AUS vs AFG Highlights T20 World Cup: Australia beat Afghanistan by 4 runs in Adelaide

Afghanistan vs Australia captain quotes

Mohammad Nabi: Really good game of cricket, they started really well, and at the end, Farooqi bowled well. The way we started in the powerplay and in the middle, but we throw away those 4 wickets in the middle under pressure. It’s really tough to play a game and then don’t play for 10 days. We did not get any momentum at all through this tournament. Day by day we improve and today was a fantastic game for us.

Matthew Wade: We gave Stonis the last over, to have the allrounder bowl the last over is pretty nerve-wracking. I played him in IPL and I have seen him do it 3-4 times. But never felt entirely sure at any point. We will stay here tonight and watch the game tomorrow, we will be hoping for an upset. We put ourselves in this position from the get-go, we have been slow in this tournament and hopefully, it doesn’t cost us. David was very close to selection tonight and we are very hopeful they [David and Finch] will come through if we get there.

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ICYMI: New Zealand have qualified for the semi-finals. Sri Lanka have been eliminated from the semi-finals race. If England win tomorrow, they go ahead. If they lose, Australia go ahead.

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Glenn Maxwell: Afghanistan played really well, they struck the ball really cleanly. At the start, they put us under pressure in the powerplay. We were able to hold them back but then there was some pretty clean hitting towards the back end, and that gave us a bit of a scare. It was nice to have an impact in the field (on his run out). I knew I wasn’t going to have much of an impact with the ball with the conditions here. To have an impact is nice. During the day, it was quite slow, and taking spin, it was holding up a little bit. It was quite hard to press the issue. We got to about the 12th over mark where we just had to put a total on the board to make sure we gave ourselves a chance of winning the game. Even though we were trying to go hard, they bowled extremely well in the last four overs. They executed their plans and it was hard to get away. We’ll be following it (England vs Sri Lanka), we put ourselves in this situation, but hopefully Sri Lanka can do the job for us.

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Australia will still hope, they will hope for Sri Lanka to beat England tomorrow. But they have been dusted by Afghanistan, more so by Rashid Khan. The match started with equations of Australia requiring a 60-run margin to win the match and get ahead of England’s NRR, but at the end of the match, they have just survived a scar. A big scar as they would have been knocked out of the tournament straight away. But Australia will live another day, and if luck is anything to be on their side, Sri Lanka might be able to prove heavy for England.

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Glenn Maxwell is player of the match.

19.6 A four towards fine leg for Rashid and he will reach 48 with that shot, but Afghanistan will lose by 4 runs. A heart break for the Asian side that has emerged like only they could have and you got to feel for the entertainer and the legend Rashid Khan is.

19.5 Rashid swivels it high over the bowler’s head, but doesn’t get the distance. That lands in the few yards out of the inside circle and Afghanistan can only add two runs. A legal delivery and Australia win.

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19.4 Rashid Khan, you beauty! That is pulled over the mid-wicket for a six. He has kept the fight alive and Afghanistan believe. 11 needed of 2.

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19.2 Stoinis is missing his line. Another delivery outside the leg stump and Rashid plummels it towards fine leg with four runs.

19.1 More drama! Rasooli has been runout as the batters tried to sneak a single of wide delivery. Wade passes the ball to Stoinis who hits the stumps right on money. Darwish Rasooli run out (Wade/Stoinis) 15(13)

18.6 A four towards long-of to end the 19th over. Afghanistan need 22 runs off 6 balls.

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18.4 Rashid Khan is playing a blinder at Adelaide Oval. Hazlewood drags the length back and Rashid tonks it over the mid-wicket region for a maximum! He is definitely entertaining the crowd.

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17.5 Rashid Khan has tonked that for six over the deep mid-wicket!

17.6 Rashid Khan smacks the ball over long-off for six more!

Afghanistan are right in the game with those two big hits and Rashid Khan is a dangerous batter at this stage of the game. Two clean hits, with sweet sound of the bat!

Afghanistan: 136/6 after 18 overs.

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16.5 Darwish Rasooli has smacked Cummins for a four over extra cover. Cummins takes pace off the ball and offers width on the off side. Rasooli stands tall and plays it over the infield for four runs.

Afghanistan: 120/6 after 17 overs

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So Australia cannot get ahead of England’s NRR now. Only a Sri Lanka win can help Australia to qualify for the semis, once they successfully defend the total. Australia have turned the tables and look to defend the total here.

