IN PICS: ICC World Cup 2019, Afghanistan vs Australia, Match 4
Relive all the action in pictures from Bristol where defending champs Australia opened their ICC World Cup 2019 account with a seven-wicket win over Afghanistan.
David Warner hit an unbeaten half-century on his official return to international cricket on Saturday as Australia romped to victory by seven wickets in their ICC World Cup 2019 opener against Afghanistan. @ Twitter
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Afghanistan bowled out for 207
The five-time champions bowled Afghanistan out for 207 in 38.2 overs on a warm day in Bristol and then made steady progress, reaching their target with more than 15 overs to spare, with Warner 89 not out. @ Twitter
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Finch leads the chase
Left-handed Warner opened the batting with captain Aaron Finch in the evening sunshine, but it was the skipper who set the tone, reaching his fifty off 40 balls with three sixes. @ Twitter
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Warner survives
Warner had a narrow escape when he was on 19, scrambling back after chopping a delivery and losing sight of the ball as wicket-keeper Mohammad Shahzad whipped off the bails. @ Twitter
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Neatly done, Naib!
The breakthrough finally came in the 17th over when Finch mistimed a slower ball from Afghan skipper Gulbadin Naib and holed out to Mujeeb Ur Rahman at deep cover, smashing his bat into his pads in frustration. @ AFP
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Very un-Warner
Warner, 32, played watchfully during the early part of his innings but found his touch as he neared his fifty, reaching the mark off 74 balls and raising his bat to of a chorus of boos. @ AFP
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Smith booed
The dismissal of Usman Khawaja by Rashid Khan brought Smith to the wicket and he too was booed. @ AFP
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Smith misses out
Smith was dismissed in tame fashion, caught by Hazratullah Zazai off the bowling of Mujeeb for 18 with the end in sight. @ Twitter
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Naib opts to bat
Earlier, Naib took the bold decision to bat in warm conditions in the southwest of England, hoping to post a score his spin bowlers could defend on the small ground. @ Twitter
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Decision backfires
But the move backfired badly, with openers Mohammad Shahzad and Zazai departing for ducks as Afghanistan slipped to five for two in the second over. @ Twitter
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The fightback!
With their team in deep trouble, Rahmat Shah (43) and Hashmatullah Shahidi led a fightback, playing in only their second World Cup, putting on a gritty 51 for the third wicket. @ Twitter
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Najibullah scores 50
Rank outsiders Afghanistan were again wobbling badly at 77 for five but Najibullah Zadran took the fight to his illustrious opponents, smashing 20 runs in four balls off Zampa, including successive sixes. @ Twitter
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Sharp Starc
Zadran brought up his fifty off 46 balls with an edge over the slips off a sharp Mitchell Starc bouncer but was dismissed for 51. @ AFP
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Rashid's late flourish
Rashid Khan enjoyed a late flourish but Afghanistan were all out with more than 11 overs of their innings remaining. @ AFP
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