from Peter Salmon here:
Hi Sam,
Only played each other twice but worth noting the big role Afghanistan has played in Oz history, building the a fair bit if the railway from Adelaide to Darwin (hence ‘The Ghan’) and introducing the first 24 camels for the Burke and Wills expedition. Now there’s 1.2 million of them, doubling every 8-9 years, making it the biggest camel population in the world. So to the Afghans, May your score increase exponentially, like a camel population in the Simpson Desert!
Cheers
Pete
Lovely note, Peter. Thanks
24th over: Afghanistan 91-5 (Naib 14, Najibullah 1)
Almost nothing in Najibullah’s half this over, which the new batsman handles well enough before grabbing a single from the fifth ball. One from it. Now, Zampa is returning. I think this is a good move.
23rd over: Afghanistan 90-5 (Naib 14, Najibullah 0)
Stoinis continues, and puts together five dots either side of a shovelled Naib boundary through midwicket. There were muffled cries of “catch it”, but it was more hope than expectation. Can Afghanistan rebuild?
Updated
22nd over: Afghanistan 86-5 (Naib 9, Najibullah 0)
Cummins is reintroduced (why wouldn’t you let Zampa continue?) reinforcing the idea Australia thinks it can destroy the Afghani lower order with pace. He concedes nine via two well-timed slogs through cow corner. It probably signals that chances will also come. Just wonder whether Zampa should have been rewarded.
21st over: Afghanistan 77-5 (Naib 1, Najibullah 0)
Stoinis is straight, there’s a run-out, and it’s a wicket-maiden for Australia. There’s some talk about whether Naib burnt Nabi there - I don’t think so. Think it was just very good fielding from Smith. I mean, as striker, you really shouldn’t commit until the ball is through the ring - Nabi had hit is hard enough to warrant seeing whether Smith was going to get it or not.
Disaster for Afghanistan!
— News Cricket (@NewsCorpCricket) June 1, 2019
Nabi is run out for just 7 - it's that man Steve Smith again, and he's mobbed by his teammates.
AFG 5/77 - Follow LIVE: https://t.co/odYd1N4RIy#CWC19 #AUSvAFG #AFGvAUS #CmonAussie #AfghanAtalan pic.twitter.com/1Y5aRWAxV2
WICKET! Nabi run out (Smith/Carey) 7 (Afghanistan 77/5)
Brilliant piece of fielding from Steve Smith, who sprawls to his left to cut off Nabi’s stroke through the covers. He gathers cleanly, Nabi is sent back from Naib (should he have gone?) and Smith steadies, before throwing to Carey who takes the bails. Afghanistan in trouble now.
20th over: Afghanistan 77-4 (Naib 1, Nabi 7)
So Zampa keeps things ticking for Australia. He’s got such a huge role to play if they’re to progress deep in to the tournament. He’s started well today. Not so much big turn as well controlled pace, flight and spin variation.
WICKET! Rahmat c Smith b Zampa 43 (Afghanistan 75-4)
Rahmat departs - he’s beaten in flight by Zampa, advancing down the wicket in an attempt to swipe Zampa wide of extra-cover. He’s not there, and it hits high on his bat and travels low to Steve Smith at short extra cover, who takes it low to his left.
Updated
19th over: Afghanistan 75-3 (Rahmat 43, Nabi 6)
Stoinis replaces Starc, who we can confirm was back for two overs to try and pick up a wicket. Australia will now settle into their middle overs combinations, presumably. Can’t say it will overly threaten other sides. Afghanistan are happy to retain wickets, Australia now happy to contain runs. Two from the over. Singles.
Nice shot from Adam Collins (who will steward the OBO second innings), picking up Zampa’s wrong-un.
Very clever bowling from Zampa to Hashmatullah. Set him up with this wrong’un, which he played for again when running down the track later in the over then didn’t adjust in time. Afghanistan 57/3. #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/aeKU6SJj0z
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) June 1, 2019
18th over: Afghanistan 73-3 (Rahmat 42, Nabi 5)
Great middle-overs test for Australia here, where wickets are key. Pace is their weapon, and they’ve opted for the Starc and Zampa axis to bring them something. Zampa concedes just two from the over. Is it building pressure? If so, on whom?
