Australia have won the toss against Sri Lanka and will bat first in Sydney. The maths are simple: whichever team wins the match will qualify for the quarter-finals.

Image source, AFP

Afghanistan threaten to notch a third successive maiden as the Kiwis go 17 balls and 12 minutes without troubling the scoreboard operator.

Then, Kane Williamson steps back to pull Shapoor Zadran's delivery to long leg, managing to scurry to the other end and back.

Exactly right, Derek. The scoreboard has stalled as Afghanistan stem that early tidal wave of New Zealand pressure. Six more dot balls from the Ramboesque Hamid Hassan as Martin Guptill fails to make any progress.

Derek Stirling
Ex-New Zealand seamer on BBC Test Match Special

"The game changes when Brendon McCullum is out. It becomes a much more orthodox game."

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Another maiden over from Shapoor Zadran, who - temporarily at least - halts the Kiwi express. Kane Williamson prods and pokes at his half-dozen deliveries, but takes a more conservative approach to that of his predecessor McCullum.

Derek Stirling
Ex-New Zealand seamer on BBC Test Match Special

"Kane Williamson will kill you by silent methods, he will have a great strike-rate without being too flashy. He's a great technician."

So it was a change of tact from the Afghan skipper Mohammad Nabi, who decided to bring his own off-spin to the party. And he is the one left dancing.

McCullum went on the attack, blasting a four and a six in successive balls, before meeting his maker. And his departure means Kane Williamson strides into the middle...

Derek Stirling
Ex-New Zealand seamer on BBC Test Match Special

"It didn't bounce as much as he anticipated. It was back-of-a-length short and he tried to pull it, but it took the bottom edge and deflected onto the stumps."

Listen to TMS commentary via the audio icon or the "Live Coverage" tab.

Image source, AP

The Afghanistan boys leap into the air, Kiwi skipper Brendan McCullum thumps his bat into the ground. His day is done. McCullum goes for a pull, but horribly misjudges it and plays onto the stumps via his pads.

Scorecard

Daniel McHardy
BBC Test Match Special

"Of all the bowlers to have played against Brendon McCullum in this World Cup, I'd say Hamid Hassan has a plan better than most. It's almost as if the Afghanistan coach knows McCullum..."

Hamid Hassan looks the most dangerous of the Afghan bowlers, but fails to hurt the New Zealand batsmen as Guptill and McCullum tick over the scoreboard nicely.

Image source, AP

Bryan Waddle
BBC Test Match Special

"Afghanistan coach Andy Moles said he wasn't using it as an excuse, but it was a bit tough for Afghanistan to have to travel from Dunedin, to Perth, to Napier for three games in seven days. Meanwhile, the boys you're playing in the third of those games, New Zealand, can pop home for a couple of days."

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Lank-haired Shapoor Zadran restricted Martin Guptill in his opening over - but the Afghan bowler finds the opener and his partner-in-crime Brendon McCullum a totally different proposition on his next venture with the ball in hand.

The pair crack a boundary apiece, as well as picking up five runs off the fourth ball of the over after a misfield. Costly over.

It's a breezy afternoon on the east coast of the North Island, as the stadium's flags flapping in the wind testify. Brendon McCullum starts to find his groove after that earlier scare, spanking a pair of fours - one past third man and another over Hamid Hassan's head - to quickly move into double figures.

Stuart Duff
Ex-Central Districts all-rounder on BBC Test Match Special

"I think it's hit the footmarks in the crease and deviated away somehow. Otherwise, it would have bowled him. It was a good yorker - quick, straight and full, and McCullum played over it, but it was bizarre the way it went sideways. He's very lucky."

Early change for the New Zealand attack. Hamid Hassan, looking like John Rambo with his headband and warpaint across his face, takes aim with ball. And he thinks he might have an early breakthrough...

Hassan reckons McCullum has edged it behind, but the television replays prove otherwise and the Kiwi opener survives that scare.

Left-arm quickie Shapoor Zadran charges in from the opposite end for Afghanistan. And he makes an encouraging start against Martin Guptill, firing down six dot balls to slow down the Kiwi tide.

Dawlat starts with a legside wide, before Guptill shows him the full face of the bat - before examining the toe end of the bat as though there's something wrong with it. A leg bye brings fellow right-hander McCullum on strike, and the Kiwi pair take a single apiece before McCullum, with the field up, blasts a four over the bowler's head and another past the non-striker. Don't count on this going the full 50 overs.

Image source, AP

Andy in Redhill: Not sure that England should be taking victory over Afghanistan as read - these minnows seem have teeth.