Australia vs. Afghanistan: Highlights, Scorecard, Report from Cricket World Cup
Australia bounced back from their agonising defeat to New Zealand to thrash Afghanistan at the Cricket World Cup in Perth.
The minnows of Afghanistan were never likely to pose any sort of threat to Australia and so it proved as the host nation racked up 417 for six—a record score at World Cups.
"RECORD! Australia close on 417-6. That's the highest total in Cricket World Cup history! #AUSvAFG #CWC15 pic.twitter.com/kRn9DT8sdU
— The Cricketer (@TheCricketerMag) March 4, 2015"
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Australia have tremendous bowling firepower in their ranks, and they blew away Afghanistan who were bowled out for 142.
Australia lost Aaron Finch early, and he will view his departure as a missed opportunity as David Warner and Steven Smith cashed in in a big way.
Warner was the dominant partner, with Smith content to play the anchor role, and he raced to his 50 in 40 balls and century in 92 balls.
"100! Brilliant batting from David Warner! 100 off 92 balls, his first ever World Cup century! http://t.co/a2RoktbW0q pic.twitter.com/I6kcNljOmY
— ICC (@ICC) March 4, 2015"
Warner really cut loose after passing three figures, and it looked like he was going to break all sorts of ODI records.
However, at 178, Warner skied a ball off Shapoor Zadran and Mohammad Nabi took an excellent catch.
Warner’s departure brought Maxwell to the crease, and he took on the baton from the opener.
His first scoring shot was an audacious reverse sweep, and he used it as a platform to launch from.
"Incredible reverse sweep from maxwell #CWC15 #AUSvAFG pic.twitter.com/Y8dYKoBx63
— stenin (@stenin7) March 4, 2015"
Maxwell peppered the boundary all around the ground but, like Smith, was denied a century.
There may have been a few missed personal landmarks, but the team score of 417 for six was a record score at a Cricket World Cup, beating India's 413 against Bermuda in 2007.
| Batsman | How Out | Runs | Minutes | Balls |
| DA Warner | c Mohammad Nabi b Shapoor Zadran | 178 | 133 | |
| AJ Finch | c Nawroz Mangal b Dawlat Zadran | 4 | 9 | |
| SPD Smith | c Najibullah Zadran b Shapoor Zadran | 95 | 98 | |
| GJ Maxwell | c Mohammad Nabi b Dawlat Zadran | 88 | 39 | |
| JP Faulkner | b Hamid Hassan | 7 | 6 | |
| MR Marsh | c Najibullah Zadran b Nawroz Mangal | 8 | 9 | |
| BJ Haddin† | not out | 20 | 9 | |
| Extras | (b 2, lb 5, w 7, nb 3) | 17 | ||
| Total | (6 wickets; 50 overs) | 417 | ||
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets |
| Dawlat Zadran | 10 | 1 | 101 | 2 |
| Shapoor Zadran | 10 | 0 | 89 | 2 |
| Hamid Hassan | 10 | 0 | 70 | 1 |
| Mohammad Nabi | 10 | 0 | 84 | 0 |
| Samiullah Shenwari | 5 | 0 | 34 | 0 |
| Javed Ahmadi | 4 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| Nawroz Mangal | 1 | 0 | 14 | 1 |
Afghanistan’s openers came out with positive intent, but they found the in-form Mitchell Starc a tough assignment.
"Starc with incredible rhythm and confidence right now. 150km/h and swinging in. Good luck @ACBofficials #AUSvAFG #CWC15
— Turnstile Fever (@TurnstileFever) March 4, 2015"
Starc did not enjoy any success in his opening spell, but Mitchell Johnson found form with the ball.
Johnson was wayward and expensive against New Zealand, but found rhythm against Afghanistan and was rewarded with four wickets.
The pace bowler was aided by some excellent fielding, with Smith taking an excellent running catch to prise out Asghar Stanikzai.
"Almost shades of Steve Waugh and @YCCCDizzy there. Lucky it wasn't! http://t.co/0vPDBPMzed #AUSvAFG #CWC15 pic.twitter.com/kCRjxp7PUd
— FOX SPORTS Cricket (@FOXCricketLive) March 4, 2015"
But as good as Smith’s catch was, it was not a patch on the diving effort at slip from Finch to remove Nawroz Mangal.
"What a catch Aaron Finch! https://t.co/vMbDzoz14i
— Daniel Harris (@DanielHarris) March 4, 2015"
Starc returned and found his radar with the yorker, while Johnson claimed the final wicket to wrap up the contest and give Australia a 275-run win.
| Batsman | How Out | Runs | Minutes | Balls |
| Javed Ahmadi | c Clarke b Hazlewood | 13 | 24 | |
| Usman Ghani | c Faulkner b Johnson | 12 | 19 | |
| Nawroz Mangal | c Finch b Johnson | 33 | 35 | |
| Asghar Stanikzai | c Smith b Johnson | 4 | 10 | |
| Samiullah Shenwari | c Johnson b Clarke | 17 | 31 | |
| Mohammad Nabi* | c Clarke b Maxwell | 2 | 10 | |
| Najibullah Zadran | b Starc | 24 | 31 | |
| Afsar Zazai† | c †Haddin b Hazlewood | 10 | 40 | |
| Dawlat Zadran | b Starc | 0 | 4 | |
| Hamid Hassan | c Warner b Johnson | 7 | 18 | |
| Shapoor Zadran | not out | 0 | 4 | |
| Extras | (b 4, lb 5, w 10, nb 1) | 20 | ||
| Total | (all out; 37.3 overs) | 142 | ||
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets |
| MA Starc | 6 | 0 | 18 | 2 |
| JR Hazlewood | 8 | 1 | 25 | 2 |
| MG Johnson | 7.3 | 0 | 22 | 4 |
| MJ Clarke | 5 | 0 | 14 | 1 |
| MR Marsh | 3 | 0 | 25 | 0 |
| JP Faulkner | 4 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| GJ Maxwell | 4 | 1 | 21 | 1 |
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
