Highlights, AFG vs AUS, 2019 World Cup Match 4: Clinical Australia beat Afghanistan by 7 wickets

AFG vs AUS, 2019 World Cup Match 4: The dominant Australian side will take on Afghanistan in their opening game of 2019 World Cup. Five-time champion Australia starts the defense of its Cricket World Cup title against Afghanistan at Bristol on Saturday, with David Warner and ex-captain Steve Smith expected to return to the lineup. Finch was elevated to lead the Australia ODI squad after Smith and Warner were each banned for 12 months for their parts in a ball-tampering scandal in South Africa in March last year. Meanwhile, Afghanistan skipper Gulbadin Naib has Hazratullah Zazai and Hashmatullah Shahidi to bank on as the duo showed great composure against Pakistan to chase down 263 despite the presence of quality bowlers in the Pakistan line-up in the form of Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz. (Match Scorecard)

Australia beat Afghanistan by 7 wickets

* Professional display of batting by Australia. It would have been so easy to go hammer and tongs and try and win this in a canter but Australia ensured that there was no hara-kiri. Finch went after the bowlers but Warner ensured that he batted till the end. Khawaja and Smith could not quite get going but there was nothing much required out of them.

23.51 IST: Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Glenn Maxwell, FOUR! Up and over! So easy, isn't it? Maxwell arrives and he finishes the game! A flatter one outside off, Glenn does not need a sighter and just smashes the first ball he faces over mid off and to the boundary. AUSTRALIA WIN BY 7 WICKETS AND COMPLETE THIS CHASE WITH MORE THAN 15.1 OVERS LEFT!

 

* Glenn Maxwell comes in at number five with 3 runs required!

23.48 IST: Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Steve Smith, OUT! A wicket when the match is about to end.

23.45 IST: Rashid Khan to David Warner, Warner tucks this off the pads towards deep backward square leg. Comes back for the second run and completes it with ease.

23.42 IST: Mujeeb Ur Rahman to David Warner, Bowled flatter on middle again, Warner drives this past the right of the bowler for a run and retains strike for the next over. The required runs are now in single digits!

23.41 IST: Mujeeb Ur Rahman to David Warner, Bowled flatter on the pads, flicked away through mid-wicket by Warner. Smith pushes and runs back to the bowler's end for the second as well. Excellent running!

23.36 IST: Dawlat Zadran to David Warner, Bowled on a length on middle, Warner pats it on the off side and runs through for a quick single. Makes the ground easily even as the cover fielder has a shy at the bowler's end which eventually missed the stumps.

23.35 IST: Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Steve Smith, FOUR! Tossed up outside off, Smith looks to drive but gets an outside edge. It goes towards third man for a boundary.

* Mujeeb Ur Rahman is back into the attack.

23.33 IST: Dawlat Zadran to David Warner, FOUR! Nice shot. Full on off, Warner lofts it over mid off for a boundary.

23.29 IST: Dawlat Zadran to David Warner, RUN OUT CHANCE! SAFE! Length delivery on middle, Warner nudges it towards square leg. Rashid Khan goes for a direct hit at the bowler's end but misses it. The batsmen get two runs. Zazai should have been at the stumps in the bowler's end.

* Dawlat Zadran returns. 5-0-20-0 so far.

23.23 IST: Hamid Hassan to David Warner, Huge shout for LBW, turned down. Pitched outside leg, Warner misses his flick and is hit on the pads. Hamid appeals but the umpire moves away. A leg bye taken.

23.19 IST: Rashid Khan to David Warner, NOT OUT! It is indeed glove. Warner attempting the reverse sweep missed the ball and got it down to third man. Flighted delivery on off, Warner looks to play the reverse sweep but gets hit on the pads. The bowler appeals but the umpire shakes his head. Afghanistan go for the review. Ultra Edge shows that it clearly came off the glove. They lose their review and it is a waste of a review.

* Loud shout for an LBW! Warner is the man in question. He has not been given out. Shahzad indicates gloves. But Rashid insists on the review and Naib takes it. Looks to be glove and this will be a loss of a review for Afghanistan...

23.15 IST: Rashid Khan to David Warner, Outside off, Warner punches it through the covers but Gulbadin Naib throws himself to his left and parries it wide of the bowler. A single taken.

