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29 March 2024

Moeen cameo keeps England in World T20 semi-final hunt

Published
By Cricket Correspondent & Agencies

Moeen Ali's timely cameo helped England overcome a spirited Afghanistan by 15 runs but only after surviving a scare against the minnows at the World Twenty20 in New Delhi Wednesday.

Moeen's unbeaten 41 pulled England out of a tough spot to post 142 for seven after opting to bat and then the bowlers did their bit to restrict Afghanistan to 127 for nine.

The results means that confirms that Asghar Stanikzai's side is out of the hunt for a semi-final spot after three straight losses in the Super 10 stage.

An unbroken 57-run eighth wicket partership between Ali and David Willey (20) made sure England kept their winning momentum going and keep their hopes alive for a place in the last four.

But the Afghan slow bowlers made England sweat on a hot and sunny afternoon in the Indian capital to reduce them to 85 for seven.

It was hard to imagine it was the same English batting team that had pulled off a record chase against South Africa last Friday.

Stanikzai gave the new ball to Amir Hamza and the left-arm spinner did not disappoint, snaring dashing opener Jason Roy in the third over.

James Vince, who came into the side in place of the injured Alex Hales, then tried to counter-attack along with in-form Joe Root with a 26-run second wicket partnership.

But Mohammad Nabi's introduction reaped immediate rewards as the veteran off-spinner soon had both danger men trudging back to the dugout.

Vince was caught and bowled while captain Eoin Morgan was out for a golden duck, putting Nabi on a hattrick. Ben Stokes denied Nabi his third strike in as many balls.

But Root's run-out in the same over spelt big trouble for England.

With the batting in a shambles, leg-spinners Rashid Khan and Samiullah Shenwari also joined the party to remind England of their humiliating 2014 World T20 exit when they lost to the Netherlands.

But Ali's 33-ball knock, which was laced with four boundaries and a six, knocked some of the gloss off the Afghan figures. Willey also got stuck into Hamza's left-arm spin as the duo managed to score 25 runs out in the penultimate over.

Afghanistan's chase was dealt a severe blow after destructive opener Mohammad Shahzad (four) was trapped lbw off David Willey with the third ball of the innings.

Willey and new-ball partner Chris Jordan kept up the pressure to rattle the Afghan top-order with danger men Stanikzai and Gulbadin Naib managing one and nought respectivley.

The minnows slipped further after spin was introduced as Moeen and Adil Rashid struck in their first overs to give Afghanistan a taste of their own medicine.

The Afghans were never in the mix after being reduced to 13 for two and then 39 for five as England gained control of proceedings.

Leg-spinner Rashid soon got another scalp in Mohammad Nabi and Afghanistan's journey in their fourth World T20 appearance was all but over.

Shenwari (22) and Shafiqullah (35 not out) tried to breathe some life into the chase with a few lusty blows in the finale but could do little to alter the outcome.

England stand second in the Super 10 group table after two straight wins, while Afghanistan remain bottom of the heap.

Scoreboard:

England:
J. Roy b Hamza 5
J. Vince c & b Nabi 22
J. Root run out 12
E. Morgan by Nabi 0
B. Stokes b Khan 7
J. Buttler c Nabi b Shenwari 6
M. Ali not out 41
C. Jordan c & b Khan 15
D. Willey not out 20
Extras (lb 6, w 8) 14
Total (for 7 wickets, 20 overs) 142
Did not bat: A. Rashid, L. Plunkett

Fall of wickets: 1-16 (Roy), 2-42 (Vince), 3-42 (Morgan), 4-42 (Root), 5-50 (Buttler), 6-57 (Stokes), 7-85 (Jordan)
Bowling: Shapoor Zadran 4-0-34-0, Hamza 4-0-45-1, Nabi 4-0-17-2, Khan 4-0-17-2, Shenwari 4-0-23-1

Afghanistan:
M. Shahzad lbw b Willey 4
Noor Ali Zadran c Morgan b Ali 17
A. Stanikzai c Root b Jordan 1
G. Naib c Stokes b Willey 0
R. Khan c Morgan b Ali 15
M. Nabi c Jordan b Rashid 12
S. Shenwari c Root by Stokes 22
Najibullah Zadran run out 14
Shafiqullah not out 35
A. Hamza run out 1
Shapoor Zadran not out 0
Extras (lb 2, w 4) 6
Total (for 9 wickets, 20 overs) 127

Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Shahzad), 2-12 (Stanikzai), 3-13 (Naib), 4-35 (Khan), 5-39 (Noor Ali Zadran) 6-64 (Nabi), 85-7 (Najibullah Zadran), 8-94 (Shenwari)
Bowling: Willey 4-0-23-2, Jordan 4-0-27-1, Plunkett 4-1-12-0, Ali 2-0-17-1, Rashid 3-0-18-2, Stokes 3-0-28-1
Result: England win by 15 runs
Toss: England
Umpires: Sundaram Ravi (IND) and Rod Tucker (AUS)
TV umpire: Chris Gaffaney (NZL)
Match referee: David Boon (AUS)
Reserve umpire: Paul Reiffel (AUS)

Second spot

England kept their semi-final hopes alive in the World T20 with a 15-run win over Afghanistan to move into second spot in Group 1 behind West Indies.

Eoin Morgan's side stuttered to 142 for 7 after Moeen Ali (41) and David Willey (20) revived them with a 57-run partnership after England were tottering at 85 for 7 at one stage.

Afghanistan, however, caved in early, except for some late onslaught from Shafiqullah who gave them a glimmer of hope. But it was a case of too little too late.

Shafiqullah keeps Afghans in the hunt with a six and a four.

Amir Hamza run out 1 (2b 0x4 0x6)

Afghans have lost the plot after losing 7 wickets.

Samiullah Shenwari c Root b Stokes 22 (27b 1x4 0x6)

Last thing that Afghanistan wanted at this stage was a run out. Afghans 88-7, 16 overs.

Najibullah Zadran run out 14 (10b 1x4 1x6)

Afghans are 83 for 6 after 15 overs. Eng were 87-7. So the game is still open.

Moeen comes in for some harsh treatment from Najibullah Zadran who hit the bowler for a six and a four raising some hopes for the Afghans.

Afghanistan's last recognised batsman Nabi walks back to the pavilion after holing out to Jordan. Afghans 64-4, 13 overs.

Mohammad Nabi c Jordan b Rashid 12 (10b 0x4 1x6)

Nabi tonks Rashid for a big six over the bowler's head. Eng 54-5, 11 overs.

Afghans are going the England way only England were rescued late by Moeen Ali and David Willey. Do the Afghans have someone to take them home from here. Afg 39-5, 9 overs.

Noor Ali Zadran c & b Rashid 17 (19b 0x4 0x6)

Moeen is doing it with the ball now sending Rashid packing in his first over. Afghans 35-4, 9 overs.

Rashid Khan c Morgan b Ali 15 (20b 1x4 1x6)

Eng are on top with Willey bagging a brace. Afghans 13-3, 4 overs.

Gulbadin Naib c Stokes b Willey 0 (5b 0x4 0x6)

Chris Jordan gets the Afghan skipper to edge to Root at first slip. Afghans 12-2, 2 overs.

Asghar Stanikzai c Root b Jordan 1 (4b 0x4 0x6)

Left-arm pacer Willey strikes early, rapping Shahzad on the pads. 

Mohammad Shahzad lbw b Willey 4 (3b 1x4 0x6)

England innings

Moeen Ali's 41 from 33 balls and his 57-run unbeaten partnership with David Willey (20 from 17) lifted England to 142 for 7 against Afghanistan at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in New Delhi on Wednesday.

England were almost down and out struggling at 85 for 7 after captain Eoin Morgan won the toss and elected to bat when Moeen and Willey revived their innings to give their bowlers a decent total to defend.

Earlier Mohammad Nabi grabbed two wickets off successive balls, had Joe Root run out and then came up with a splendid catch to put the Afghans in command only for Amir Hamza to let the match slip away after he conceded 25 runs in the 19th over.

Fifty partnership between Moeen and Willey from 31 balls has lifted England to a decent total.

Moeen and Willey have given England some total to defend clobbering Hamza for three sixes and a four. Eng 132-7, 19 overs.

Eng 107-7, 18 overs.

Moeen brings up England's 100 with a four off Shapoor Zadran down leg side.

Rashid Khan bowls a tidy over. Eng 98-7, 17 overs.

England in dire straits as Jordan holes out an easy return catch to Rashid. Eng 87-7, 15 overs.

Chris Jordan c & b Rashid Khan 15 (18b 2x4 0x6)

Chris Jodan and Moeen Ali are trying to dig England out of a hole. Eng 81-6, 14 overs.

Afghans have Eng on a tight leash. Eng 65-6, 12 overs.

