Australia steer past spirited Afghanistan to kick-start title defence
The defending champions triumphed by seven wickets with 15.1 overs to spare, extending their win-streak in one-day internationals to nine.
Australia made early inroads as Afghanistan, who chose to bat, lost both openers for ducks. Mitchell Starc and Cummins bowled with pace, while Nathan Coulter-Nile banged in the bouncers.
Rahmat Shah (43) and Hashmatullah Shahidi (18) then dug deep and steadied the ship. The pair added 51 runs for the third wicket. They now average 55.60 as a pair.
CWC19: AFG v AUS - Afghanistan innings highlights
Zampa's precision, coupled with Steve Smith's fielding brilliance, got Australia back in the driver's seat as Afghanistan collapsed from 56/2 to 77/5. Najibullah Zadran (51), though, went after the bowlers – particularly Zampa, hitting him for 22 in the 29th over.
Zadran and Gulbadin (31) added 83 runs between them: the highest sixth-wicket stand against Australia in World Cups since 2003. Zadran notched up his fifty from 46 balls, playing a vital role in steering Afghanistan past the 200-run mark.
However, Australia clawed back, with Marcus Stoinis and Zampa claiming the next three wickets for six runs. An 11-ball 27 from Rashid Khan meant Afghanistan finished on 207.
CWC19: AFG v AUS - Australia innings highlights
Warner (89*) and Finch (66) denied Afghanistan an early breakthrough. The left-handed Warner started cautiously with one run from his first seven deliveries. Finch, on the other hand, exhibited intent, adding 15 runs from his opening seven.
They reached their 11th 50-run partnership in the format with minimum fuss. Finch welcomed Rashid to the attack with a four and a six, notching up his half-century in the process. He was dismissed by Naib in the 17th over.
Warner capped his successful comeback with a steady half-century scored in 74 balls. Smith hung around till the final over of the chase, before Glenn Maxwell arrived to hit the winning boundary from his first ball.