Player of the Match
Player of the Match

4.35pm: Afghanistan have at least something to bowl at, though Australia are going to be the favourites to chase this down. The late order blows took Afghanistan from 166 for 8 and in the middle of a collapse to 207. They're the first Asian team at this World Cup to breach 200 - who would have thought? But they'll need Rashid and Mujeeb to surpass their batting heroics with the ball. Not to speak of Nabi. Join us shortly for the chase.

Adam Zampa: "Interesting day for me. Sometimes you have those days as a legspinner when you get a few wickets but go for a few as well. But credit to Afghanistan, they played some pretty fearless cricket. When guys play reverse sweeps and things like that it does change your length. I've got to be a bit better than that. It's going to be a challenge for us, it will suit them. There's some pace on the wicket and it's skidding on. The way we started was really good, but probably lacked some intensity in the middle. But we've been playing good cricket."

38.2
W
Cummins to Mujeeb Ur Rahman, OUT, it's all over. This time Mujeeb was backing away but Cummins didn't follow. Kept it full, fast and straight to rattle the stumps. Ends the innings but Afghanistan will take heart from that lower order resistance

Mujeeb Ur Rahman b Cummins 13 (18m 9b 1x4 1x6) SR: 144.44

38.1
0
Cummins to Mujeeb Ur Rahman, no run, that's some interesting play. Mujeeb was walking across very much, but Cummins followed him with a short ball that he ends up having to fend in ungainly fashion from in front of his face

Supradeep: "Afghanistan has been impressing me with their big heart for a long time. But this batting performance I think is one of their best ever. This score card is anything but an aberration. They have stood up to the fastest bowlers around on what is seeming like a very good fast bowlers track. Elsewhere established teams are still not able to get it together on similar conditions. Thoroughly inspiring."

END OF OVER:
38 | 9 Runs 1 Wkt | AFG: 207/9 | RR: 5.44

  • Hamid Hassan1 (2b)
  • Mujeeb Ur Rahman13 (7b)
  • Adam Zampa8-0-60-3
  • Pat Cummins8-0-40-2
37.6
0
Zampa to Hamid Hassan, no run, leg spinner on a length on off, and he gets behind it to defend this nicely
37.5
1
Zampa to Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 1 run, heaves this to deep midwicket but doesn't get aerial, goes of the inside edge
37.4
1
Zampa to Hamid Hassan, 1 run, starts with a fluent cover drive to a fuller ball on off

Hamid Hassan walks out. My fellow commentator PDP had this magnificent feature on him.

37.3
W
Zampa to Rashid Khan, OUT, and he's reviewed after being given out lbw. Went down to sweep this length ball that was spinning into him from off stump, but misses the ball and the umpire's finger went up immediately. Don't think he'll survive this. No edge, and three reds on ball tracking. End of a super little cameo.

Rashid Khan lbw b Zampa 27 (23m 11b 2x4 3x6) SR: 245.45

37.2
6
Zampa to Rashid Khan, SIX, smoked straight over. If Rashid can't read leggies, who can? Down the track, got to the pitch and lifted this straight up and over with arms extended and a free swing of the bat. Up, up and over
37.1
1
Zampa to Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 1 run, fuller on leg stump, clipped to deep midwicket

Zampa is back, because these two are Hulking Up against pacers

Hashir: "Typed this when the partnership started: A quickfire 40 from Rashid and 20 from Mujeeb to propel Afghanistan to 240. And 4 wickets to Rashid again, suppoted by Nabi and Mujeeb to bundle Australia out for 196. What say?"

END OF OVER:
37 | 11 Runs | AFG: 198/8 | RR: 5.35

  • Rashid Khan21 (9b)
  • Mujeeb Ur Rahman11 (5b)
  • Pat Cummins8-0-40-2
  • Marcus Stoinis7-1-37-2
36.6
0
Cummins to Rashid Khan, no run, another bouncer, but outside off this time and Rashid doesn't connect with the attempted upper-cutting steer. Still, another productive over for Afghanistan.
36.5
1
Cummins to Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 1 run, oooh, that might be painful. Struck on his fingers, back of a length ball cutting in. Cummins was following the batsman who was backing away and Mujeeb had to fend it off from near his chest towards midwicket
36.4
6
Cummins to Mujeeb Ur Rahman, SIX, ho ho ho, Afghanistan's spinners are having fun - with the bat! That's a top edged six. The downside to bowling quick is that when a Mujeeb backs away to pull, and gets a top edge, it flies over fine leg!
36.3
0
Cummins to Mujeeb Ur Rahman, no run, ooh that's an angry response from Cummins. Bouncer that flies past him on middle stump, and is already on the way to the keeper by the time he finishes swishing air while triyng to pull
36.2
4
Cummins to Mujeeb Ur Rahman, FOUR, Mujeeb can hit em too! I take back my words about him needing to take a single. Why do that when you can swat a length ball from the stumps through midwicket for a boundary?
36.1
0
Cummins to Mujeeb Ur Rahman, no run, swing and a miss. Take a single Mujeeb! Backing away to hack this over the legside, but it wasn't that short

Australia 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st96AJ FinchDA Warner
2nd60UT KhawajaDA Warner
3rd49DA WarnerSPD Smith
4th4DA WarnerGJ Maxwell