* Steven Smith walks in at number 4, replacing Khawaja. Hamid Hassan is back on as well. 4-2-10-0 so far.

23.12 IST: Rashid Khan to Usman Khawaja, OUT! Rashid Khan gets his first wicket. Bowls a slider on middle, Khawaja looks to defend but gets hit on the pads. The bowler appeals and the umpire raises his finger. Usman Khawaja did not go for the review. Hawk Eye shows that impact is in line and it is hitting the middle stump. Australia 156/2 in 25 overs

23.09 IST: Rashid Khan to David Warner, FOUR! Short and down the leg side, Warner pulls it past short fine leg!

23.03 IST: Rashid Khan to David Warner, FOUR! Cut and cut hard. Warner picks up the boundary and also reaches his FIFTY! His 18th in ODIs. He has not been his fluent best but this innings will give him a lot of confidence. He cuts this short ball outside off, past point for a boundary to reach the landmark.

*Rashid Khan replaces Gulbadin Naib.

23.01 IST: Mohammad Nabi to Usman Khawaja, FOUR! Easy picking for the left-hander.

22.59 IST: Mohammad Nabi to David Warner, FIVE WIDES! Bad day for Mohammad Shahzad. 

22.58 IST: Gulbadin Naib to David Warner, short-pitched delivery, marginally outside off. Warner attempts to pull but mistimes. Goes over the fielder's head at mid-on for a run.

22.58 IST: Gulbadin Naib to David Warner, WIDE! The free-hit remains!

22.57 IST: Gulbadin Naib to David Warner, NO BALL!

22.53 IST: Mohammad Nabi to Usman Khawaja, FIVE WIDES! Very poor keeping by Shahzad. Bowls it wide outside off, Khawaja lets it go and Shahzad fumbles and it goes through him for a boundary.

* Mohammad Nabi returns. 3-0-10-0 so far.

22.48 IST: Gulbadin Naib to David Warner, FOUR! Nice shot. Short delivery on leg, Warner pulls it through square leg where Zazai tries to stop it but it goes through him for a boundary.

* DRINKS! Australia have got off to a great start and have already scored half the runs. They have lost their skipper Aaron Finch but are on the course of chasing this total. On the other hand, Afghanistan need wickets to make a comeback in this match.

22.42 IST: Rashid Khan to David Warner, FOUR! Good shot. Tossed up on off, Warner guides it towards third man for a boundary.

* Usman Khawaja walks out to bat at number 3, replacing his skipper.

22.36 IST: Gulbadin Naib to Aaron Finch, OUT! First breakthrough for Afghanistan. Naib bowls a back of a hand slower one outside off, Finch lofts it over covers but does not get the distance on it. It goes to Mujeeb Ur Rahman in the deep who takes a comfortable catch.

22.31 IST: Mohammad Nabi to Aaron Finch, Bowled slower through the air on the middle stump line, eased away to long on with a straight bat for a single by Finch as he retains strike for the next over. There was a funny moment there as in the attempt to reach that ball, Nabi was holding onto the non-striker.

22.29 IST: Mohammad Nabi to David Warner, Flatter on middle, pushed away to deep cover for a single by Warner. He thinks of the second as well but it is too close to the fielder.

22.27 IST: Rashid Khan to Aaron Finch, SIX! This is even better. Short on middle, Finch pulls it over mid-wicket for a biggie.

22.25 IST: Rashid Khan to Aaron Finch, FOUR! Easy pickings for the skipper. 50 up for Aaron Finch. It is his 22nd fifty. This has been a great innings from him. Short and outside off, Finch cuts it through point for a boundary.

22.20 IST: Gulbadin Naib to Aaron Finch, SIX! Finch is on fire! A short ball outside off at 122 kph! The Aussie skipper prowls onto that like a hungry tiger. He slaps this ball hard over deep mid-wicket and clears the boundary with ease.

22.18 IST: Gulbadin Naib to Aaron Finch, Pushed off the back foot towards mid on by Finch. The ball went quickly to the fielder and hence a single cannot be taken.

22.17 IST: Gulbadin Naib to David Warner, Good length outside off, punched away to deep cover by Warner coming ahead. A single is picked up.