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14.3 Afghanistan have suddenly lost a flurry of wickets. Four wickets for four runs. Poor shot from Afghan skipper. Tries to smack a back of a length delivery on the leg side, but finds David Warner at deep square leg. Mohammed Nabi c David Warner b Josh Hazlewood 1(2)

13.4 Third wicket of the over. Maxwell once again in action. Najibullah tries to come down the ground to Zampa, but has miscued the lofted shot. Maxwell is well in from the long-off fence and it’s straight to him.  Najibullah Zadran c Glenn Maxwell b Adam Zampa 0(2)

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13.2 Second wicket in the over. A topsinner from Zampa, and Ibrahim Zadran has already premeditated the sweep. He only gets a top-edge that loops to short fine. Ibrahim Zadran c Mitchell Marsh b Zampa 26(33)

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13.1 An excellent throw by Glenn Maxwell and Gulbadin has been run out! These two were constantly putting pressure on the Aussie fielders, running excellently between the wickets and taking twos. But Maxwell had enough of it. That was flicked to deep mid-wicket and they wanted the second run. Maxi sends in a flat throw and that directly hit the stumps. Gulbadin was caught short of the crease and he started to walk back even before the third umpire’s confirmation.

Gulbadin run out (Maxwell) 39(23)

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Just two runs from that Pat Cummins over and Australia will relax a bit.

Afghanistan: 98/2 after 13 overs

11.6 Multiple boundaries after that six to end the over! Afghanistan were looking strong and that 17-run over has set them cruising for the moment. The last ball was powered over the covers, the ball bounces once before the ropes and goes over for four runs.

Afghanistan: 96/2 after 12 overs

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11.3 Amazing shot from Gulbadin Naib! A good length delivery outside off stump and he has heaved it over wide long-on region for six runs. Steve Smith jumps hard to catch that, but that was a bit too far from him.

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So Afghanistan are going well in the run chase so far. The run rate equation seems out of question for Australia at the moment, as they need to win by 60 runs or more to get ahead of England on that front. Australia will have to look to win this match as Afghanistan might look threatening if this partnership extends for a few more overs. Interesting phase ahead.

9.4 Four more runs for Afghanistan, but this time it is Ibrahim Zadran. A hint of width outside the off stump, and Zadran goes hard after the ball. He gets a thick outside edge and the ball races away to the third man fence, where Adam Zampa makes a diving effort but to no avail.

Afghanistan: 72/2 after 10 overs

Drinks break.

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9.2 Gulbadin has taken over the mettle from Gurbaz, it seems. That was smashed over the cow corner, some serious display of power. Green bowls full and the batter swings his bat after clearing the front leg. That’s 85 metres into the stands.

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8.3 A flighted delivery from Zampa, Gulbadin gets forward and drives it through the covers. Excellent shot and he will grab four runs!

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Two back-to-back decent overs for Australia. Just four runs in last 12 deliveries. Australia chipping in with some economical overs.

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5.5 An edge through the slips, and Gulbadin Naib will get four lucky runs. The short third man is far and wide from the edge.

Afghanistan: 47/2 after 6 overs

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5.3 An easier catch than on the first ball and David Warner has made no mistake. A full delivery by Richardson and Gurbaz hit it straight to Warner at mid-off. Richardson has his first wicket on the third ball of the tournament. Rahmanullah Gurbaz c David Warner b Kane Richardson 30  (17)

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5.1 A big heave on the leg side by Gurbaz to welcome Richardson in the bowling. The ball flies just outside the 30-yard circle. Cameron Green runs in from mid-wicket, covers the distance, but cannot hold on to the catch.

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Nine runs from the fifth over. Marcus Stoinis hasn’t conceded any boundaries, but Afghanistan have still managed to score well.

Afghanistan: 38/1 after 5 overs

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3.6 That was turning out to be a good over from Cummins, but Afghanistan has a boundary on the last ball. On a good length outside off, Gurbaz uses the width and dabs it wide of the diving short third man.  

Afghanistan: 29/1 after 4 overs

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2.6 Gurbaz is out with a different mindset. He has decided to torment Aussie bowlers. That was pitched short on the off stump, and Gurbaz pulls it to perfection for a maximum over square leg.

Afghanistan: 22/1 after 3 overs

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2.3 A leading edge for Usman Ghani and he has to depart. Hard length delivery from Hazlewood, and Ghani skies the shot high, trying to heave it on leg side. A tumbling catch by Pat Cummins, who runs in from mid-on and catches right behind the umpire.

