Twitter Reactions: Sensational Sam Curran powers England to hard fought victory against Afghanistan
Sam Curran was named the player of the match for his scintillating bowling display against Afghanistan.
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England got off to a winning start in the Super 12 stage of the T20 World Cup after defeating Afghanistan by five wickets. Sam Curran registered a phenomenal five-for to become the first Englishman to take a five-wicket haul in the shortest format of the game, restricting the Asian outfit to a below-par 112 runs after Jos Buttler had won the toss and elected to bowl first in the match.
Chasing a modest total, England made a sedated start to their innings as neither Jos Buttler nor Alex Hales managed to get into top gear during their stay at the crease. The influential English skipper was dismissed just before the powerplay, and his opening partner followed suit in the ninth over.
The Afghanistan bowlers put on a valiant effort defending a mediocre total as they kept chipping away at the wickets at regular intervals. But Liam Livingstone's brisk 29 off 21 deliveries was enough to seal a comfortable victory for his side in the end. England got home with five wickets in the hut and ten deliveries to spare.
Sam Curran stole the show with a five star bowling performance
Earlier in the match, Jos Buttler won the toss and opted to field first in their first match of the Super 12 stage. Buttler's decision was rewarded instantly after Rahmanullah Gurbaz was sent back cheaply by Mark Wood, who dished out a fiery spell with the new ball in hand.
Hazratullah Zazai was put out of his misery by star all-rounder Ben Stokes just after the powerplay, in the seventh over of the match. Ibrahim Zadran, Afghanistan's top scorer in the match, consolidated with his run a ball 32 along with Usman Ghani (30 off 30). But the Afghan batters never kicked on after the early stutter and eventually faded for a below-par 112 runs, failing to even play out their 20 overs.
While Mark Wood blew away the opposing batters with his rapid deliveries, it was the Sam Curran show for the English side as the mercurial all-rounder registered a career-best figure of 5/10, the best figure by an Englishman in the format. Ben Stokes also impressed with the new ball, scalping two wickets.
Here is how Twitter reacted to an entertaining affair in Perth:
Good to get that win @englandcricket ! Afghanistan are a tricky side and will cause an upset along the group stages! Pleased it wasn’t us! Onto the next one… #T20WorldCup
— Jonny Bairstow (@jbairstow21) October 22, 2022
Didn’t expect Afghanistan to make a match off a 112-score and dropped catches. Well bowled! Countered the big NRR damage that was expected post their innings. 👏🏼 #AFGvENG
— Brashna Kasi (@Brashnaa) October 22, 2022
A winning start for England in the Super 12 💪🏻#T20WorldCup | #ENGvAFG pic.twitter.com/AWE9x6uRxn
— ICC (@ICC) October 22, 2022
The first England bowler to take a five-wicket haul in men's T20Is 🌟
— ICC (@ICC) October 22, 2022
Sam Curran 👏🏻#T20WorldCup | #ENGvAFG pic.twitter.com/rR7B4vQauv
Mark Wood is breathing fire 🔥
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) October 22, 2022
📸: Disney+Hotstar#CricTracker #MarkWood #ENGvAFG #T20WorldCup2022 pic.twitter.com/rGNAwoLyQX
England begins their T20 World Cup 2022 campaign with a win.#CricTracker #ENGvAFG #T20WorldCup2022 pic.twitter.com/oz1ZLHQ2zc
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) October 22, 2022
Around 96 Five wicket hauls have been taken in T20Is, what does it say about @englandcricket who just had their first player ever to take a fifer? 🤔South Africa have eight hauls while India have five! #ENGvAFG #T20worldcup22
— Reema Malhotra (@ReemaMalhotra8) October 22, 2022
🏴 ENGLAND WIN 🏴
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) October 22, 2022
Not quite plain sailing in Perth but England have won by 5 wickets. Liam Livingstone kept things together with the bat for his 29*.
📻 Reaction on @bbctms on @BBCSounds & 5 Sports Extra & @BBCSport website & app#BBCCricket #T20WorldCup #ENGvAFG
England 🏴, one of the best batting line ups in world cricket failed to hit a single boundary against this fellow….
— Imran Munawar (@Imran_Munawar99) October 22, 2022
Take a bow @rashidkhan_19 🙌🏼
What a performer he’s for Afghanistan 🇦🇫 ….#ENGvAFG #T20WorldCup #T20worldcup22 pic.twitter.com/YO4pQ5q2nQ
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