ICC World Cup 2015: Australia vs Afghanistan - As it happened...

New Delhi: Welcome to the Live coverage of a Pool A encounter between Australia and Afghanistan in the ICC World Cup 2015, at the WACA in Perth.

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It was always going to be very vary tough for the Associate team to chase down a target in excess of 400 runs and particularly against a bowling attack which has the likes of Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc.

275 run victory is Australia's biggest win in terms of runs. Their previous best was a 256-run win over Namibia in 2003

Overs 37.2 || 142, Australia won by 275 runs

Afghanistan tail failed to play further part in the match, losing both Zazai and Hassan in quick succession to Josh Hazlewood  and Mitchell Johnson respectively.

Afsar Zazai c Brad Haddin b Josh Hazlewood 10 (40b)
Hamid Hassan c David Warner b Mitchell Johnson 7 (18b)

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Overs 35 || 138/8 (Zazai 9; Hassan 4)

Two wickets in Mitchell Starc over effectively put the Afghanistan innings in a precarious position. Starc first removed Zadran with a perfect yorker, off the first delivery of 32nd over, then four balls later, the Aussie pace-man removed another Zadran, this time Najibullah. who just arrived in to replace Dawlat.

Dawlat Zadran b Starc 0 (4b)
Najibullah Zadran b Starc 24 (31b)

Then, with Hamid Hassan, Zazai is trying to stitch a meaningful partnership. They need 280 more runs from 90 balls.

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Overs 30 || 122/6 (Zadran 15; Zazai 7)

A little promising partnership on between Najibullah Zadran and Afsar Zazai. The dou have added 19 runs in the last five overs, slow but steady nonetheless. And Afghans are just not throwing the towel against the four-time world champions, at their own backyard.

Despite all the positive cricket, Afghans still require 287 runs from 19 overs.

For Australia, all sorts of bowlers -- as varied as Mitchell Starc, Glenn Maxwell, James Faulkner are in operation.

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Overs 25 || 94/6 (Zadran 6; Zazai 0)

In the last five overs, Afghanistan lost two more wickets, scoring 

After losing Shenwari in the second penultimate ball of the 19th over, the Associate team lost their hope Nawroz Mangal off the very first delivery of Mitchell Johnson's fifth over. Mangal wanted to cut the short of lenght ball towards third-man area, but his attempt ended with a catch by a diving Aaron Finch in the slip.

Nawroz Mangal c Aaron Finch b Mitchell Johnson 33 (35b)

Then, Najibullah Zadran joined Mohammad Nabi, but the latter too departed in the second ball of the 25th over. Glenn Maxwell, who was introduced for the first time today, removed him with the ball edging for a catch for Michael Clarke at short fine leg. Nabi did reviewed the decision, but it was a out.

Mohammad Nabi c Michael Clarke b Glenn Maxwell 2 (10b)

In these five overs, Afghan score 10 runs, losing two wickets. Not a fairy-tale outing for them. They still need 315 more runs, with half the overs remaining in the game. Afsar Zazai is the new man in the centre.

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Overs 20 || 94/4 (Mangal 33; Nabi 0)

In the last six overs, Australia have able to contain the Afghan charge with few tidy spells. Interestingly, Aussie skipper Michael Clarke is using himself as a bowler. He didn't get the chance to bat in their innings.

And the skipper broke the steady partnership, by removing Samiullah Shenwari in the fourth ball of 20th over. The skipper tossed up the ball and Shenwari once again, but this time failed to connect properly. He ended up offering a catch at short fine leg, where Mitchell Johnson completed a fine catch.

Samiullah Shenwari c Mitchell Johnson b Michael Clarke 17 (31b)

But for the Afghanis, Nawroz Mangal is still out there and he will have Mohammad Nabi's company. They need another 324 runs from 30 overs.

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OVERS 14// RUNS 71// WICKETS 3

Clarke continues and two singles come from the first two balls and then Mangal punches one through the off side for two runs. Four comes from the over.

