Super Sam Curran became the first Englishman to take a five-wicket haul in a T20I as England made a good start to their World Cup bid by beating Afghanistan on the opening day of the Super 12s.
After watching Australia get pumped by New Zealand, Jos Buttler’s side ensured there was no early slip up as they opened their account Down Under with a routine five-wicket victory in Perth.
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To be serious title contenders you need to be firing on all cylinders in all three facets of the game; batting, bowling and fielding. And England took four blinding catches to shackle Afghanistan as they were rolled for 112.
Curran was the chief destroyer with an exceptional 5/10, whilst Durham duo Ben Stokes and Mark Wood took two wickets apiece.
Although England were never in danger of losing the game, they were expected to go hard at their target for the net run-rate benefit. Afghanistan kept them in check with some disciplined bowling, but Liam Livingstone’s unbeaten 29 secured a hard-fought victory.
Man-of-the-moment Curran said: “It was a really good performance from the lads with the ball. Fielding is a huge part, we’ve worked really hard on it over the past couple of weeks. It’s going to be a huge factor over the course of the tournament.
“I’m really enjoying contributing. You’ve got to enjoy these moments and hopefully it goes well for the next five or six games.
“Everyone can beat everyone. Hopefully we can keep playing with confidence and progress our way through the group. It’s great to start here with a win.”
The exceptional pace of Wood, who got up to 96MPH in the fastest ever spell in a T20 World Cup game, shook the Afghanistani batters who rarely face bowling at those scary speeds.
He picked up a wicket with his first ball as Rahmanullah Garbaz feathered an edge through to Buttler before a series of stunning catches created a stranglehold on the Afghans’ innings.
The first was Livingstone’s fine runner-diving effort in the deep before Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid took good grabs over their shoulders looking into the lights. Wicket-keeper Buttler’s athletic diving catch to remove opposite captain Mohammad Nabi reduced them to 91/5.
Curran, who missed out on a hat-trick, has been ushered into a new role of bowling at the death ahead of this World Cup and he’s excelled with a variety of yorkers and bouncers with his skiddy left-arm action.
The impressive 24-year-old wrapped up the tail as Afghanistan lost their last five wickets for just three runs to kill any late flurry.
Afghanistan’s only hope was to bowl England out but Alex Hales was gifted an early reprieve as substitute fielder Qais Ahmad dropped a sharp chance at backward point before skipper Nabi put him down at the long-off boundary.
His luck eventually run out as he holed out after being rushed by a Fareed Ahmad bouncer as England slipped to 52/2. And they were Dawid Malan was sent packing after a fine Nabi diving catch at cover they were 81/4.
But Livingstone steered the ship home for an important win.
Speedster Wood said: “The most pleasing thing was the catching, there was a highlight reel of four or five catches. It’s easy to say you want to win quickly, I don’t think it’s as easy as people think to go out and blast it.
“Sometimes you have to play smart cricket and just get the win under your belt.”
Match Scorecard: (England won by five wickets)
Afghanistan: 112 (19.4): Curran 5/10, Stokes 2/19
England: 113/5 (18.1): Livingstone 29* (21); Nabi 1/16, Khan 1/17
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject To Change
