Australia defeated Afghanistan by seven wickets in the fourth match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 at the County Ground, Bristol on Saturday.
Here are the highlights from the fourth match of the tournament between Afghanistan and Australia:
# Australia win by seven wickets!
# Australia 209/3 (34.5 overs)
# Maxwell finishes the game with a boundary off his first delivery as Australia clinch victory by a margin of seven wickets!
# Glenn Maxwell is the next batsman in!
# Wicket! Steve Smith dismissed for 18 runs off 26 deliveries as he is caught unawares by a turning delivery which he edges to Hazratullah Zazai. Australia 205/3 (34.4 overs)
# Mujeeb Ur Rahman to bowl his fifth over!
# Five runs from the over with Australia needing just four runs for victory. Australia 204/2 (34 overs)
# Rashid Khan to bowl his eighth over!
# Eight runs off the over with Australia needing nine runs for victory. Australia 199/2 (33 overs)
# Mujeeb Ur Rahman to bowl his fourth over!
# Three runs off the over, Australia 191/2 (32 overs)
# Dawlat Zadran to bowl his fifth over!
# Eight runs off the over as Steve Smith slices the ball to the third-man fence for his first boundary of the innings. Australia 188/2 (31 overs)
# Mujeeb Ur Rahman to bowl his third over!
# Nine runs off the over as David Warner hits the ball straight down the ground for his eighth boundary of the innings. Australia 180/2 (30 overs)
# Dawlat Zadran is back into the attack!
# Australia 171/2 (29 overs) with five runs off the over as Warner and Smith complete five singles.
# Rashid Khan to bowl his seventh over!
# Australia 166/2 (28 overs) with two runs off the over.
# Hamid Hassan to bowl his seventh over!
# Four runs from the over as Rashid Khan attempts to review a potential lbw call, with the final decision not in favour of Afghanistan. Australia 164/2 (27 overs)
# Rashid Khan to continue with the ball!
# Four runs off the over as Steve Smith gets off the mark with a single. Australia 160/2 (26 overs)
# Hamid Hassan is back in the attack!
# Six runs and a wicket off the over, Australia 156/2 (25 overs)
# Steve Smith is the new man in!
# Wicket! Usman Khawaja dismissed for 15 runs off 20 deliveries as he is adjudged lbw off the final delivery of Khan's over. This is the first wicket for Rashid Khan in World-Cup cricket. Australia 156/2 (24.6 overs)
# Rashid Khan to bowl his fifth over!
# Two runs off the over as David Warner and Usman Khawaja complete two singles off the first two deliveries. Australia 150/1 (24 overs)
#Muhammad Nabi to bowl his sixth over!
# Six runs from the over as David Warner completes his first half-century following a return to international cricket from suspension. Australia 148/1 (23 overs)
# Rashid Khan into the attack!
# Australia continue to score runs at a consistent rate with 12 runs off the over as Usman Khawaja scores his first boundary of the innings, hitting the ball wide of fine leg for a boundary. Australia 142/1 (22 overs)
# Muhammad Nabi to continue with the ball!
# Australia 130/1 (21 overs) with 13 runs off the over as David Warner scores his fifth boundary of the innings wide of backward point.
# Gulbadin Naib to bowl his fifth over!
# Eight runs off the over as Australia score five runs off a single delivery following a wide which beats the wicketkeeper for a boundary. Australia 117/1 (20 overs)
# Mohammad Nabi to bowl his fourth over!
# Six runs from the over as David Warner smashes his fourth boundary of the innings off a short delivery. Australia 109/1 (19 overs)
# Afghanistan skipper Gulbadin Naib to bowl his fourth over!
# Five runs from the over with Usman Khawaja yet to get off the mark. David Warner smashed a boundary to short third man off the third delivery of the over, to help Australia get past the 100-run mark. Australia 103/1 (18 overs)
# Rashid Khan to bowl his third over!
# Four runs off the over and the dismissal of Australia skipper Aaron Finch, Australia 98/1 (17 overs)
# Usman Khawaja is the next batsman in!
# Wicket! Aaron Finch dismissed for 66 runs off 49 deliveries as he attempts to go for another big hit off a slower delivery, with Mujeeb Ur Rahman completing the catch. Australia 96/1 (16.2 overs)
# Gulbadin Naib to bowl his third over!
# Seven runs off the over, as Australia finish the 16th over six short of the 100 run mark with 94 runs off 16 overs! Australia 94/0 (16 overs)