22.15 IST: Mohammad Nabi to David Warner, Flatter outside off, pushed towards cover by Warner for a single. The throw from cover is a wild one and the mid on fielder cannot back up but there is another fielder in the deep who stops the ball and prevents the extra run or overthrow.

22.13 IST: Gulbadin Naib to David Warner, Length delivery on middle, Warner flicks it towards mid-wicket for a single.

* The skipper comes on now. Gulbadin Naib to bowl his military medium pace.

22.11 IST: Dawlat Zadran to Aaron Finch, FOUR! Four dots in the over and concedes two boundaries. Full on off, Finch drives it through covers for a boundary. 10 runs have come from the over.

22.07 IST: Dawlat to Finch, SIX! Blasted! A short ball and the Aussie skipper has no hesitation smashing that into the stands. AUS 50/0 in 8.3 overs

22.01 IST: Hamid Hassan to David Warner, Back of a length outside off, Warner looks to slam it away but the ball goes off the inside half towards mid off.

21.58 IST: Dawlat Zadran to David Warner, Dawlat bowls a short delivery, Warner looks to pull but gets a bottom edge on this one. It goes towards third man for a single.

21.53 IST: Hassan to Warner, EDGED AND FOUR! A second slip in place could have seen Warner off! That was a good ball from Hamid Hassan. He bowls it on a good length and outside off, Warner looks to drive but gets an outside edge. It goes towards first slip where he tries to stop it with a dive but it goes through him towards third man for a boundary. AUS 30/0 in 5.1 overs

21.49 IST: Zardan to Warner, FOUR! Smashed! Brutal from Warner. A short length ball on the Free Hit and David just slaps this with a flat bat across the line. The ball goes over the bowler's head and powers its way to the rope. That must make Warner feel a lot better as it came off the middle of the bat. AUS 34/0 in 4.1 overs

* FREE HIT TIME! Will Warner open up here?

21.48 IST: Dawlat Zadran to David Warner, No ball! Dawlat bowls this on a length outside off and it is left alone by the southpaw. Unfortunately for the bowler, he has overstepped and it will be a no ball.

* Dawlat Zadran is the first bowling change for Afghanistan.

21.46 IST: Hassan to Finch, FOUR! Lucky runs for Finch but he will not mind. A wide ball outside off, Finch slashes away from the body. He gets a thick outside edge which flies well past slip and runs away fine of third man for a boundary. AUS 29/0 in 4 overs

21.46 IST: Hamid Hassan to Aaron Finch, Good ball! Bowled at 144 clicks outside off, Finch looks to punch off the back foot but the away movement takes the ball past the outside edge.

21.44 IST: Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Aaron Finch, FOUR! Poor ball and easy pickings for Finch. Bowled on the pads, Aaron easily glances this one past short fine leg. The ball runs away to the boundary. AUS 20/0 in 3 overs

21.41 IST: Mujeeb to Finch, SIX! Played that beautifully! Smart batting by the skipper. Finch seems in murderous mood here. A flighted ball on middle, Aaron gets under the ball and lifts it with ease over long on. Huge! AUS 16/0 in 2.2 overs

21.39 IST: A maiden over by Hamid Hassan. Has successfully managed to keep David Warner quiet this over.  AUS 10/0 in 2 overs

21.36 IST: Hamid Hassan to David Warner, WAIT ON! WAIT ON! Warner pushes this back of a length ball on off towards cover-point and yells that loudly to his partner.

21.35 IST: Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Aaron Finch, FOUR! This goes over the head of mid-off and to the fence. This is flighted outside off and Finch has room to free his arms and hit this ball. It clears mid-off with ease and races to the fence. Australia into double figures. AUS 10/0 in 0.4 overs

21.33 IST: Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Aaron Finch, FOUR! Finch smashes this one. A flighted ball wide outside off, Aaron smacks this away wide of mid off. The ball runs away to the fence with brilliant timing. AUS 6/0 in 0.3 overs

21.30 IST: We are back for the chase. The Afghanistan team is seen on the sidelines in a team talk while they await the Australian openers who then trot in. Aaron Finch and David Warner it will be. Can these two show us some fireworks like how they did when they lit up the last World Cup? They will be up against the spin of Mujeeb Ur Rahman first. 208 to win, who will win? Lets play!!!