17th over: Afghanistan 70-3 (Rahmat 41, Nabi 3)
Starc goes again, but when the radar’s off, opportunity abounds. He goes searching for fullness with his third delivery, and Rahmat leans on him through the off side for four, taking him into the forties. Starc comes around the wicket to Nabi (not sure if it’s the angle but it always looks dangerous), and Nabi is able to finid one to third man. Six from the over, and Afghanistan roll on.
Updated
16th over: Afghanistan 64-3 (Rahmat 36, Nabi 2)
Zampa drops short and Rahmat heaves him over midwicket for a boundary, imperiously so. By that I mean he held his pose for a dramatically long period of time post-shot - and I welcome it. There are two singles otherwise, and another successful over for Afghanistan.
15th over: Afghanistan 58-3 (Rahmat 31, Nabi 1)
Mitchell Starc is back - presumably in the search for a few wickets as they’d rarely go to him now in similar situations - and gets through a maiden. Nabi looks more comfortable than the others in dealing with his pace.
14th over: Afghanistan 57-3 (Rahmat 31, Nabi 1)
Zampa gets the wicket, though both Rahmat and Shahidi looked prepared to try and take him down beforehand. Will be interesting to see how they attack Zampa next over - he might be the target.
In response to Romeo’s question about Afghani commentators at the World Cup (or lack thereof), Andrew writes in:
“Hello Sam,” he says.
“Perhaps there are no Afghan commentators because the 900 year old brick-built Minaret of Jam is on the verge of collapse and the’ye got more important things to do!
Best regards,
Andrew Benton”
The 900-year-old Minaret of Jam is on the verge of collapse after recent floods destroyed protection walls around the monument. #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/P1hr7qzDy4
— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) May 27, 2019
WICKET! Shahidi stumped Carey b Zampa 18 (Afghanistan 56-3)
The left-handed Shahidi runs past one, as a Zampa leg-break slides past his advance. A little bobble from Alex Carey preceded the bail-breaking, but nothing too dramatic. Some nice shots from the number four, but the pace had him well contained in the main.
Updated
13th over: Afghanistan 51-2 (Rahmat 27, Shahidi 17)
Afghanistan brings up its fifty to jovial applause around the ground. It was via a sweetly timed cover drive for two from Shahidi, who is looking better by the over. He plays an misses later on, and otherwise there’s no run. An interesting one here as 3.92rpo isn’t world class, and yet Australia can’t get the breakthrough. Looks like Zampa’s coming on next.
Updated
12th over: Afghanistan 49-2 (Rahmat 27, Shahidi 15)
Suggestion from Michael Slater and Wasim Akram on TV comms that Australia might be utilising the West Indies’ strategy from yesterday. That is, bumpers. Except on this occasion Stoinis twice falters - gifting wides with similar attempts. It’s not too costly, as there’s only a single otherwise. But the crowd are coming into it - the Afghani’s have steadied.
11th over: Afghanistan 45-2 (Rahmat 26, Shahidi 14)
Shahidi breaks the 140kph-imposed shackles, and biffs Coulter-Nile for four through cover, with some assistance from a nearby practice wicket. He then tries to pull Coulter-Nile and gets one of those deep-travelling edges that lands one bounce from the fence for another boundary. Eight from the over - handy runs.
Warner being booed heavily every time he fetches the ball from the boundary at one end. Afghanistan 2-41
— Peter Lalor (@plalor) June 1, 2019
PS: how good is my seat? pic.twitter.com/JFXvfQHGzX
10th over: Afghanistan 37-2 (Rahmat 26, Shahidi 6)
The Adonis himself, Mr Stoinis, joins the fray, and he’s met with a muscular pull from Rahmat on ball four. The senior established bat is otherwise subdued, but a nice win for him there.
Updated
9th over: Afghanistan 33-2 (Rahmat 22, Shahidi 6)
They’re cheering every Afghani run at Bristol. Following three Rahmat play-and-misses to Coulter-Nile, Rahmat manages an inside edge, much to the joy of the Bristol faithful. Another tight over then - only one from it - though this partnership is building.
8th over: Afghanistan 32-2 (Rahmat 21, Shahidi 6)
Rahmat warming to the task now. He’s 21 from 27 after he finds a comfortable single into the cover region - he looks in control against both Cummins and Coulter-Nile. That single precedes a wide from Cummins to the left-handed Shahidi, and Cummins offers a wry smile. They’re not overly clean here, Australia - possibly a little frustrated after such a fast start. Cummins then manages four dot balls to Shahidi to tidy up matters.
