Ugh. Two dot balls from Jamie Overton makes you feel he's pulled some control back but then he's on the hip of Ibrahim Zadran to end the over and the Afghanistan opener whips it away to the fence.

That makes it 16 from the over and England captain Jos Buttler has a grimace on his face. There may need to be some shuffling.

Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

That was no more than a smash down the ground. Afghanistan feeling as if they need to step it up a bit.

Image source, Getty Images

Four more.

Fuller but on the pads from Jamie Overton and Ibrahim Zadran is able to flick into the mid-wicket ropes.

It feels like Afghanistan are targeting Overton a little.

Afg 123-3published at 27.1 overs

27.1 overs

Shot!

Jamie Overton bangs one into the pitch and Ibrahim Zadran steps to the leg side and swots him over long-off for six.

Image source, Getty Images

Tidy over from Joe Root with five singles coming off it.

He's doing a very good job for England at the moment, he's only conceded 18 from his first five overs.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC Chief Cricket Commentator

Image source, Cricviz

A wicket would be very timely. England have kept it tight so far but the boundaries are starting to come.

Jamie Overton responds pretty well to that first-ball boundary with just five conceded from the rest of the over.

There was a horrible hack in there from Hashmatullah Shahidi and the ball went through to Jamie Smith, who has been very tidy behind the stumps so far.

Urooj Mumtaz
Ex-Pakistan spinner on TMS

Great boundary, right in the slot and he doesn't look to overhit it.

Make that a stand of 70 as Ibrahim Zadran lifts the returning Jamie Overton back over his head for four.

Lovely shot.

Thanks Ffion.

This stand of 66 between Ibrahim Zadran and Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi will be starting to frustrate England.

Hashmatullah Shahidi smacks Joe Root down the ground for four, the first sign of intent against him in his four overs so far.

And after an action-packed, breathless opening half of the innings, it's my cue to hand you over to Callum Matthews.

Enjoy!

Soham Sarkhel
CricViz analyst

Ibrahim Zadran has played spin quite assuringly today, scoring 27 off 30 deliveries against them. It is no surprise given that he has averaged 79.3 against spin in ODIs since the start of 2022, which is the highest for any batter in the world for a minimum of 400 runs against spin. David Miller (77.5) and Shubman Gill (77.1) follow him on that list.

Just four singles worked from Liam Livingstone's over as Jos Buttler makes the most of a quiet period to rotate his part-timers.

Urooj Mumtaz
Ex-Pakistan spinner on TMS

Image source, Getty Images

Ibrahim Zadran is one of the most consistent with the bat for Afghanistan.

50 for Ibrahim Zadranpublished at 23.2 overs

23.2 overs

Afg 96-3

A single down the ground brings up opener Ibrahim Zadran's half-century from 65 balls.

A patient, cautious innings after the loss of three early wickets but he's got to take responsibility and bat for as much of the innings as possible from here.

Joe Root has bowled three overs and only conceded eight.

It's been poor from Afghanistan, who had a real opportunity to put England under pressure without Mark Wood and without a specialist fifth bowler.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC Chief Cricket Commentator

That's a poor ball from Liam Livingstone.

Oh my word, it's another boundary.

A bit of a freebie, as Liam Livingstone drifts down the leg side and Ibrahim Zadran sweeps for four.

Soham Sarkhel
CricViz analyst

Image source, Getty Images

Only six boundaries by Afghanistan in the first 20 overs today - that is the lowest for any batting team at this stage of the innings in this year's Champions Trophy.

The highest? 18 by Australia against the same opponents on the same ground.

Image source, Getty Images

England's lack of a fifth bowler isn't causing any headaches for Jos Buttler at the moment.

Afghanistan are content to just defend Joe Root's off-spin.