* A decent bowling performance by Australia but one would believe that they have conceded 40-50 runs extra. They had the foot on the throat with the Afghans reeling at 77/5 but then overdose of short stuff led to the side effect of runs getting leaked.

21.03 IST: Pat Cummins to Mujeeb Ur Rahman, OUT! Bowled! Lock, stock and barrel! Full and straight, Mujeeb backs a long way down the leg side and looks to go inside out but misses. The ball hits the timber and AFGHANISTAN ARE ALL OUT FOR 207.

21.00 IST: Adam Zampa to Rashid Khan, OUT! It turns out to be plumb. The slider from Zampa, landing around middle, Rashid got across and looked to sweep but missed. Was hit on the pads and umpire Aleem Dar did not waste any time in raising his finger.

20.58 IST: Adam Zampa to Rashid Khan, SIX! That is a terrific shot! Tossed up outside off, Rashid comes down the track and sends this sailing over long off!

* Adam Zampa returns. This could be fun. Leg spinner against two spinners. 7-0-51-2 so far.

20.51 IST: Marcus Stoinis to Rashid Khan, SIX! 21 from the over and Rashid is taking Stoinis to the cleaners! Another short ball, outside off, Rashid pulls this into oblivion over mid-wicket! Stoinis just has a wry smile on his face... AFG 187/8 in 36 overs

20.50 IST: Marcus Stoinis to Rashid Khan, FOUR! Nicely done. Full and on middle, Rashid flicks it through mid-wicket. Nathan Coulter-Nile in the circle dives to his right but cannot quite get to it. The ball races away. AFG 181/8 in 35.5 overs

20.49 IST: Marcus Stoinis to Rashid Khan, SIX! That is a lovely shot! A length ball, around middle, Rashid comes down the track and hits it over long on! Nice connection! AFG 177/8 in 35.2 overs

20.47 IST: Pat Cummins to Dawlat Zadran, OUT! Afghanistan are falling like a pack of cards here. Cummins bowls a good short ball on leg, Zadran looks to pull but does not get the timing on it. It goes towards Alex Carey who takes his sixth catch. Pat Cummins followed Dawlat Zadran there.

20.45 IST: Pat Cummins to Dawlat Zadran, FOUR! Good shot. Cummins bowls a short delivery, Zadran takes his eyes off the ball and pulls it over square leg for a boundary.* Dawlat Zadran walks in at number 9, replacing Najibullah.

20.41 IST: Marcus Stoinis to Najibullah Zadran, OUT! And there goes Afghanistan's chance of making a decent total. Stoinis takes two in the over and things look good for Australia. AFG 162/7 in 34 overs

20.39 IST: Marcus Stoinis to Najibullah Zadran, TOP EDGE, BUT SAFE! A short ball now, Najibullah looks to pull but gets a top edge. Cummins gets across from deep square leg and dives but cannot get to the ball. Long leg gets across to his right and stops it on the bounce. A run taken.

* Rashid Khan walks in at number 8, replacing his skipper.

20.37 IST: Marcus Stoinis to Gulbadin Naib, OUT! Stoinis strikes first ball on return! Good catch from Alex Carey. OUT! The dangerous partnership is broken. Stoinis bowls a short delivery, Naib looks to pull but gets a top edge. It goes towards Alex Carey who takes a comfortable catch. This partnership was taking the game away from Australia. It is a much-needed wicket for them. AFG 160/6 in 33.1 overs

20.34 IST: Mitchell Starc to Najibullah Zadran, FOUR! Lucky boundary! But that brings up the FIFTY FOR Najibullah! A good bouncer by Starc, Zadran looks to fend it off uncomfortably but luck is shining on him today. The ball goes off the glove and top edge over the keeper's head for a boundary. This is his 10th fifty in this format. Been a wonderful knock so far but he needs to make this a big one!