Looking for some help here following an email from Romeo:
“Hi Sam,” he says. “Who is the Afghan commentator in the ICC’s selected group for this
tournament? Is there one? Hamid Hassan was excellent in the Ireland series, but of course he’s playing now.
If there isn’t an Afghan commentator at all, I want to know why not.”
Any ideas out there?
Not a bad spot to watch some World Cup cricket in Bristol...if you can afford the glass replacement!
— News Cricket (@NewsCorpCricket) June 1, 2019
AFG now 2/31 v AUS - Follow the action with our live blog: https://t.co/odYd1Nmt78#CWC19 #AUSvAFG #AFGvAUS #CmonAussie #AfghanAtalan pic.twitter.com/6NfDRX1biO
7th over: Afghanistan 30-2 (Rahmat 20, Shahidi 6)
Coulter-Nile is introduced and he gets some tap! He looks just off the pace of Starc and Cummins (not hard), and goes 1lb, dot, four, wide, one, dot, dot. Six from it - multiple lengths, multiple lines.
The four was a glorious flick through the on-side, while later in the over we see a second misfield from Glenn Maxwell at backward point. Strange areas from him.
The Australian cricket team are remarkably consistent when it comes to purchasing strictly godawful sunglasses
— James Colley (@JamColley) June 1, 2019
6th over: Afghanistan 23-2 (Rahmat 15, Shahidi 6)
Cummins keeps Rahmat pegged back in his crease until the first drop chances his arm, and hooks Cummins to the boundary for four! Man, would love to be able to tell a grandkid I hooked Pat Cummins for four at a World Cup.
Phil Withall (g’day Phil), writes:
“Evening Sam, Afganistan seem to have made a bit of a mistake in attempting to take the game to the Australians. Surely a more measured approach in the first 10 overs would have made more sense. I know it is the norm to try and smack the ball hard from the off but against this opening attack less could well mean more.”
I’m not sure. If they sit and defend, they’re sitting ducks aren’t they? It’s the powerplay; you have to try and capitalise on the field being up.
5th over: Afghanistan 19-2 (Rahmat 11, Shahidi 6)
So far the Afghani plan is to keep reasonably balanced and wait for the Australians to bowl too straight, or offer width. It’s not the worst approach, as Shahidi find a single to fine leg and Rahmat gets flays his hands at one later on, getting one to third man. At one point there’s a sound as the ball flicks past Rahmat’s hip, and it sounds woody. It’s given not out, and Finch declines the review. He’s correct to do so.
4th over: Afghanistan 17-2 (Rahmat 10, Shahidi 5)
Cummins warming into his work, but he concedes six from it. He’s just back of a length for the majority of the over, with one bouncer hammering Rahmat’s gloves, popping up and falling short of the quick. The final ball sees an inside edge race for four: there’s no footwork, and the pace sees the ball rocket into the fence.
3rd over: Afghanistan 10-2 (Rahmat 4, Shahidi 5)
Starc gets six balls at Shahidi. The first is cracked through the covers for four, before the left arm quick comes back with a bumper. The next just falls short of second slip, then there’s a wide, before Starc cranks it up to 150kph. The whole thing is very Mitchell Starc.
Updated
2nd over: Afghanistan 6-2 (Rahmat 4, Shahidi 1)
It’s Cummins from the other end - and it’s a no-ball first up! Replays show it was exceptionally close, but it’s registered. The free hit is spliced high and taken by Coulter-Nile, before Cummins inflicts meaningful damage via an Hazratullah edge to Carey. The bowling looks that smidgen too quick for the Afghani’s here - at least early on. It will settle to some extent, I’m sure.
Edged, taken. Cummins in the book with his second legal delivery. Hazratullah joins Shahzad with a globe. Afghanistan 10-2. #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/lNv2uXPj0F
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) June 1, 2019
WICKET! Hazratullah c Carey b Cummins 0 (Afghanistan 5-2)
Cummins gives Hazratullah some width and the batsman obliges only in offering a big feet-less swipe, gaining a healthy edge that’s taken at head height by Carey.
Updated
1st over: Afghanistan 3-1 (Rahmat 3, Hazratullah 0)
Starc takes the first ball; can he elicit any swing? The first two not so much. The third, well, you can see the result below. Takeaways? Starc looks pretty quick - certainly too quick for Shahzad. A nice little whip for three followed, and that was all she wrote.
