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Australia kept their T20 World Cup campaign alive by the barest of margins after beating Afghanistan by four runs at the Adelaide Oval on Friday night.
Player of the Match Glenn Maxwell blasted 54 off 32 balls to reignite a faltering Aussie innings as the reigning world champions set Afghanistan 169 to win, before Adam Zampa took two wickets in three balls to half the visitors’ chase at a crucial stage.
The win momentarily vaults Australia up to second in Group 1 but their net run rate remains vastly inferior to England and must hope Jos Buttler‘s men lose to Sri Lanka at the SCG on Saturday in order to reach the semi-finals.
Here, Daily Mail Australia takes a look at who excelled and who disappointed as Australia narrowly got over the line in Adelaide.
Glenn Maxwell starred as Australia beat Afghanistan by four runs in Adelaide on Friday
David Warner – 4
The Aussie opener looked better than he had done at any point during the tournament so far as he helped Australia to the perfect start with 25 runs off 18 balls.
A combination of brilliant running and excellent shots – his 25 included five 4s – looked to have Warner on track for a big score after a paltry return of 19 from his first three innings in the tournament.
It made his decision to switch to bat like a right-hander against Naveen-ul-Haq even more puzzling, as the Afghani quick rearranged his stumps with a beautiful off-cutter.
Warner’s attacking approach is what has made him such a successful batsman, but it felt an unnecessary risk to take.
He was the usual livewire in the field, catching Mohammad Nabi’s prod at deep square leg as Afghanistan’s middle order crumbled.
David Warner fell for 25 after an audacious attempt to switch-hit Naveen-ul-Haq
Cameron Green – 3.5
Promoted at the top order in place of the injured Aaron Finch, Green was back in the sheds with just over two overs gone and three runs on the board after his attempt to cut Fazalhaq Farooqi found Gulbadin Naib at backward point.
He fared much better with the ball, finishing with figures of 0-13 after two tight overs.
Mitchell Marsh – 6.5
The veteran did what he does best, which is shifting through the gears to kickstart Australia’s innings. Marsh timed the ball beautifully to bring up an entertaining 45 off 30 balls, which included three 4s and two 6s, before skying one up it in the air as he attempted to heave spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman down the leg side.
Took a smart catch to remove Ibrahim Zadran off the bowling of Adam Zampa.
Steve Smith – 2.5
Much has been made about Australia’s decision to omit Smith from the starting XI in their first four games of this World Cup. The debate is likely to continue, after Smith’s innings lasted six minutes at the Adelaide Oval on Friday.
His only boundary came as he smashed Naveen to the boundary, only for the next ball to crash into his pads. After much deliberation with Marsh, he opted for a review that never looked like saving him as he was plumb LBW.
He was busy in the field and almost pulled off a superb catch, as he got his fingertips to the ball while flying over the rope as Naib slammed Kane Richardson for six.
Steve Smith lasted four balls before departing LBW to Naveen after an unsuccessful review
Marcus Stoinis – 6
One of Australia’s in-form batters at this tournament couldn’t quite hit top gear as he tried to get the innings back on track along with Glenn Maxwell. His 25 off 21 included two 6s, but did not have the same fluency of his record-breaking innings against Sri Lanka.
He was caught at backward point off some superb bowling from Rashid Khan, who then smashed him for 17 off the final over of Afghanistan’s innings when the roles were reversed.
Stoinis went for 13 in his two wicket-less overs.
Glenn Maxwell – 9
Deservedly named Player of the Match after a complete performance. Maxwell smashed 54 runs off 32 balls, with six 4s and two 6s and a strike rate of 168.75 to first ignite Australia’s innings and then ensure they had a defendable total, as wickets fell regularly around him.
He was just as influential in the field, running out Gulbadin Naib with a sensational piece of fielding and catching Najibullah Zadran’s mistimed slog three balls later.
Maxwell top scored for Australia with a brilliant 59 off 32 balls as the Aussies posted 168
He was then in the thick of the action in the field, removing out Gulbadin Naib with a sensational piece of fielding and catching Najibullah Zadran’s mistimed slog
Matthew Wade – 3.5
Stand-in captain because of Finch’s injury, Wade struggled for timing as he made six off eight balls before Fazalhaq Farooqi detonated his stumps with a beauty.
Kept tidily enough and his decision to bring Zampa back for his final over in the 14th over of the game was vindicated, as Australia took three wickets in four balls to turn the game.
Pat Cummins – 4.5
Australia’s Test captain surprisingly kept his place in the side, with Mitchell Starc dropped instead. A second ball duck as Australia’s innings petered out proved inconsequential and he finished his four overs with figure of 0-22, his best in the tournament so far.
Wickets, however, were again hard to come by for Cummins, who has taken three in four innings in this World Cup. Took a good diving catch to remove Usman Ghani in the third over.
Kane Richardson – 3
A surprise inclusion ahead of Mitchell Starc, Richardson added just a single to the scoreboard before running himself out.
Made a brilliant start with the ball, creating a tough chance with his first delivery, which Cameron Green dropped, and removing Rahmanullah Gurbaz two balls later.
That was as good as it got for the fast bowler, who lost his length and finished his four overs with figures of 1-48.
Adam Zampa – 7.5
Adam Zampa (right) was the pick of the Aussie bowlers in Adelaide on Friday night
Zampa scored only one run, but that allowed Maxwell to be on strike for the final five balls of Australia’s innings, which returned a crucial eight runs.
The leg-spinner was then the pick of the Aussie bowlers, mixing up his line and length beautifully to trouble the Afghani batters.
He finished with figures of 2-22 in four overs and took two wickets in three balls as Australia wrestled back control of the contest in the 14th over.
Josh Hazlewood – 5.5
Took the new ball and bounced back well after being hit for 10 off the opening over, finishing with two wickets but at an expensive 8.25.
Could have probably benefitted from having Mitchell Starc at the opposite end, but the selectors had other ideas.
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