ICC World Cup 2019: Match 4, Afghanistan vs Australia – Alex Carey’s dream debut, Rashid’s little cameo and more stats

Australia started off their title defence with a comprehensive 7-wicket victory against Afghanistan at the County Ground in Bristol. The Aussies got the Afghan openers for a duck in the first two overs. The middle and lower order batsmen tried to rebuild the innings before getting bowled out for 207 despite batting only 38.2 overs. Skipper Aaron Finch scored a 49-ball 66 while David Warner remained unbeaten for his 114-ball 89 to take the Aussies through with 91 balls and seven wickets to spare.

All the statistical highlights from Australia comfortable win over Afghanistan in Bristol:

Australia extends their winning streak:

9 – Australia has won each of their last nine matches in the ODI format; their joint-longest ODI winning streak since 2011. The Aussies won nine in a row during 2015; a streak that began in the World Cup which they won.

A good start for Carey:

5 – Alex Carey became the 2nd Australian wicketkeeper to effect five dismissals in a World Cup game. He picked up four catches and affected one stumping on his CWC debut. Adam Gilchrist took as many as six catches in the 2003 CWC match against Namibia. Gilchrist is one of the two keepers with six dismissals in a World Cup match.

Ducks and fifties:

2 – Only the 2nd time in the history of ODI cricket where both openers of a team bagged ducks while the opposition openers scored the fifties. The other such ODI was hosted by Centurion in 2009 when both South Africa openers scored the fifties while Zimbabwe opening batsmen bagged ducks.

5 – Afghanistan openers became only the 5th pair to be dismissed for ducks in the same innings of a World Cup game. The last instance was in the 2015 CWC when the Afghan bowlers got the Sri Lankan openers for golden ducks.

Pakistan against New Zealand and India against Zimbabwe lost their openers for ducks in the 1983 CWC while Scotland had a similar start in their game against Pakistan during the 1999 edition.

End of Smith’s streak:

5 – Steve Smith’s streak of five consecutive fifty-plus scores in the World Cup comes to an end. He is the only player with this feat in Men’s World Cup history. Smith’s streak began during the previous edition in a game against Afghanistan.

Afghanistan makes its debut:

10 – England is the 10th full member country where Afghanistan has featured in an International match. They are yet to feature in an International in Pakistan and in their backyard as their home games are hosted by UAE and India.

Rashid comes up with a quick-fire knock:

245.45 – Rashid Khan’s strike rate of 245.45 during his 11-ball 27 is the 2nd highest SR in a World Cup game for any player against Australia (Min: 10 balls faced). Moin Khan scored an unbeaten 31 off 12 balls at an SR of 258.33 in the 1999 CWC match played in Leeds.