Moeen Ali 41, Willey rescue England surviving a major scare
World T20, 24th Match, Super 10 Group 1: Afghanistan v England at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi, Mar 23, 2016
England 142/7 (20/20 ov) JM Vince 22 off 18 balls 4 fours, MM Ali 41 off 33 balls 4 fours and 1 six, DJ Wiley 20 not out off 17 balls 2 sixes, Mohammad Nabi 17-2, Amir Hamzra 45-1, Samiullah Shenwari 23-1, Rashid Khan 17-2
Afghanistan 127/9 (20/20 ov) Shafiqullah 35 not out off 20, 4 fours and 2 sixes, Samiullah Shenwari 22 off 27, 1 four, Noor Ali Zadran 17 off 19, Rashid Khan 15 off 20, 1 four and 1 six, DJ Willey 23-2, CJ Jordan 27-1, MM Ali 17-1, AU Rashid 18-2, BA Stokes 28-1.
England won by 15 runs.
England won the toss and chose to bat first, and survived a major scare from Minnows Afghanistan as at one stage they could only muster 85 for 7 in the 15th over of the match after James Vince who is in the side due to Alex Hales’ back injury, had given a flying start in reaching 42-1 in the sixth over. Then followed the collapse that saw them lose five wickets for 15 runs, Mohammad Nabi the chief destroyer. The inexperienced Afghanistan could not finish the job. Moeen Ali and David Willey, rose to the occasion and scored 35 in the final two overs and added 57 from the final 33 deliveries, to set a target that proved sufficient on a tricky pitch. Although Moeen Ali was fortunate to survive a leg before appeal off the bowling of Shapoor Zadran in the 18th over, when England were 102 for 7. England was very lucky win this match, and no doubt will improve their net run rate, as apart from their nervous batting, their overthrows, misfields and dropping catches – Butler failing to cling onto a chance offered by Nabi off Adil Rashid on four.