20.30 IST: Nathan Coulter-Nile to Gulbadin Naib, SIX! Smashed away and Naib reaches 45. Powerful shot from the skipper. 150 up for Afghanistan. Short delivery on middle, Naib pulls it over mid-wicket for a biggie. AFG 153/5 in 32 overs

20.26 IST: Mitchell Starc to Najibullah Zadran, FOUR! Smashed down the ground! AFG 143/5 in 31 overs

20.25 IST: Mitchell Starc to Najibullah Zadran, FOUR! Poor line. Down the leg side, Najibullah helps it to the fine leg fence. There is a man stationed at fine leg but he is a bit square.

20.23 IST: Mitchell Starc to Najibullah Zadran, Full and swinging, but down the leg side, Najibullah looks to flick but misses and is hit on the front pad. The ball rolls to the leg side and Naib wants the single but is sent back. Replays show why.

20.14 IST; Nathan Coulter-Nile to Najibullah Zadran, WIDE. Too high to worry the batsman! The umpire has signalled a wide.

20.10 IST: Adam Zampa to Najibullah Zadran, SIX! Consecutive sixes for Najibullah Zadran. 50-run stand between Najibullah Zadran and Gulbadin Naib. Full toss on middle, Zadran lofts it over mid-wicket for a biggie. 22 runs have come from the over. Big over for Afghanistan and a much-needed one for them.

20.09 IST: Adam Zampa to Najibullah Zadran, SIX! This is excellent batting from Najibullah Zadran. Flighted delivery on leg, Zadran lofts it over long on for a maximum.

20.08 IST: Adam Zampa to Najibullah Zadran, FOUR! Nice shot. Flighted delivery on leg, Zadran plays a paddle sweep towards fine leg for a boundary.

20.05 IST: Nathan Coulter-Nile to Gulbadin Naib, Length delivery outside off, Gulbadin plays it to point. Maiden over from Coulter-Nile. Third by Australia so far.

20.01 IST: Adam Zampa to Najibullah Zadran, FOUR! Nice shot. Full and outside off, Zadran drives it through wide mid off for a boundary.

19.57 IST: Nathan Coulter-Nile to Najibullah Zadran, FOUR! 100 up for Afghanistan. Excellent shot. Short and outside off, Zadran cuts it hard through point for a boundary. Afghanistan 102/5 in 25.4 overs

19.55 IST: Adam Zampa to Najibullah Zadran, FOUR! Nicely done. Full and outside leg, this time Zadran gets his reverse sweep to connect and gets it over point.

* Adam Zampa returns to attack

19.50 IST: Pat Cummins to Najibullah Zadran, A jaffa. On a good length around off, Najibullah looks to defend but the ball moves away and beats the outside edge.

19.45 IST: Marcus Stoinis to Gulbadin Naib, FOUR! Full on middle, Naib flicks it through mid-wicket and the ball races away.

19.41 IST: Pat Cummins to Gulbadin Naib, FOUR! Take that! Just before this ball, Cummins gave Naib the stare and now, the favours are returned.

19.39 IST: Pat Cummins to Gulbadin Naib, FOUR! FEROCIOUS! A short ball, outside off, Naib pulls it over mid-wicket for a boundary!

* Cummins is back on.

* Najibullah Zadran is the new man in at number 7, replacing Nabi.

19.35 IST: Marcus Stoinis to Mohammad Nabi, OUT! Communication breakdown and another wicket goes down. Afghanistan are in tatters now.

19.32 IST: Adam Zampa to Rahmat Shah, OUT! Australia get their third wicket. They were searching for this. Tossed up on off, Shah drives it uppishly towards covers but does not bother to keep it down. It goes towards Steve Smith who dives with both hands and takes a stunner of a catch.

19.27 IST: Marcus Stoinis to Mohammad Nabi, Good length delivery on off, Nabi defends it off the back foot. Just 2 runs from the over.

*Marcus Stoinis replaces Mitchell Starc

19.17 IST: Mitchell Starc to Rahmat Shah, FOUR! Too full from Starc this time. Excellent shot from Shah, as he drives it towards covers where Khawaja dives but it goes through him for a boundary.

19.14 IST: Adam Zampa to Rahmat Shah, FOUR! Pulls it brilliantly towards the deep-midwicket boundary.

19.13 IST: Starc to Nabi, One run conceded off the over. The Afghans are taking it slow. AFG 58/3 in 15 overs

* Australia going for the kill. Mitchell Starc comes back on. 3-0-10-1 so far.