# Rashid Khan to continue with the ball!
# Four runs off the over as Warner and Aaron Finch complete four singles off the over. Australia 87/0 (15 overs)
# Nabi to bowl his third over!
# 14 runs off the over as Aaron Finch completes his half-century with a boundary off the first delivery of the over. He further follows it up with a six off the second delivery over deep mid-wicket. Australia 83/0 (14 overs)
# Rashid Khan into the attack!
# Three runs off the over as David Warner is nearly dismissed following a quick stumping by wicketkeeper Mohammad Shahzad. Australia 69/0 (13 overs)
# Muhammad Nabi to bowl his second over!
# Eight runs off the over as Finch anticipates the slower short ball early, hitting the ball into the stands for a six. Australia 66/0 (12 overs)
# Gulbadin Naib to bowl his second over!
# Three runs from the over, as Finch and Warner complete a double and a single off the second and first deliveries of the over. Australia 58/0 (11 overs)
# Muhammad Nabi into the attack!
# Australia 55/0 (10 overs), with just one run from the over.
# Skipper Gulbadin Naib has introduced himself into the attack!
# 10 runs from the over, as Aaron Finch smashes a six and a boundary into the stands over mid-wicket and to deep extra cover. Australia 54/0 (9 overs)
# Dawlat Zadran to bowl his third over!
# Maiden over by Hamid Hassan who has conceded 10 runs off his four overs so far. Australia 44/0 (8 overs)
# Hamid Hassan continues to bowl at the other end!
# Four runs off the over, as Australia reach 44/0 (7 overs)
# Dawlat Zadran to bowl his second over of the bowling spell!
# Five runs from the over following a boundary off the first delivery by Warner who edges the ball wide of slip after a thick outside edge. Australia 40/0 (6 overs)
# Hamid Hassan to bowl his third over!
# Australia 35/0 (5 overs) as David Warner scores his first international boundary in 15 months following a boundary straight down the ground off the first delivery of the over.
# Dawlat Zadran into the attack!
# Australia 29/0 (4 overs) with five runs off the over following a boundary off the final delivery by Aaron Finch who edges the ball over first slip.
# Hamid Hassan to bowl his second over!
# Australia 24/0 (3 overs) with 14 runs from the over as Aaron Finch smashes a six and a boundary respectively over wide long-on and over the keeper.
# Mujeeb Ur Rahman to bowl his second over!
# Maiden over for Hassan with Australia 10/0 (2 overs)
# Hamid Hassan to share the new ball!
# 10 runs off the first over as Aaron Finch hits two consecutive boundaries off Rahman over the fielder at extra cover to get Australia off to a good start. Australia 10/0 (1 over)
# Mujeeb Ur Rahman to open the bowling for Afghanistan!
# Australian openers David Warner and Aaron Finch are set to kick off the chase!
# Australia need 208 runs to win!
# Wicket! Mujeeb Ur Rahman dismissed for 13 runs off 9 deliveries as he attempts to smash a yorker by Cummins without proper connect, with the ball going on to hit the stumps. Afghanistan 207/10 (38.2 overs)
# Pat Cummins to bowl his ninth over!
# Nine runs from the over following a six by Rashid Khan off the second delivery, Afghanistan 207/9 (38 overs)
# Hamid Hassan is the final batsman for Afghanistan!
# Wicket! Rashid Khan dismissed for 27 runs off 10 deliveries in an innings comprising of two boundaries and three sixes as he attempts to go for another big hit following a six off the second delivery of the over. Rashid Khan was adjudged lbw following a turning delivery by Zampa. Afghanistan 205/9 (37.3 overs)
# Adam Zampa to bowl his eighth over!
# 11 runs from the over as Mujeeb Ur Rahman smashes a six and a boundary through mid-wicket and over the fielder at fine leg, Afghanistan 198/8 (37 overs)
# Pat Cummins to bowl his eighth over!
# 21 runs from the over as Rashid Khan smashes two boundaries and two sixes off the over with Afghanistan close to being bowled out at this stage. Afghanistan 187/8 (36 overs)
# Marcus Stoinis to bowl his seventh over of the bowling spell!
# Four runs and a wicket from the over, Australia 166/8 (35 overs)
# Mujeeb Ur Rahman is the new man in!
# Wicket! Dawlat Zadran departs for four runs off six deliveries as Afghanistan lose their eighth wicket following a top edge off a short delivery, with wicketkeeper Alex Carey completing the catch. Australia 166/8 (34.6 overs)