OVERS 13// RUNS 67// WICKETS 3

Mitchell Marsh comes in and well Mangal hits him for two big sixes. The first one was over midwicket and the next one over square leg. He then drives Marsh through covers for three runs. Four runs comes from the last ball as Afghans get a leg bye that missed all.

OVERS 12// RUNS 48// WICKETS 3

Michael Clarke decides to roll his arms over and concedes just two runs. 

OVERS 11// RUNS 46// WICKETS 3

JOHNSON GETS HIS SECOND!

Stanikzai tries to swing through the off side and the ball balloons up but falls far from a running Warner. The next ball he plays similar shot and this time he finds Steve Smith. Johnson gets his second wicket. Poor shot that! Johnson is bowling well here and beats Mangal yet again. 

OVERS 10// RUNS 44// WICKETS 2

Stanikzai gets two runs from Johnson's third ball off a bottom edge. He then gets an inside edge and is also beaten. Hazlewood is bowling tight and Mangal has no option but to defend it softly. He then hits one through the ground for a four through mid off. The next ball is also a four as Mangal plays a forward drive and the ball bounces over Hazlewood's head straight to the fence.

OVERS 8// RUNS 33// WICKETS 2

HAZLEWOOD STRIKES!

Ahmadi gets two runs through covers and then hits a sublime drive but it strikes his partner on the other end and robs him off a boundary. Ahmadi then looks to top edge and offers a simple catch to Clarke at slips. Stanikzai comes in and gets off the mark. 

Javed Ahmadi c Clarke b Hazlewood 13 (24b)

OVERS 7// RUNS 30// WICKETS 1

AFGHANISTAN LOSE FIRST WICKET!

Johnson is introduced and he starts off poorly after drifting down the leg side and four runs come as leg byes. Johnson then swings inwards and Ghani plays a flick to give a catch to Faulkner at short midwicket. Mangal is the new man in and looks nervy against Johnson's pace. 

Usman Ghani c Faulkner b Johnson 12 (19b)

OVERS 6// RUNS 25// WICKETS 0

Ahmadi gets three runs through cover ofd Hazlewood after a gentle push. Next ball Ghani gets two runs after placing the ball well wide of cover fielder. Last ball of the over sees Ghani pick two more runs through the on side. Starc continues and Ahmadi nearly chops on after a play on the ball but gets a run. Ghani gets two twos in sucession before keeping strike for the next over. Ghani misses an edge after the ball comes in and swings away off Hazlewood's first ball. Two wides follow before Ghani gets a single. Ahmadi defends the next three deliveries. 

OVERS 3// RUNS 9// WICKETS 0

Hazlewood is introduced in the attack and he bowls towards the leg stump and Ahmadi misses and the ball hits the pads. He then gets beaten in the next two balls which is in the off-stump. Good shape here. He then gets a single before Ghani defends the last two balls. Starc beats Ahmadi twice before the batsman gets a single towards third man area. A yorker follows up and it is nicely played and is fielded by short-leg fielder.

OVERS 1// RUNS 7// WICKETS 0

Mitchell Starc starts with the proceedings and two very good deliveries to start with with a bit of swing. Ahmadi then gets a faint edge and it passes lowly between the slip fielders for a four. The next ball is spot on and the ball pitches in line and there is an appeal of LBW. Umpire isn't interested. Ghani then gets a risky two. Afghans are off!

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Australia's score is the highest ever in World Cup Cricket overtaking India's 413 against Bermuda scored in 2007 World Cup.

Warner, Smith and Maxwell bat superbly to help Aussies post a huge score of 417 runs. Afghanistan need 418 runs from 50 overs. 

OVERS 50// RUNS 417// WICKETS 6

Australia have plundered 139 runs in the last 12 overs of the match. They have also lost four wickets. Smith missed out on his ton scoring a fluent 95 runs. Maxwell showed his brilliance in brutality after smacking a 39-ball 88. Haddin slams a six and a four off Nawroz Mangal in the last over before Mitchell Marsh who tries to heave a six off the last ball is caught. 

