Shapoor continues to bend his back for his side but Hales initially treats him with contempt by smashing a square drive for four and then repeats his trick from the first over by lofting another drive straight to Najib at backward point, who again drops a sitter. It would be fair to say Shapoor is not impressed.

Trent Copeland
Australia pace bowler on BBC Test Match Special

"This is aggressive captaincy from Nabi. Dawlat bowled too short and he wasn't happy so he brought on Hamid after one over. It's good because Dawlat won't be happy and will be fired up later and it shows the rest of the team that they need to be on it."

Dawlat lasts just the one over as Rambo, aka Hamid Hassan, is brought into the attack. He starts well with one that nips back into Bell and draws an appeal from every Afghanistan player. Replays show the batsman got a big inside edge. Bell then flashes and misses at a tempting ball outside off. A sloppy mis-field from Shapoor down at third man from the last ball gives England a single and denies Hassan a maiden.

Trent Copeland
Australia pace bowler on BBC Test Match Special

"The impression we have of Alex Hales in Australia is that he is one of the most dominant short-form batsmen in the world. He set the World T20 alight and he had some big games in the Big Bash for Hobart Hurricanes."

Everything Sport: Would like to see Bell continue at top order of ODI team. Yes he is slow scorer but consistent. Can provide backbone to innings.

England certainly aren't looking to do this in singles. Bell throws the bat at a decent length ball from Shapoor and miscues it over the outstretched hand of cover for a couple of runs. Shapoor trots back and strides in again and is smashed square for four by the same batsman. 77 to win off 22 overs.

Dawlat is all over the shop here. He persists with digging in short, which almost does for Hales, who fails to connect with a pull and chips the ball over mid-on before Bell then hammers a subsequent ball for four. That is the cue for some sawdust. Dawlat is slipping. Apparently. To be fair, once the crease is covered he deliveries a slightly better trio of balls.

Dawlat Zadran starts from the other end and Hales doesn't even bother with a sighter as he rocks back to pull a six over mid-wicket.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC Test Match Special

"Shapoor must have the longest run-up in the tournament. Geoffrey will tell you he doesn't go that far on his holidays. There's no subtlety about it - he's a powerfully built man who just thunders in. It's brutal."

In comes Shapoor again from miles out. As a batsman, it must be like being Peter O'Toole watching Omar Sharif emerge out of the desert in Lawrence of Arabia. Ian Bell waits and then hammers a drive through cover for four.

Shapoor Zadran comes steaming in from his lengthy run up, his hair flailing in the breeze. Hales leaves one, taps one back and then gifts a sitter of a catch to backward point, who drops it. Hales should be back in the tent.

We've got some cricketers out on the field as the Afghanistan players emerge from the stand. And soon after come Ian Bell and Alex Hales. There is the answer - England are sticking with the script...

Just a little heads-up... you can ask Geoffrey Boycott a question on Twitter today, using #askboycott. A video with a selection of his answers will be on the BBC Sport website later...

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"I'm sticking with Australia as my tips to win it. New Zealand and South Africa could also be in the final. South Africa have talent - AB de Villiers is the best batsman in the world. Then there's Pakistan, who have struggled for runs but their bowling is decent."

James Gutteridge: England sending out players who can score quickly? That sounds far too sensible for Moores.

It will be interesting to see if England adapt their batting order to the task at hand. So far this tournament they have shown a defiant, foolhardy stubborn refusal to do so, so you'd think they'd stick to their guns again. For better of worse.

Mike Gardner: Lets get Hales and Butler out first. Go out in a blaze of 6 hitting glory.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"England will get 101, but I'm not putting my house on it. Not with this lot."

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"English cricket is in a sad state, but if we're worried about chasing 101 in 25 overs against Afghanistan, then..."

Cheers Marc, top work sir. So, 101 off 25 overs. In theory, England should get those. But then, in theory, England should have qualified from their pool. Surely there is not going to be one final humiliation in this tournament for Eoin Morgan and his men? Surely?