T20 World Cup 2022: England hand Afghanistan 5-wicket defeat after Sam Curran’s record 5-fer

T20 2022 World Cup: Jos Buttler’s England defeated Mohammad Nabi’s Afghanistan by five wickets at Perth Stadium after Sam Curran pulled away from five wicket for 10 runs.

T20 WC 2022: England give Afghanistan a 5-wicket defeat after Curran’s record 5-fer. Courtesy: AP

By Sabyasachi Chowdhury: England kicked off their T20 World Cup 2022 campaign on Saturday 22 October on an impressive note after beating Afghanistan by five wickets in the Super 12 match at Perth Stadium.

After choosing to field first, England outed their opponents for 112 in 19.1 overs. Sam Curran was their bowlers’ pick after finishing with numbers of 3.2-0-10-5. Aside from recording an Englishman’s best marks in T20Is, he also became their first bowler to get a five-wicket-haul in T20Is.

Curran took four of his five wickets on death while Afghanistan lost their last five wickets for three runs in the space of 12 balls. Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Fazalhaq Farooqi failed to open their accounts after Curran’s astonishing piece of bowling at death.

Ibrahim Zadran scored a run-a-ball 32 before Curran took the wicket. Usman Ghani also scored 30 runs with three fours, holding on to one end while the wickets fell in piles on the other. Ben Stokes and Mark Wood each took two wickets for the Three Lions.

The run-chase was not expected to present much of a challenge for the English batters, who went about their business quietly. Although they did not fly away and play daring strokes, the required speed was always under control.

England, however, would be a little worried after their batters failed to get a big score. Jos Buttler and Alex Hales scored 18 and 19 respectively, before going out to Farooqi and Fareed Ahmad.

Dawid Malan played a cautious 30-ball knock of 18, but failed to advance. Mujeeb removed Malan after Mohammad Nabi made an amazing dive catch inside the circle.

Harry Brook tried to take on Rashid Khan, but long went on to Ibrahim. With 16 runs to defend on 28 balls, the Afghans had a glimmer of hope of staying alive.

However, Liam Livingstone’s unbeaten 21-ball 29 three-four took the game away from them. England chased the goal down with 11 balls left.