Afghanistan vs Australia Match Highlights & Results

So that's that! The end of the first double-header day of the World Cup. Both the Trans-Tasman sides have registered comfortable wins over two Asian sides. A really good start thus for both of last World Cup's finalists. The games roll on and Sunday will see the first match for Bangladesh as they take on South Africa, who will be looking for their first win after they lost against England in the opening fixture. That one will be played at the Oval in London. It will begin at 1030 local (0930 GMT). Join us for the same! Till then, we will bid you goodbye. See you for the next match, cheers!

Australia skipper, Aaron Finch says that there are always a bit of nerves before the first game and that they have been training hard for over a month. He mentions that they have had a long build-up and it is good to get off with a win. He feels that wickets in Powerplays are crucial against any side. Tells that it was a pretty good game all around. The Aussie skipper feels that chances were taken and he also reserves special praise for Smith and Zampa for their performances on the field. Says he felt great on his own knock. Mentions that Warner's knock was really crucial for him as he was struggling early in his innings, but he kept going and did not lose the wicket which was the important part. Admits that it is really important to not get carried away and think about the net run rate before getting into a winning position. States that the opposition have world class spinners and losing wickets early would have been a huge problem so they did not think about going too fast.

Afghanistan skipper, Gulbadin Naib mentions that it was always going to be difficult against Australia as they are a champion side and that they can't have mistakes. He feels that they did not have a good start with the bat and that important batsmen fell early. Also states that they lost their way in the middle as well. About the bowling, the skipper feels in England conditions there is always help for the pacers and praises Hamid Hassan especially. He hopes that upcoming games will see some helpful tracks spin and it goes on to become drier as the tournament progresses.

David Warner is the Man of the Match for his unbeaten 89! He says it is a great win and a brilliant start for the team and wants to keep the ball rolling. Informs that there were a few nerves getting back to full training, but it all went well once Finch got the runs flowing at the start of their innings. States that it was great to get his feet back moving after such a long absence where he had taken an absolute break from training and the game. Feels that for batters on such bowler-friendly wickets, it is important to hold the nerves and just play out the new balls and the first few overs safely. The Aussie opener mentions that the difference between the side of 2015 and now is experience. Informs that there were plenty of guys who had played over 100 games then and now there are only a few but the energy levels in the camp are really high.

Earlier in the day, Afghanistan managed to cross 200, thanks to a few batting sparks and some excellent spirit. It could have been lesser, had the Aussies bowled a bit more consistently but the Men In Blue will be happy with the fight shown. Please stay tuned for the presentation...

207 seemed to be competitive at the innings break but sadly for Afghanistan, there was no competition with the ball. Mujeeb's opening two overs were taken apart and then some poor fielding really let the bowlers down. Hamid Hassan kept Australia under check but could not quite strike. No one else looked even remotely threatening, including Rashid Khan.

Normally, in a run chase, the opening stand sets the base. Finch and Warner's 96-run stand created the platform and then the 60-run stand between Warner and Khawaja killed all hopes of an Afghan win, if there were any. Finch continued his excellent form, scoring his 5th score of 50 or more in his last 6 games while Warner slowly but surely, got amongst the runs.

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.

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 OVERS LEFT! The world champions are off to the perfect start in the World Cup.

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

OUT! A wicket when the match is about to end. Tossed up outside off, Smith reaches out to drive but gets a thick outside edge which flies straight in the lap of Hazrat Zazai at short third man. Smith is not happy with himself while Afghanistan manage a smile.

Full and outside off, driven straight to cover.

On middle, punched down to long on for a single.

Full on off, pushed back to the bowler. It was almost a return catch but the ball did not carry.

Warner works this off the pads to deep mid-wicket and picks up a single. He moves on to 88 and keeps strike for the next over.

A flick-pull kind of a shot from Warner that goes straight to the fielder on the leg side.

Driven past the left of the bowler by Smith for a single. The Aussies are content to do it by running runs here.

Warner punches this one back down the ground for a single.

Warner tucks this off the pads towards deep backward square leg. Comes back for the second run and completes it with ease.

Bowled quicker and flatter on off, Warner comes ahead and defends the ball on the front foot towards the bowler.

Rashid Khan to have another go.

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!

Worked away on the leg side for a run by SS.

Smith eases this one on middle towards mid-wicket and gets a couple of runs. There is an overthrow but Smith is content with two there.

Tucked away past mid-wicket, this time for just a run.

Bowled flatter on the pads, flicked away through mid-wicket by Warner. Warner pushes and forces Smith to run back to the bowler's end for the second as well. The throw though does not come fortunately for the Aussies. Excellent running!

Punched back down the ground to long off for a single by Smith.

Pulled away to deep backward square leg for a run by Steve.