* Mohammad Nabi comes in to bat now.

19.08 IST: Adam Zampa to Hashmatullah Shahidi, OUT! Stumped! The man with the hair-band has struck. Tossed up beautifully outside off, it is another googly outside off, Shahidi comes down the track but is beaten. AFG 56/3 in 13.4 overs

19.06 IST: Adam Zampa to Rahmat Shah, A googly straightaway. Thrusted on middle, Rahmat looks to defend but the ball spins in, takes the inside edge, hits the pads and goes through the vacant leg slip region. A single taken.

* Spin time. Adam Zampa to bowl his leggies.

19.03 IST: Nathan Coulter-Nile to Hashmatullah Shahidi, Full and down the leg side, Shahidi misses his flick and is hit on the pads. The ball rolls behind and Hashmatullah wants the single but is sent back.

* Marcus Stoinis brought on. 

18.53 IST: Coulter Nile to Rahmat, FOUR! Off the top edge! Second boundary in the over. gets a top edge due to the extra bounce. It flies over the keeper to the third man fence. AFG 45/2 in 10.5 overs

18.52 IST: Nathan Coulter-Nile to Hashmatullah Shahidi, FOUR! Shahidi decides to shift gears. Steps out and smacks a good length-ball with enough width to open the arms. Second boundary of his innings.

18.48 IST: Marcus Stoinis to Rahmat Shah, FOUR! Nice shot. Short delivery on middle, Shah pulls it through mid-wicket for a boundary.

*Marcus Stoinis replaces Pat Cummins

18.44 IST: Nathan Coulter-Nile to Hashmatullah Shahidi, dot ball. Defends a good-length delivery with a straight bat. Shahidi isn't inclined towards taking any risks yet, as he bats on 6 off 19 deliveries.

18.33 IST: Nathan Coulter-Nile to Rahmat Shah, FOUR! A much-needed boundary for Afghanistan. Shah flicks it brilliantly towards mid-wicket boundary.

*Nathan Coulter-Nile replaces Mitchell Starc

18.31 IST: Pat Cummins to Rahmat Shah, A bouncer to end the over. 

Only if..

18.23 IST: Pat Cummins to Rahmat Shah, FOUR! Lucky! Afghanistan and Rahmat Shah would not mind though.

18.15 IST: Mitchell Starc to Hashmatullah Shahidi, FOUR! Solid shot. Used the pace on the ball there and got it through the massive gap between mid off and point. A really full ball on middle, punch-driven through the off side using the pace. The ball races away from Warner who tries to give chase there.

Hashmatullah Shahidi is the new man in.

18.09 IST: Pat Cummins to Hazratullah Zazai, OUT! Caught behind! The second one departs. Zazai follows his opening partner back home.

18:04 IST: Mitchell Starc to Mohammad Shahzad, OUT! Ripper and the first one is gone for Afghanistan! The World Cup 2015's bowler of the tournament begins this World Cup with a bang! Mohammad Shahzad can do nothing about that ball, not many batsmen would. A full ball on middle, lands on a tuft of grass. The ball slightly swings in and when it moves like that on the pace it was bowled at, 143 kph, it is really going to be difficult for a new batsman. Shahzad is late to bring his bat down and by the time it does, the stumps are rattled. Perfect start for Australia!

18:02 IST: The two Afghanistan batsmen are here. Mitchell Starc will bowl the first over.

Here's Afghanistan's XI. Hazratullah Zazai and Mohammad Shahzad will open the innings.

17.38 IST: Here are the Playing XIs for both the sides:

Afghanistan: 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

Australia: 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

17.36 IST: Afghanistan win the toss and chose to bat first at Bristol.

Brief Preview: Defending champions Australia will look to get off to the perfect start when they take on Afghanistan in their opening game of the 2019 World Cup at the County Ground in Bristol on Saturday. While Afghanistan are no match for Australia on paper, they will take confidence from their win against Pakistan in the warm-up encounter. Despite peaking at the right time, the Australians will be aware that Afghanistan have the ability to rise to the challenge on the world stage. Even though the batting is a cause for concern for the Afghans, they have quality bowlers in Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi and the duo can trouble the Australian batsmen if the wickets are dry and take turn. Read the full preview here.