JOIN USEngland scrape past Afghans
England felt the heat of firebrand Afghanistan, with their flamboyant cricket bordering on impulsiveness. The pros, however, were soon to subdue the charging minnows to conjure a 15-run victory in the World Twenty20 at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium.
Against expectations, England picked Liam Plunkett instead of Liam Dawson in place of injured Alex Hales but at the end the combination suited them just fine. However, a contest against Afghanistan is hardly without a dose of anxiety pangs.
England, too, had their share after electing to bat. But Moeen Ali (41 n.o.) and David Willey (20 n.o.), in an innings-reviving unbeaten eighth-wicket partnership of 57 off 33 balls, took England to the shores of safety with 142/7 in 20 overs.Afghanistan made it easier for them by stumbling early in their pursuit of victory and eventually caved in for 127/9.
The target demanded a robust start from Afghanistan but they got an early jolt when their key batsman Mohammad Shahzad was back off the third ball of the innings, Willey’s inswinger trapping him leg before. Captain Asghar Stanikzai joined the opener in the next over when he edged a quicker one from Chris Jordan to Joe Root at first slip.
Willey continued to enjoy a fabulous day when Gulbadin Naib holed out to the extra cover to expedite the Afghan procession. Afghanistan had lost their eight wickets for 94 by the 17th over, though not before entertaining the expatriate crowd to some spectacular heaves.
The spotlight was hogged by Shafiqullah whose thrilling innings at No 9 gave the spectators their money’s worth. With 24 needed from the last over, Afghanistan lacked the experience to cover the deficit but Shafiqullah ensured they signed off in style with a scorching cover drive off Ben Stokes in the last ball.
Bowlers impressThe Afghan bowling had got the England batsmen in a bind in the afternoon. The slow left-arm spinner Amir Hamza provided the breakthrough when Jason Roy, dancing down the track, found his leg-stump hit by his quicker one.
However, it was Mohammad’s Nabi’s opening over and sixth of England innings which gave the match a dramatic turn. James Vince, who had hit some delectable drives, came charging at Nabi’s slower delivery only to give a return catch to the bowler.
Up next, Eoin Morgan was foxed by a straighter one from Nabi. The England captain shouldered his arms to find his bails dancing in the air. Nabi was now on a hat-trick but Stokes survived. However, disaster stuck for England in the last ball when Root had run half way down the crease only to be sent back. It proved to be too late for Root and England had lost three wickets at 42.
In a short time, they were reeling at 85/7 and conjuring a total of even 100 appeared to be in doubt.
But the left-handed all-rounder Moeen beautifully paced his innings and with Willey fearlessly swinging the bat, the two resurrected England from astruggling situation. Afghanistan had let the English off the hook and paid for it dearly at the end.