David Warner and Steven Smith's 260-run stand was Australia's biggest partnership in ODIs.

OVERS 38// RUNS 278// WICKETS 2

WARNER FINALLY DEPARTS FOR 178!

After three singles Smith then finds room and hits a four off Hassan over cover-point. Lovely yorker to start of for Shapoor. Smith ghets a leading edge and the ball falls short. A cross-seam delivery then sees Warner's innings come to an end. The Aussie sensation goes for another big hit and skies it high and Nabi takes a catch.

DA Warner c Mohammad Nabi b Shapoor Zadran 178 (133b)

OVERS 36// RUNS 266// WICKETS 1

250-run partnership between Warner and Smith!

Warner gets an inside edge and the ball finds the ropes. Zadran then tries a yorker and it ends up as a full-toss and Warner clears the rope for a six. Hamid then bowls a golden over that sees only two runs come. Magic this! Zadran concedes another four after a loose full toss ball is punished. Smith then shows his big hit prowess too as he gets a maximum. A no-ball is bowled off the fifth ball and in the free-hit delivery Warner hits a four.

OVERS 33// RUNS 233// WICKETS 1

WARNER GOES PAST 150!

Nabi bowls good here given the circumstances after giving just four runs. Warner is on song here and well has made up his mind to go really big. Shapoor is smashed for two sixes off his first two balls over long-on and mid-wicket. He then gets a two as the ball which took a leading edge after a flick falls inches short of the fielder. Smith defends the last ball. Nabi bowls gentle off-break and Warner smashes it to the boundary. He then gets a single towards long-on. He drives another through long-on and gets a four. 

OVERS 30// RUNS 203// WICKETS 1

Smith gets his fifty! Aussies get past 200!

Samiullah Shenwari continues and Warner gets two runs after working a ball through deep midwicket. Smith then cuts and cuts fine for a four. Eight runs come. Hamid is brought back and Warner terrorises him again with a sublime shot through mid-on. He then pulls another short ball for a boundary. 10 runs come from the over. Samiullah Shenwari then concedes a four to Smith who runs down the pitch and hits past midwicket. Two more singles come. Hassan concedes six singles as Aussies are looking to get well past 350-mark here. Nabi comes in and Smith cuts him for four. He gets to his fifty. Dawlat Zadran is brought back and Smith gets two runs off the first ball before driving him for a four through mid-on. Warner gets into the act and smashes a length ball for a six. Next ball he hits another six over long-on and then gets a four off the last ball. Brutal!

OVERS 24// RUNS 143// WICKETS 1

Javed Ahmadi continues and Warner works the second ball off the back foot to get a two. Sapoor gives away four singles before Smith gets his first boundary off the last ball after hitting him for a four. Warner cuts Ahmadi for a two as singles come at ease. Warner is on 97. Aussies are sailing nicely here and are on course for a big total. 

OVERS 21// RUNS 125// WICKETS 1

100-run partnership between Warner and Smith! Samiullah Shenwari continues and three singles are produced before David Warner comes down the track and gets a boundary. Javed Ahmadi sees foAur singles being taken from his over. A lot of drives are seen with the ball being pitched up. Shapoor Zadran is brought back and he is bowlig in an around the off-stump region with another four runs coming from singles. 

OVERS 18// RUNS 109// WICKETS 1

100 Runs for Australia! Smith works through midwicket for a single off Nabi. Warner then picks a couple through a drive before picking a run to keep strike. Samiullah Shenwari then bowls a loosner and Warner cuts him for four. Another similar ball and same result. 10 runs come from the over. Javed Ahmadi comes in and will bowl some offbreaks. A close run off the first ball and a direct hit would have seen Smith go but it wasn't to be. Five runs come from the over.