Good bouncer! On the middle stump line, Smith ducks under this one and lets the ball go.

Good line just outside off, pushed on the front foot towards mid-wicket.

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.

Short of a length on middle, pulled away to deep square leg for a run by Smith.

Bowled on a length outside off, Smith looks to flick it away but the ball goes off the inside edge onto the pads and then rolls just beside the surface on the leg side.

Tossed up delivery on middle, Smith flicks it towards mid-wicket for a single. Australia need just 20 runs to win the match.

Flighted delivery on middle, Smith defends it off the back foot.

FOUR! Tossed up outside off, Smith looks to drive but gets an outside edge. It goes towards third man for a boundary.

Full on off, Warner drives it to long off for a single.

Flighted delivery on middle, Warner defends it out.

Tossed up on middle, Warner nudges it towards square leg. The batsmen get two runs.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman is back into the attack.

Length delivery outside off, Warner plays it towards point and takes a quick single.

Length delivery on middle, David nudges it to leg side.

FOUR! Nice shot. Full on off, Warner lofts it over mid off for a boundary.

Full and outside off, Warner drives it through covers. The batsmen pick up a couple.

Good length delivery on off, Warner defends it out.

RUN OUT MISSED! Length delivery on middle, Warner nudges it towards square leg. The batsmen take the single and then run blind for the second. Rashid Khan goes for a direct hit at the bowler's end but misses it. Now, Hazrat Zazai comes running in from mid off but unfortunately for him, the bowler is standing in the way. So he cannot quite be at the stumps and takes it from far. The bowler is not happy, neither is Rashid but that was not Zazai's mistake. Smith was gone by a couple of yards.

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

Tossed up on off, David plays it towards point for a single.

Flighted delivery on middle, Smith flicks it towards mid-wicket for a single.

Floated on off, Warner guides it towards third man for a single.

Flighted delivery on middle, Warner drives it straight back towards Rashid who does well to stop it.

Tossed up on off, Smith drives it towards wide mid off for a single.

Short on off, Warner makes room and cuts it towards point for a single.

Another forward defense to end the over.

The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot.

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.

Outside off, punched on the up through the covers for a single.

Full and outside off, driven straight to cover.

Good length ball outside off, defended watchfully.

The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. The batsmen have run through for a single.

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. Shahzad clearly indicates gloves but Rashid insists on a second look and Gulbadin goes for the review. Ultra Edge shows that it clearly came off the glove. Waste of the 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...

Short and outside off, Smith slaps it through covers for a single.

Flighted delivery on middle, Smith defends it out.

Tossed up on middle, Smith defends it off the front foot.

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.

Excellent yorker around off, pushed back to the bowler.

Outside off, dabbed to third man for a single.

Around middle and off, pushed towards cover.

Full on middle, flicked straight to short mid-wicket.

Outside off, on a length, punched through the covers to get off the mark with a single.

WIDE. Gets across his stumps and lets it go down the leg side.

Outside off, punched off the back foot for a single.

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

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 has a chat with Warner but does not go for the review. Hawk Eye shows that impact is in line and it is hitting the middle stump. 6 runs and a wicket from the over.

Flighted delivery on off, Khawaja plays a reverse sweep to point.

Tossed up on off, Warner drives it through covers for a single.

FOUR! Short and down the leg side, Warner pulls it past short fine leg!

Short and outside off, cut straight to point.

Full and outside off, pushed through cover for a single.

Flighted delivery on off, David defends it off the front foot. Just 2 runs have come from the over.

Tossed up on off, David plays it to point.

Floated delivery on off, David defends it off the front foot.

Tossed up on off, Warner defends it out.

Flighted delivery on middle, Khawaja flicks it towards square leg for a run. 150 up for Australia.

Short on middle, Warner makes room and plays it towards wide mid off for a run.

Flatter on the pads, turned towards square leg by the southpaw.

Another defensive stroke from Usman as he defends the ball from the crease.

Punched off the back foot back to the bowler.

Flatter on middle, driven through mid on for a single.

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.

Khawaja flicks this ball on the pads away to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Rashid Khan comes back on.

Pushed away to deep cover for a single. Usman retains strike for the next over.

Khawaja comes well ahead to this flighted ball and defends it back to the bowler.

FOUR! Lovely shot. Smart as well. Flatter on the pads, Usman pulls this one away. Khawaja finds the boundary rope as well.

Flatter on middle, turned towards mid-wicket for a single by Warner.

Warner rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball on the off side.

Pushed with soft hands past extra-cover for a single by UK.

FIVE WIDES! Second one in recent overs! Bowled flatter and down the leg side, Khawaja cannot put bat on ball and neither can Shahzad reach the ball. It goes for five wides.