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Gurbaz collided with Cummins while taking a quick single and is now being treated for some pain on his arm/ elbow.

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0.6 How good is that shot from Rahmanullah Gurbaz! Unbelievable. Hazlewood misses his line, bowls on the legs and Gurbaz has flicked it away towards deep square leg and that has gone on the second floor in the stands! Matthew Wade watches it helplessly sailing over the ropes.

Afghanistan: 10/0 after 1 over

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Afghan openers are out in the middle, and so are Aussie fielders. Australia have Kane Richardson in place of Mitchell Starc, quite surprising. But the action resumes – Josh Hazlewood to Gurbaz.

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So Australia have ended at least 20 runs short of where they would have wanted to be. 168 might prove to be a par score for Aussies, but a lower victory margin will do no good to them. They cannot go past New Zealand, and they have officially qualified to the semi-finals. Australia bowlers have to bowl their hearts out to finish second in Group 1. They will now have to try and restrict Afghanistan to less than 106 to get ahead of England. Australia under serious pressure. They are playing without Mitchell Starc.

19.3 Maxwell swivells through the mid-wicket and gets four runs! That’s a half-century as well for him. Excellent knock coming under pressure.

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18.6 Alright, Richardson has been runout at the non-striker’s end, but after Maxi played the shot. That was an excellent delivery, Maxwell could only hit it back to the bowler. But Richardson was trying to sneak a single and was far outside the crease. Naveen turns back and hits the bulls eye. Kane Richardson run out (Naveen-ul-Haq) 1(1)

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Well, last ball of the over and we have some drama. Naveen pulls out at the last moment in his run-up as Richardson was taking a start at the non-striker’s end. But he was in the crease. Naveen charges in again, and Maxwell pulls out this time, signalling something that he found uncomfortable in his helmet.

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18.2 Just how good is Rashid Khan! That is an excellent catch. Pat Cummins tried to slap a short delivery over covers, executes it fine, but does not get the distance. Rashid Khan runs in from the boundary line and takes an excellent sliding catch. Pat Cummins c Rashid Khan b Naveen-ul-Haq 0(2)

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Onus now on Maxwell to take Australia to 180 sort of a score from here.

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17.5 Excellent delivery by Fazalhaq Farooqi to get rid of Aussie skipper Matthew Wade! A yorker that went past the bat and pad of Wade as he had everything open, trying to whip it. Matthew Wade b Fazalhaq Farooqi 6(8)

Australia: 155/6 after 18 overs

17.1 Maxwell pulls over mid-wicket and will get six runs! But that was an excellent effort by Rashid Khan! He dived hard and caught the ball, released it backwards before falling over the boundary line, but the ball hits his shoe and falls in the boundary, thereby giving the Big Show six runs.

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Excellent over by Naveen-ul-Haq. Only three runs in that over. Australia cannot afford such overs, or can they?

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Harsha Bhogle on air, about Maxwell and Wade’s love for reverse-sweeps and switch-hits: Matthew Wade is left-handed, who loves to be right-handed. Glenn Maxwell is right-handed, who has a deep inner wish to be left-handed.

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15.5 Excellent from Matthew Wade! Wide outside off stump, but Wade has pre-meditated a reverse sweep and executes it well. Gets it over the backward point fielder and the ball has no more hurdles in the outfield.

Australia: 143/5 after 16 overs

15.3 Marcus Stoinis is Out. Trying to go after Rashid Khan, and pays the price. He had already got a six on the first ball. Now tries to slice it over the backward point, but hits it straight to the fielder. Marcus Stoinis c Usman Ghani b Rashid Khan 25 (21)

14.5 Gulbadin offers width outside the off stump and Maxwell shows his power. Smashes it over the covers with a flat bat, and that bounces just before the boundary line for four runs. Maxwell is playing at a strike rate of more than 200 now.
 

Australia: 133/4 after 15 overs

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14.1 Glenn Maxwell goes big n the leg side – a short ball and slammed over square leg for a six. That went 10 rows back in the crowd.

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13.2 Glenn Maxwell pulls out a reverse sweep against Rashid Khan. That has gone over the deep extra cover for four runs.

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13.1 Rashid Khan with a loud shout for LBW, but the umpire has ruled in the favour of batter. That looks close, pitched on good length and hit on the pads of Stoinis. No bat involved, pitching outside off stump, but the impact was outside the off stump. Stoinis will play.