OVERS 15// RUNS 90// WICKETS 1

Seven runs come from Nabi's over with Smith and Warner looking pretty busy in rotating strikes. Hamid then bowls a tight over keeping it simple and giving away just two runs. Samiullah Shenwari is then introduced for some spin and and two singles are taken. Aussies are going well here. 

OVERS 12// RUNS 79// WICKETS 1

FIFTY FOR WARNER! Warner is on song here and is dismantling the Afghan bowlers. Hamid allows a single to Smith and Warner smashes him for three boundaries back to back. He gets to his fifty. Skipper Md Nabi then tightens the proceedings with some left arm spin and concedes just two singles. Hamid continues and again Warner punishes him for another four off a short ball.  Nine runs come from the over. Afghans need a wicket desperately.

OVERS 9// RUNS 54// WICKETS 1

Warner punishes Dawlat for three runs through point. Next ball Smith works a ball through the leg side after shuffling across the stumps and gets three runs. Hamid Hassan replaces Shapoor and he starts of with a wide. Smith then collects two runs from a leg-stump delivery. Dawlat is driven through covers for a four. Warner then tries to pull but gets an edge through to mid on and gets two runs. The next ball is short and is pulled for another couple. The last ball Warner gets on top here and hits another four. Costly over.

OVERS 6// RUNS 24// WICKETS 1

Shapoor Zadran starts off with a wide and his captain will not be happy. There is an appeal off the third ball with a ball clipping the pads and there was a deflection. Umpire dismisses the appeal. A short ball next and Warner pulls for four over midwicket. Three dot balls follow. Dawlat Zadran the wicket taker continues and after two dots, Steven Smith calls for a quick single. He then gets Warner beaten twice outside off stump and the batsman then flicks Zadran for three runs. Shapoor tries to keep Warner against scoring any run and succeeds of the first three balls. Smith then tries to work a ball on the leg side but the ball gets a slight edge and goes to the other direction. One run comes from the over.

OVERS 3// RUNS 14// WICKETS 1

Dawlat Zadran starts off with the proceedings for Afghanistan as he bowls a good looking first over with Warner getting a top edge off the fifth ball but it doesn't carry to fine leg. A wide is conceded before Finch gets off the mark with two runs off the last ball. Shapoor Zadran then comes in and Warner smashes him for a four with a pull shot. The batsman rotate strike in singles before Warner gets a bottom edge and runs two. A thick edge comes off the last ball for a single. Dawlat Zadran continues and bowls a tight over too Finch and in the last ball he gets the wicket of Finch who pokes a ball to the first slip. A wicket-maiden!

AJ Finch c Nawroz Mangal b Dawlat Zadran 4 (9b)

Australia are batting first after Afghanistan won the toss and chose to field.

Teams:

Afghanistan (From): Javed Ahmadi, Usman Ghani, Nawroz Mangal, Asghar Stanikzai,Samiullah Shenwari, Mohammad Nabi(c), Najibullah Zadran, Afsar Zazai(w), Dawlat Zadran, Hamid Hassan, Shapoor Zadran

Australia (From): Aaron Finch, David Warner, Michael Clarke(c), Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, Brad Haddin(w), James Faulkner, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood

Umpires: Kumar Dharmasena, Michael Gough

3rd Umpire: Billy Bowden

Match Referee: Roshan Mahanama

PREVIEW: Asian side Afghanistan face their toughest test of the World Cup so far when they play four-time champions Australia in Perth on Wednesday.

Afghanistan have been the `Cinderella` story of this World Cup, with their maiden win -- a thrilling one-wicket victory over Scotland in Dunedin last time out -- one of the highlights of the competition so far.

But the pace and bounce of the WACA pitch is unlike any surface Afghanistan have experienced before and, in such fast bowlers as Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc, Australia have the attack to exploit the conditions.

Australia need points on the board after their 111-run opening win over England was followed by a no-result washout against Bangladesh and last weekend`s thrilling one-wicket defeat by New Zealand in Auckland.