Summary

  • Afghanistan 127-9 (20 overs); Shafiqullah 35*

  • England 142-7 (20 overs) - won toss

  • Eng collapse from 42-1 to 85-7

  • Moeen top scores with 41 not out (33 balls)

  1. Postpublished at 12:13 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2016

    Vic Marks
    Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    "England holding the cards now - against the odds given how appallingly they batted - but you can't take anything for granted."

  2. Afg 60-5 (Target 143)published at 12 overs

    Liam Plunkett hasn't picked up a wicket in his four overs but he has surely done enough to retain his place ion this side. In fact, on the evidence of this, you wonder why he wasn't in the team to begin with? He has hit the pitch hard and found a really good line and length and has made Afghanistan fight tooth and nail for every run.

  3. 6 runs

    Afg 54-5 (need 89 from 54 balls)published at 11 overs

    Rashid's second over is going well until Mohammad Nabi takes a couple of quick steps down the track and plants him back over his head for six. There is life in Afghanistan yet. And remember, England were 64-6 after 11.

  4. Afg 45-5published at 10 overs

    Breakthrough made, Moeen hands back over to Plunkett, who is once again highly effective. Two leg byes and three singles off the over. The Yorkshire bowler has 0-6 from three overs. That'll do, lad.

  5. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:02 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2016

    #bbccricket

    Steve Kenyon: This is like watching England play England.

  6. Afg 40-5 (Target 143)published at 9 overs

    No room to relax for England. They are firmly on top. But they have to keep it that way. Five runs and the wicket from Rashid's first over.

    Ben StokesImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Come on, Ben. Put that kite down, there's a cricket match taking place...

  7. Postpublished at 12:00 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2016

    Vic Marks
    Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    "There is no explanation for all these wickets falling, except for the wonderful tension of knockout cricket which this effectively is."

  8. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 8.5 overs

    Noor Ali c&b Rashid 17 (Afg 39-5)

    England are pressing home the advantage. Adil Rashid makes it spin from both ends and draws opener Noor Ali to poke a shortish ball nervously straight back tom him for the catch. All the fears and worries of an hour ago are floating away.

  9. Afg 35-4 (Target 143)published at 8 overs

    The momentum has swung England's way now. Afghanistan still have the players to win this for them, but the run-rate is climbing rapidly. And the pressure with it.

  10. Postpublished at 11:55 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2016

    Vic Marks
    Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    "Just when a little partnership was building up. It was above Morgan's head at extra cover but if you are a desperate captain you catch those. My goodness he tossed that into the sky, he is normally quite a phlegmatic character."

  11. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 7.5 overs

    Rashid c Morgan b Moeen 15 (35-4)

    Another timely wicket. Morgan's switch to spin works as Moeen draws a lofted drive from Rashid and the skipper claims the catch at cover. Afghanistan were just starting to stage a fightback but England regain control again.

  12. Afg 31-3 (need 112 from 78 balls)published at 7 overs

    M'colleague Stephan Shemilt has just snapped the arm off his chair. That is how tense this is right now. In steams Plunkett for another neat and tidy over. Just three off it. He goes about his business with minimum fuss, the big Yorkshire bowler, but it ain't half effective.

  13. Postpublished at 11:49 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2016

    Vic Marks
    Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    "You feel Jordan has been given instructions to just run in and bowl fast. I'd sooner see him do that than attempt anything too clever."

  14. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:49 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2016

    #bbccricket

    Andy: The Shahzad wicket was huge for England, when he goes early it seems to send the jitters through the Afghan batting line-up.

    Barry Hainsworth: The bowlers owe this one to the batsmen who got them out of jail v SA.

  15. 6 runs

    Afg 28-3 (Target 143)published at 6 overs

    Without the depth of batting England possess, this target looks a lot more daunting for Afghanistan than it did six overs ago. They are still well in the game, though, which Rashid underlines by striking Jordan for his side's first six of the match. Tension, so much tension.

  16. Postpublished at 11:45 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2016

    Afghanistan coach Inzamam-ul-Haq: "We have a big opportunity, but we need partnerships.

    "In my day, singles and twos were very important, now it's fours and sixes. They have talent, but they need exposure to learn how to play against the big teams.

    When asked the challenges of coaching Afghanistan: "The first thing is the language! Then it's the mindset. We have to improve techniques, but they are coming along a lot."

  17. Afg 20-3published at 5 overs

    Afghanistan coach Inzamam-ul-Haq is conducting an interview down on the sideline. He doesn't look too troubled, despite his side's start. Meanwhile, Willey continues and keeps it neat until new man Rashid Khan plays a lovely steer off the face of the bat to send a short ball down to the rope at third man. Lovely shot.

  18. Postpublished at 11:42 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2016

    Vic Marks
    Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    "There was a point in the England innings that we thought they would have to bowl Afghanistan out but having got those extra runs, run-rate could now come into it."

  19. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:42 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2016

    #bbccricket

    PD31: Afghanistan losing their heads in a most England-like manner here.

    David WilleyImage source, Getty Images
  20. Afg 13-3published at 4 overs

    Trevor Bayliss manages a smile on the England bench. I can't imagine he was doing that an hour ago. Liam Plunkett is in to the attack, and in to it very effectively. He beats the outside edge repeatedly in a maiden. England not out of the woods yet but the number of trees are thinning a bit.