More cheers and whoops from the Napier crowd as they rise to acclaim Samiullah Shenwari's half century. The Afghan batsman digs out a Trent Boult delivery midway through the over, sending the ball scuttling towards the rope. Brendon McCullum races after it, like a greyhound chasing a hare, and dives towards the boundary with an outstretched arm. But his sterling efforts are not enough as Shenwani clinches his 10th one-day half century.

This is more like it! Samiullah Shenwari goes on the attack against Corey Anderson, smashing his opening gambit over the straight midwicket boundary. Sensational scenes. He eyes up another slog but misses, then adds a single as a high shank drops just short of the on-rushing Brendon McCullum.

Kalika Mehta
BBC Sport in Napier

"It seems no matter what country you support, England are the number one team to beat. As Afghanistan moved past 123 - the score England were bowled out for by New Zealand in Wellington just over a couple of weeks ago - one Afghani fan turns to his friend and remarks 'at least we're better than England, I'm happy with that.'

"The ground is far from full and you've got to wonder if McCullum was out in the middle swinging at the moment, perhaps a few locals would have turned up. Those who are in the ground have taken it upon themselves to start a Mexican wave. They boo as the fans in the Harris stand - where the corporate types sit - refuse to partake in such shenanigans."

Image source, AFP

Not much change from Adam Milne for Afghanistan. The scoreboard briefly flickers into life as Samiullah Shenwari nudges a single towards third man, but that's the only time it is troubled during the over.

Kalika Mehta
BBC Sport in Napier

"For the Afghanistan fans no journey is too far as these supporters told me. Hekmat Zahid and his family have travelled from Afghanistan to cheer on their team and they loved the attacking play from Samiullah Shenwari and Najibullah Zadran."

No further damage for Afghanistan in the rest of the over as the cameraman pans on to the ice cream van in Napier. He's doing a roaring trade as loads of excited kids stand in the queue licking their lips.

Boult is also licking his lips at the end of the over - he's just tasted a sweet wicket maiden.

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

"There wasn't much reaction to the wicket, the moment Dawlat started to walk off was when I noticed. Good bowling from Boult, 3-27 today and he's carrying on the good work he's done throughout the tournament. Afghanistan are looking down the barrel of being out for about 160. If their number 10's worse than Dawlat, it's not looking too good for them."

And Dawlat's apparent lack of batting enthusiasm is quickly seized upon by Trent Boult. The left-arm bowler goes around the wicket, the Afghan batsman wildly swipes at the ball, nicks it, and Ronchi gleefully gathers behind the stumps. Simple stuff.

Scorecard

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

"My impression is that Dawlat isn't that keen to get down the other end to face Milne. He's not backing up with too much enthusiasm."

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

Uh oh, almost trouble for the Afghan batsmen. Latest batsmen Dawlat does not look too bothered about facing the Kiwi bowlers, preferring to watch Shenwari do the dirty work instead. His reluctance to run to the striker's end almost sees him run out in the second ball of Adam Milne's eighth over, but Dawlat manages to scamper back to base. Just the one run conceded by Milne, a wide in his first ball.

Afghanistan 150-7 (40 overs, won toss)

Batsmen: Shenwari 39*, Dawlat 1*

Fall of wickets: 5-1 (Ahmadi 1), 6-2 (Ghani 0), 24-3 (Stanikzai 9), 49-4 (Nawroz 27), 59-5 (Nabi 6), 59-6 (Zazai 0), 145-7 (Najibullah 56)

Bowling figures: Southee 10-0-43-0, Boult 8-1-27-2, Vettori 10-4-18-4, Milne 7-0-31-1, Anderson 4-0-17-0, Elliottt 1-0-10-0.

Full scorecard

Image source, Reuters

The volume turns up a notch again in Napier as the Afghanistan scoreboard ticks past the 150 mark. Samiullah Shenwari, who thankfully seems to have recovered from being smacked in the helmet a few overs ago, does the honours with a shot through cover for two runs and then blasting one down long-on.

Kishin Mahtani: I love the Afghan boys' never say die attitude... they might not win games but they surely win Hearts... Go Blue Tigers.

You wouldn't expect these final three Afghanistan wickets to last much longer - but then again you never know. Dawlat Zadran is the new man and he makes a solid start, edging one away for a quick single.

Breakthrough for New Zealand! Najibullah Zadran has enjoyed himself in the Napier sunshine, but his fun is over. The Afghan leftie slashes Adam Milne's delivery to third man - where Daniel Vettori is stood waiting. He doesn't turn down that invitation as Zadran walks back to the pavilion to huge acclaim.

Scorecard

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

"Under the circumstances, it's a great knock by Najibullah Zadran. he came in on a hat-trick, with nine fielders within touching distance, and his next ball was a searing bouncer. Every time the ball's struck into the outfield you can hear the Afghani supporters, they're having a great day and are enjoying this fightback."

And there is Najibullah Zadran's 50! The Afghan batsman raises his bat to all sides of the ground after blasting a loose delivery from Grant Elliot into a gap and to the rope. Zadran laps up the plaudits and shows a sign of his increasing confidence by edging the final ball to the boundary. Elliot is not happy.

Image source, Getty Images

Now young Adam Milne is tasked with breaking up these pesky Afghan pair. The Kiwi bowler flirts with going around the wicket as left-hander Zadran is denied progress by a diving Martin Guptill, and then reverts to normal before watching helplessly as the batsman blasts one to the boundary.

The crowd are loving that - and they'll be cheering even louder if Zadran passes the half-century mark...

After a quick breather, Shenwari shakes his head vigorously, sticks his helmet back on and returns to the crease. That's good to see. Then, he fends off the rest of Tim Southee's final over - not the figures he would have been hoping for when he climbed out of bed earlier...

Image source, AP

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