12.1 Glenn Maxwell has played that fine, very fine. The ball was quicker and drifting on the pads, Maxi paddles it past the short square leg for four runs.

11.5 Glenn Maxwell now gets his first boundary. Plays it in a small gap on the off side and beats the sweeper cover for four runs.

Australia: 102/4 after 12 overs

11.2 Mohammad Nabi into the attack and has been smashed for a huge six by Marcus Stoinis. Sits down and powers it over mid-wicket for a sixer!

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10.2 Mitchell Marsh is Out! That’s an absolute shocker for Australia. Not the ideal day to lose wickets with ease. He tried to sweep Mujeeb and the ball was pitched full, which shouldn’t have caused much problem. Instead, he gets a top edge and the ball flies behind the wickets to the wicketkeeper where Gurbaz makes no mistakes. Afghanistan are probing the Aussies. Mitchell Marsh c Gurbaz b Mujeeb-ur-Rahman 45(31)

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10 overs have been done. Afghanistan have looked good in patches, but that Gulabdin over, torn apart by Mitchell Marsh has ensured Australia have a foot ahead in the contest. Australia need a big score to win by a big margin.

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8.5 Four more! That’s a big over for Aussies. Powerfully swivel-pulled backward of square on the on-side and Mujeeb fumbles at the boundary line to let the ball past him.

Australia: 80/3 after 9 overs

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8.4 Now smashed over covers for four runs. Gulbadin bowls full, but offers width on the off side and Marsh has lofted over the circle. One bounce and over the ropes for four runs.

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8.3 A gigantic shot by Mitchell Marsh to break the shackles. That was half-volley, in the arc, and Marsh lofts it over the bowler’s head, with a clinical hit. That should release some pressure on Aussies.

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5.6 Steve Smith is rapped in front of stumps! He discusses with Marsh and goes for a review against umpire’s decision of out. No bat involved, and Three Reds on DRS. Australia have lost their third wicket now. Naveen-Ul-Haq breathing fire at the moment.

Australia: 54/3 after 6 overs

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5.2 David Warner’s day has ended! Naveen-Ul-Haq is all smiles with that wicket. Warner tries to switch-hit even before the ball is delivered. Naveen-ul-Haq bowled a slower delivery to counter that and Warner is foxed as the ball passes through his inside edge. David  Warner b Naveen-ul-Haq 25(18)

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4.1 Beautiful shot by Mitch Marsh, a slog sweep and into the stands over the square leg – a 74m six! The Afghan spinner is not getting any spin and Marsh uses it to his favour.

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Excellent running between the wickets. David Warner is looking pumped up and running at his fastest. A couple of instances wherein the batters have converted twos into threes!

Australia: 38/1 after 4 overs

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3.3 Mitchell Marsh slices an outside-off delivery through the backward point region. Australia are playing with intent and this is a good start to the powerplay.

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2.5 It is David Warner’s day. Fifth boundary for the left-hander. This was a gentle pull towards the mid-wicket region. Rashid covers a significant distance running in from a square position, dives at the end, but the ball passes through him to the cushions. That always seemed like Rashid will stop, but Warner has got the better of him. 

Australia: 27/1 after 3 overs

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2.1 Fazalhaq Farooqi strikes and Cameron Green is gone! Green tried to slash hard at the short delivery, but finds an edge to the slips. Gulbadin held on to a fine catch, above his head height. Cameron Green c Gulbadin Naib b Fazalhaq Farooqi 3 (2)

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1.4 A slog sweep by Warner and that has raced away to the boundary through the short fine leg region. 

Australia: 22/0 after 2 overs

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1.2 David Warner gets a boundary with a reverse sweep! A fullish delivery, but he had pre-meditated the shot. Gets on his knees and plays it over the point fielder for four runs.

1.3 Back-to-back boundary for Warner. Not a great ball from Mujeeb, short and drifting into the pads, and Warner effortlessly works through backward square leg for four more runs!

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0.3 First runs on board with first boundary of the innings. A little bit of width on the offer on the off side and Warner has played it excellently through the cover-point region. Gets off the mark!

Australia: 6/0 after 1 over

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Australian openers are out – David Warner will be accompanied by Cameron Green in Aaron Finch’s absence. Afghanistan having a conversation in the huddle and now take their positions. Moments away from live action.