# Pat Cummins to bowl his seventh over!
# Two runs and two wickets off the over, Australia 162/7 (34 overs)
# Dawlat Zadran is the next batsman in!
# Wicket! Najibullah Zadran dismissed for 51 runs off 49 deliveries as the batsman attempts to go for a big hit off a short delivery with wicketkeeper Alex Carey completing the catch. Afghanistan 162/7 (33.5 overs)
# Rashid Khan is the new man in!
# Wicket! Gulbadin Naib dismissed for 31 runs off 33 deliveries as he attempts to go for a pull shot off a slower delivery bowled by Stoinis, resulting in a top-edge as Alex Carey completes the catch. Afghanistan 160/6 (33.1 overs)
# Marcus Stoinis is back in the attack!
# Seven runs off the over as Najibullah Zadran completes his half-century following a boundary off the final delivery, as the ball flies over the keeper after an edge. Afghanistan 160/5 (33 overs)
A brilliant half-century under pressure by @iamnajibzadran !#AFGvAUS #CWC19 #AfghanAtalan #InForWin pic.twitter.com/V4Wc3qJAyr
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) June 1, 2019
# Mitchell Starc to bowl his sixth over!
# 10 runs off the over, as Gulbadin Naib smashes his first six of the innings off the final ball as Nile bowls a slower length ball outside off. Afghanistan 153/5 (32 overs)
# Nathan Coulter Nile to bowl his eighth over!
# Nine runs off the over as Najibullah Zadran and Gulbadin Naib take the attack to the Australians following a dismal start with the duo smashing a boundary apiece off Starc. Australia 143/5 (31 overs)
# Mitchell Starc to bowl his sixth over!
# Five runs from the over, Afghanistan 134/5 (30 overs)
# Nathan Coulter Nile to bowl his seventh over!
# 22 runs from the over as Najibullah Zadran smashes two boundaries and two sixes off the spinner, to help Afghanistan reach 129/5 (29 overs)
# Adam Zampa to bowl his seventh over!
# Maiden over for Nathan Coulter Nile as Naib and Najibullah avoid any risk-free gameplay with defensive strokes. Afghanistan 107/5 (28 overs)
# Five runs off the over as Najibullah drives the ball through mid-off following a full-toss by the bowler. Afghanistan 107/5 (27 overs)
# Adam Zampa to bowl his sixth over!
# Four runs off the over as Najibullah Zadran hits his second boundary of the innings over the gap at cover. Afghanistan 102/5 (26 overs)
# Nathan Coulter Nile to bowl his fifth over!
# Seven runs off the over with Najibullah Zadran smashing his first boundary of the innings over backward point following a reverse slip. Afghanistan 98/5 (25 overs)
# Adam Zampa is back in the attack!
# Just a single off the over, Afghanistan 91/5 (24 overs)
# Pat Cummins to bowl his sixth over of the innings!
# Four runs off the over with Naib hitting his first boundary of the innings well wide of Khawaja at mid-wicket, who has been a clinical fielder for Australia today. Afghanistan 90/5 (23 overs)
# Marcus Stoinis continues with the ball!
# Nine runs off the over with Najibullah Zadran smashing two boundaries against Cummins in front of square on the leg-side and through the gap at mid-wicket. Afghanistan 86/5 (22 overs)
# Pat Cummins to bowl his fifth over!
# Wicket maiden for Stoinis, Afghanistan 77/5 (21 overs)
# Najibullah Zadran is the next batsman in!
# Wicket! Muhammad Nabi departs for 7 off 22 deliveries following a run-out as Steve Smith picks the ball up and throws the ball directly to wicketkeeper Alex Carey who completes the dismissal. Afghanistan 77/5 (20.2 overs)
# Marcus Stoinis to bowl his fourth over!
# Two runs and a wicket off the over, Afghanistan 77/4 (20 overs)
# Skipper Gulbadin Naib is the next batsman in!
# Wicket! Rahmat Shah departs for 43 runs off 60 deliveries as he hits the ball straight to Steve Smith, resulting in a second wicket for Adam Zampa. Afghanistan 75/4 (19.2 overs)
# Adam Zampa to bowl his fourth over!
# Afghanistan 75/3 (19 overs) with Rahmat Shah and Mohammad Nabi completing a single each!
# Marcus Stoinis to bowl his third over of the bowling spell!
# Three runs off the over with Rahmat Shah close to a half-century, having scored 42 off 55 deliveries. Afghanistan 73/3 (18 overs)
# Adam Zampa to bowl his third over!
# Six runs off the over, with Rahmat Shah making it boundaries off consecutive overs, smashing the ball wide of cover to the fence. Afghanistan 70/3 (17 overs)