WICKET! Shahzad b Starc 0 (Afghanistan 0-1)
Bowled him! Classic Starc. Full. A little swing. 95+ mph, and stumps everywhere. Shades of McCullum in the 2015 final. One of the dirtiest swipes across the line you’ll see, too. Quick.
Updated
Anthems are done
What a stirring anthem the Afghanis have.
It’s Warner and Smith’s first official match back since the Sandpaper affair
My tip? Smith will gluttonously compensate for his time out. Think it’s a little more complicated for his compatriot.
Updated
One via email
A question from Abhijarto Sensarma:
“Afghanistan and Australia have faced off twice in ODIs,” he says. “The first time, Afghanistan scored 206, and the next time they scored 142. The sum of the digits of the first score is 8, while the sum of digits of the next one decreases by 1 and the sum is 7. Australia, on the other hand, scored 272 the first time around and 417 the next time. The sum of digits of the first score adds up to 11, while the sum of the digits of the next increases by 1and the sum is 12.Considering this as well as my overcalculative self in mind, I have to ask ask the question: will we see Afghanistan score’s digits add up to 6 while Australia’s add up to 13 to keep up with the unlikely pattern?”
Without doubt, Abhijarto!
Khawaja in / 3 quicks and a spinner
So Khawaja beats Marsh to that final batting spot. Finch said: “Usman’s form over the last 14-15 games was too good to ignore. Really tough call but we had to make it.”
There was a school of thought that Lyon would form a duel-brotherhood with Zampa, but Australia have stuck with its meat-and-three veg approach, and Coulter-Nile is in as the third quick.
Teams
Afghanistan XI: Shahzad (wk), Zazai, Shah, Shahidi, N. Zadran, Nabi, Naib (c), Rashid Khan, Mujeeb, Hassan, D. Zadran #CWC19 #AUSvAFG
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) June 1, 2019
Australia XI: Finch (c), Warner, Khawaja, Smith, Maxwell, Stoinis, Carey (wk), Coulter-Nile, Cummins, Starc, Zampa. #CWC19 #AUSvAFG
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) June 1, 2019
Afghanistan have won the toss and have elected to bat
It’s Sanjay Manjrekar, both captains, match referee Ranjan Madugalle and a coin. Naib flips, Finch says tails, it lands heads.
Naib says the wicket looks good and flat - that they’re aiming to post a good total, and to come home with three spinners. Sound logic!
Updated
No news yet on Khawaja or Marsh
Lots of conjecture about this one in Australia. Easy to forget that there’s ten games, and this author can easily see all 15 players being afforded an opportunity. Both players really are very similar in terms of what they offer with the bat: control, rotation of the strike, decent averages. Both are at similar ends of Australia’s fielding bell curve too. Will be interesting to see which way it goes, but only insofar as understanding who has the inside running at this point.
Let’s start big, and narrow in
There’s been so much talk about where cricket sits in the English sporting ecosystem of late. I found yesterday’s Guardian editorial interesting on the topic; it can be easy to get mired in the x’s and o’s of broadcast money, the influence of digital, and so forth - and similarly easy to forget those that get out there and play. Here’s the piece for your perusal:
Updated
Hello and welcome...
To The Guardian’s second piece of World Cup cricketing livebloggery today. Whether the body clock is telling you to discard this match for sweet, sweet sleep in Australia, whether you’re crowded around a TV in Kabul, or whether you’re nervously passing the time before Liverpool v Tottenham in Madrid tonight - it doesn’t matter. You are here, and for one reason or another free, willing and keen to understand the ins, outs, ups, downs and associated carry-on ahead of “ODI 4 of 48” (the Google convention): Australia v Afghanistan, from Bristol
I can tell you this: it’s partly cloudy and 23 degrees in England’s South West. Australia start favourites - but, well - we’re due a boilover soon, surely? I’ll bring you team news, toss news, some colour, background and all sorts as we build up to the first ball. In the meantime, enjoy these strange Kangaroo suits apparently bouncing around Bristol.
And if you want to chat, it’s sam.perry.freelance@guardian.co.uk, or @sjjperry via Twitter.
Bristol, we’re ready! Safe to say the Aussies are more than ready for this clash. All I’m missing is my fave Aussie @melindafarrell ! 🇦🇺 vs 🇦🇫 #CWC19 #AUSvAFG pic.twitter.com/VtOGIFUwo4
— Alexis Nunes (@alexisenunes) June 1, 2019
Updated