Australia vs Afghanistan Playing XI

Afghanistan XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Usman Ghani, Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Darwish Rasooli, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi(c), Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi

Australia XI: Cameron Green, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade(w/c), Pat Cummins, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

Captains at the toss

Matthew Wade: “We would have probably done the same. Finch is out, so is Tim David. Starc makes way for Kane Richardson. Green and Smith are in. It’d have been nice if we hadn’t put ourselves in these positions, we’ve been here before. They (Afghanistan) are a terrific team. We got to secure a win first, but if an opportunity comes where we can push the pace a bit we’ll try to do that. Otherwise, we got to try and win.”

Captains at the toss

Mohammad Nabi: “We’ll try our best (to upset Australia’s party). The wicket is a bit slow, we saw the first game and we’ll try our best. Rashid is right to go. This is his home ground, hope he performs well. Hopefully we finish on a good note.”

TOSS!

Afghanistan have won the toss and opted to field against Australia at the Adelaide Oval

NO AARON FINCH!

Aaron Finch has been ruled out of the contest with a hamstring injury. Matthew Wade will step in as captain

New Zealand beat Ireland

In the earlier game in Adelaide, New Zealand have beaten Ireland by 35 runs. They’re not through to the semis just yet. If Afghanistan bat first, New Zealand will go through. Australia need 185+ runs to pip New Zealand. Tall order that!

Afghanistan at T20 World Cup

on 22 Oct: lost to England by 5 wickets

on 26 Oct: no result vs New Zealand

on 28 Oct: no result vs Ireland

on 1 Nov: lost to Sri Lanka by 6 wickets

Australia at T20 World Cup

on 22 Oct: lost to New Zealand by 89 runs

on 25 Oct: beat Sri Lanka by 7 wickets

on 28 Oct: no result vs England

on 31 Oct: beat Ireland by 42 runs

Australia vs Afghanistan: Team News

Rashid Khan has been declared fit to play despite some fitness concerns over his knee and back. They could strengthen the batting with Darwish Rasooli with Azmatullah Omarzai likely to sit out

Australia vs Afghanistan: Team News

All eyes will be on Australia’s playing XI. If both Aaron Finch and Tim David are fit, there will be no changes to the side. If one or either are unavailable then Cameroon Green and Steve Smith could slot in. Finch didn’t participate in the training session a day prior. David, however, was involved in the nets. If Finch is unavailable, Matthew Wade will captain Australia

Player to watch: Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan has earned himself plenty of fans in Adelaide for his exploits with the Strikers in the Big Bash League. He has accounted for 44 wickets in 29 T20s at the Adelaide Oval. His strike rate is better at the venue (15.5) than his career strike rate (16.8)

Not long now until our very own @rashidkhan_19 will take to @TheAdelaideOval with Afghanistan 🇦🇫, when they play Australia 🇦🇺 in the @T20WorldCup on Friday! Get your tickets to watch Rash at his second home: https://t.co/UmW2vLLGj3
📹: @ICC pic.twitter.com/h9HmWmbDsU

— Adelaide Strikers (@StrikersBBL) October 31, 2022

Australia vs Afghanistan head-to-head

Australia and Afghanistan have never met in a T20I contest and only ever met thrice in international cricket. Australia won all three ODI matches: by 66 runs in 2012, by 275 runs in 2015 and by 7 wickets in 2019

Qualification Scenario in Group 1

Australia have plenty to do against Afghanistan. They need to win, and need to win big. But it may still not be enough! Here’s how things stand and what are their chances

AUS vs AFG, Pre-match talk

Afghanistan assistant coach Rais Ahmadzai: “It’s really not an easy game for us to play against Australia in Australian conditions, but we are here to give them a tough time. I think Australia will be under pressure because they want to win, and we are here to finish the tournament with high morale.”

AUS vs AFG, Pre-match talk

Australia captain Aaron Finch: “The reality is that our first game has put us in this situation. We knew for the rest of the tournament that it was going to come down to run rate should things go well. But also there are still two other games to be played in the pool. So first and foremost, we need to get the two points”

Australia vs Afghanistan Preview

Let’s start with the thing that matters most: the qualification scenarios. Australia have to win and win big if they are to hope to qualify for the T20 World Cup semi-finals. The margin has to be in the equivalent of 60 runs or more to keep themselves in it. To make things even more daunting for their prospects, they’d want Sri Lanka to beat England at the SCG on Saturday.