# Mitchell Starc continues to bowl at the other end!
# Six runs off the over, as Rahmat Shah hits the ball over mid-wicket for a boundary. Afghanistan 64/3 (16 overs)
# Adam Zampa to bowl his second over!
# Just a single off the over as Muhammad Nabi completes a single off the last delivery which nearly results in a run-out. Afghanistan 58/3 (15 overs)
# Mitchell Starc comes back into the attack!
# Six runs and a wicket off the over, Afghanistan 57/3 (14 overs)
# Mohammad Nabi is the next batsman in!
# Wicket! Hashmatullah Shahidi dismissed for 18 runs off 34 deliveries as he is stumped following a tossed up delivery which he runs down the track and attempts to smash. Afghanistan 56/3 (13.5 overs)
# Adam Zampa into the attack!
# Just two runs off the over as Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi indulge in risk-free cricket against the fast bowler. Afghanistan 51/2 (13 overs)
# Coulter Nile to bowl his fourth over!
# Afghanistan 49/2 (12 overs) as Stoinis concedes just four runs off his second over!
# Marcus Stoinis to bowl his second over!
# Afghanistan 45/2 (11 overs) with eight runs off Nile's third over as Hasmatullah Shahidi smashes two boundaries off the medium pace-bowler.
# Nathan Coulter Nile to bowl his third over!
# Afghanistan 37/2 (10 overs) as Rahmat Shah scores his fourth boundary of the innings between mid-on and mid-wicket!
# Marcus Stoinis into the attack for Australia!
# Afghanistan 33/2 (9 overs) as Nathan Coulter Nile concedes just a single off his second over!
# Afghanistan 32/2 (8 overs) with two runs off Pat Cummins's fourth over of the bowling spell.
# Afghanistan 30/2 (7 overs) as Rahmat Shah hits another boundary through mid-wicket following a flick by the batsman.
# Nathan Coulter Nile into the attack!
# Four runs off the over following a boundary by Rahmat Shah who hits his third boundary of the innings following a short ball by Cummins through square leg. Afghanistan 23/2 (6 overs)
# Pat Cummins to bowl his third over of the innings!
# Just two runs off the over, as Afghanistan finish on 19/2 after five overs!
# Mitchell Starc to continue with the ball!
# Six runs from the over as Rahmat Shah hits a boundary off the final delivery of the over following a thick inside edge past the leg-stump. Afghanistan 17/2 (4 overs)
# Pat Cummins to bowl his second over of the bowling spell!
# Five runs from the over, following a boundary by Shahidi off the first delivery through the covers. Afghanistan 11/2 (3 overs)
# Starc to bowl his second over!
# Three runs and a wicket from the over, Afghanistan 6/2 (2 overs)
# Hasmatullah Shahidi is the next batsman in!
# Wicket! Hazratullah Zazai dismissed for 0 off 2 deliveries as he attempts to drive a loose delivery by Cummins, resulting in an edge which wicketkeeper Carey completes with ease. Afghanistan 5/2 (1.2 overs)
# Pat Cummins to share the new ball at the other end!
# Three runs and a wicket from the over, Afghanistan 3/1 (1 over)
# Rahmat Shah is the new batsman in!
# Wicket! Mohammad Shahzad has been dismissed for 0 following a fast inswinger by Starc which curves in at high pace to hit the stumps. Afghanistan 0/1 (0.3 overs)
# Fast bowler Mitchell Starc to bowl the opening over!
# Afghanistan openers Mohammad Shahzad and Hazratullah Zazai are set to kick off the innings!
# The clash is set to commence in a few minutes with both the teams on the field for the national anthem ceremony!
# Afghanistan win the toss and opt to bat!
Defending champions Australia will look to register a strong start to the ICC World Cup 2019 when they take on Afghanistan in their opening match of the tournament at the County Ground, Bristol on Saturday.
Former skipper Steve Smith has been in good form for the side in the warm-up clashes with a match-winning century against England. Smith will be expected to make his presence felt against Afghanistan who are more than capable of making their presence felt.
Afghanistan will be quite confident of a formidable show against the Aussies having recorded a 3-wicket win against Pakistan in a warm-up clash after being handed a target of 263 runs to chase.
Australian skipper Justin Langer will be optimistic of a positive result for a fitness test which opener David Warner underwent on Friday considering his ability to emerge as a match-winner.
Lineups:
Australia (Playing XI): Aaron Finch(c), David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey(w), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa.
Afghanistan (Playing XI): Mohammad Shahzad(w), Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib(c), Rashid Khan, Dawlat Zadran, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Hamid Hassan.