Stokes having hit Rashid Khan for a four off his first ball, tries to pull him again and is too quick, inside-edging the ball that kept low onto his wicket. Eng 59-6, 10 overs.

Ben Stokes b Rashid Khan 7 (8b 1x4 0x6)

Mohammad Nabi is having a ball of a time. Two wickets, a run out and now a superb catch diving to his left to get rid of Buttler. Eng 53-5, 9 overs.

England are all at sea. They seem to have played into the hands of the Afghans. Did they take underestimate the Associate team, at least Morgan didn't say so at the toss.

Jos Buttler c Mohammad Nabi b Rashid Khan 6 (10b 1x4 0x6)

What an eventful over it was for Nabi. He was on a hat-trick but nonetheless had a hand in Root's run out. Eng 48-4, 7 overs

England have panicked here. Root is out going for a silly cheeky single.

Joe Root run out 12 (8b 1x4 1x6)

Morgan thought this one was going to turn and without playing at it seen his furniture disturbed.

Eoin Morgan b Mohammad Nabi 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)

Change of bowling does the trick for Afghans as Nabi gets a return catch from James Vince who dances down the wicket.

James Vince c & b Mohammad Nabi 22 (18b 4x4 0x6)

England are cruising well despite Roy's early wickets with Root and Vince striking boundaries at will. Eng 41-1, 5 overs.

Root pulls Zadran over mid-wicket for a six. Eng 27-1, 4 overs.

Hamza strikes early by removing the dangerous Roy who steps out and is clean bowled. Eng 16-1, 3 overs.

Jason Roy b Amir Hamza 5 (7b 1x4 0x6)

Lucky escape for James Vince as Mohammad Shahzad misses a stumping opportunity off Hamza.

Jason Roy stands tall and thumps Shapoor Zadran past the umpire for four.

Amir Hamza, the slow left-arm spinner, bowls a tidy opening over.

England captain Morgan won the toss and opted to bat first making two changes to the side that played against South Africa, Alex Hales is out with a stiff back and he is replaced by James Vince. Out of form Topley makes way for Liam Plunkett.

Afghanistan make one change.

Teams

England: Jason Roy, James Vince, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid, David Willey, Chris Jordan, Liam Plunkett.

Afghanistan: Mohammad Shahzad, Noor Ali Zadran, Asghar Stanikzai, Shafiqullah, Mohammad Nabi, Samiullah Shenwari, Gulbadin Naib, Najibullah Zadran, Amir Hamza, Rashid Khan, Shapoor Zadran.

Preview

England captain Eoin Morgan is not underestimating Afghanistan ahead of the World Twenty20 Group 1 game on Wednesday.

"Tomorrow is a big game and we are certainly not taking Afghanistan for granted," Morgan said on Tuesday.

"I think focusing on anything else at the moment, given that there are two group games left, would be a little bit naïve, actually stupid. Tomorrow is very important and getting a win under our belt is key."

England lost its first Super 10 game against West Indies by six wickets but Joe Root led the way with a 44-ball 83 as England chased a target of 230 against South Africa, the highest successful chase at the World Twenty20.

Morgan said the immediate challenge for the 2010 champion would also to be adjust to the different conditions from the flat track on offer for its first two games at Mumbai.

"I expected a drier pitch. There's a lot of grass on it. I don't know what it's going to do. We'll have to leave it as late as possible to select the side, and see what conditions are like. If it's another hot day like today, he might leave grass on it rather than take it off," Morgan said.

The England captain had kept an eye out for Afghanistan players.

"They've played a really exciting brand of cricket. Ten years ago we might not have known much about them, but now that is the nature of modern sport.

"We watched the early stages of the tournament and they played some really good cricket. We watched both games, against Sri Lanka and South Africa in different circumstances, and it's been nice for us to see what they're about as a side," he said.

Afghanistan captain Asghar Stanikzai was confident of his team's ability and said England will have to contend with expectation.

"They will be under pressure because they are the bigger team," Stanikzai said. "We're similarly under pressure when we are playing Hong Kong or the UAE. We are a competitive side and people are now planning for our team."

Stanikzai said the team is targeting a win in the tournament after losing to Sri Lanka by six wickets and to South Africa by 37 runs.

"We are playing well and have made the Super 10s for the first time but our aim is to beat one big team in the tournament," said Stanikzai, who smashed a 47-ball 62 against Sri Lanka at Kolkata.

West Indies lead the group having won both their games against England and Sri Lanka.