Sam Curran became the first England male player to take five wickets in a T20I as his side opened their T20 World Cup campaign with a five-wicket victory over Afghanistan in Perth.
The left-arm seamer (5-10) completed his five-wicket haul towards the end of the innings as Afghanistan collapsed to 112 in 19.4 overs after losing their last five wickets for three runs in 12 balls.
Curran, Ben Stokes (2-19) and express fast bowler Mark Wood (2-23) were instrumental in stifling their opponents – Wood believed to be the first bowler in T20 International history to take a 24-ball wicket. From each bowled at a speed of over 140 kmph.
England’s fielding was also exceptional with a series of stunning grabs taken, including a diving effort from Liam Livingstone at deep point and a one-handed screamer from wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.
A patient run chase was not without its stutters and England were reduced to 97-5 in the 16th over after losing captain Buttler (18), Alex Hales (19), Stokes (2), Dawid Malan (18) and Harry Brook (7).
However, Livingstone (29 no) and Moeen Ali (8 no) joined forces to take the team to their target with 11 balls to spare – the winner coming through the run-wide – and the completion. 5th win in a row in T20Is.
Nasir Hussain said afterwards: “England would have liked to have been a bit more clinical with the bat, factoring in the run-rate and the fact that there could be rain in this tournament, but Afghanistan’s spinners did very well in the middle. Bowling. Overs.”
