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50 overs Australia 272 for 8 (Clarke 75, Wade 75) v Afghanistan
Michael Clarke made 75 after promoting himself to No. 3 © AFP
It may well be a historic night for Afghanistan being just their second taste of elite one-day international cricket, but any early hopes of a fairy-tale script were quickly snuffed out by a professional and polished Australian batting display.
Led early by the contrasting styles of Matthew Wade and Michael Clarke, who each posted 75, and finished by the indefatigable Michael Hussey, Australia set an impressive total in spite of a willing opposition and hideously oppressive conditions.
After one look at a pitch that resembled a strip of shiny concrete in the middle of the Sharjah Association Ground, Clarke did not hesitate in electing to bat first. His assertion that the wicket looked good for batting, if not a little slow, proved prophetic as both Australian openers wrestled with their timing early. Wade, re-acquainting himself with opening in the absence of Shane Watson, found timing particularly hard to come by against the accurate and consistent new-ball pairing of Shapoor Zadran and Dawlat Zadran.
David Warner found the going a little easier when he was offered some width from Shapoor. He also took the chance to club the left-armer down the ground. But Shapoor was rewarded for his shorter length when Warner edged an attempted cut to a ball a fraction close, to hand Afghanistan their first wicket inside seven overs.
Enter the captain at first drop, a familiar sight for Australian fans in years past, but a rare venture for Clarke. It is only the fifth time he has batted at three since he succeeded Ricky Ponting as the full-time captain.
Clarke took his time to assess the surface but his fluency and class were quickly unveiled. An effortless straight-drive for four was a cut-above anything Warner and Wade had played on a surface lacking pace and an outfield lacking speed. Although he only struck three boundaries and two sixes in his 75, Clarke's footwork and placement was a feature throughout as he handled the spinners comfortably.
Wade was anything but comfortable throughout his 108-ball stay. The suffocating heat of the UAE, with temperatures hovering above 34 degrees Celsius well after sunset, looked to be getting the better of tough-as-nails Wade. But he stuck to his task admirably to register his highest ODI score and provide the perfect foil to Clarke as they combined for a 131-run stand.
They were undone by Afghanistan's most experienced spinners in Samiullah Shenwari and Mohammad Nabi. Shenwari's wrist spin was particularly good, save for two rank full tosses that were both dispatched by Clarke. He should have claimed both wickets, having had Wade dropped by his captain Nawroz Mangal at midwicket on 32. Wade fell to a sharp return catch by the offspinner Nabi, before Shenwari became only the sixth man in ODIs to spin one past the advancing blade of Clarke to have the Australian captain stumped.
Australia's debutant, Victoria allrounder Glenn Maxwell, was promoted to No. 4 during the batting Powerplay without success. He holed out to long on for just 2 before the Hussey brothers did what the Hussey brothers do to tick the total beyond 200. But a brilliant piece of fielding from Gulbodin Naib to run out David hindered Australia's progression momentarily, before Michael showed how valuable he still is to this Australian outfit with a finishing flurry that only he could have compiled. Michael Hussey and George Bailey combined for 53 in five overs. The purity of their striking was made even more impressive by the fact that the wicket was getting progressively slower. It was the third time in four innings that this duo have posted 50 or more together.
It is a night of firsts all-round. Not only is the first meeting between these two nations, it is also the first time Australia are involved in a match in which both 50-over innings are to be completed under moonlight. The Afghanistan players also took prayer breaks at both drinks junctures as well as the innings break, something foreign to this Australian side.
Michael Clarke made 75 after promoting himself to No. 3 © AFP
It may well be a historic night for Afghanistan being just their second taste of elite one-day international cricket, but any early hopes of a fairy-tale script were quickly snuffed out by a professional and polished Australian batting display.
Led early by the contrasting styles of Matthew Wade and Michael Clarke, who each posted 75, and finished by the indefatigable Michael Hussey, Australia set an impressive total in spite of a willing opposition and hideously oppressive conditions.
After one look at a pitch that resembled a strip of shiny concrete in the middle of the Sharjah Association Ground, Clarke did not hesitate in electing to bat first. His assertion that the wicket looked good for batting, if not a little slow, proved prophetic as both Australian openers wrestled with their timing early. Wade, re-acquainting himself with opening in the absence of Shane Watson, found timing particularly hard to come by against the accurate and consistent new-ball pairing of Shapoor Zadran and Dawlat Zadran.
David Warner found the going a little easier when he was offered some width from Shapoor. He also took the chance to club the left-armer down the ground. But Shapoor was rewarded for his shorter length when Warner edged an attempted cut to a ball a fraction close, to hand Afghanistan their first wicket inside seven overs.
Enter the captain at first drop, a familiar sight for Australian fans in years past, but a rare venture for Clarke. It is only the fifth time he has batted at three since he succeeded Ricky Ponting as the full-time captain.
Clarke took his time to assess the surface but his fluency and class were quickly unveiled. An effortless straight-drive for four was a cut-above anything Warner and Wade had played on a surface lacking pace and an outfield lacking speed. Although he only struck three boundaries and two sixes in his 75, Clarke's footwork and placement was a feature throughout as he handled the spinners comfortably.
Wade was anything but comfortable throughout his 108-ball stay. The suffocating heat of the UAE, with temperatures hovering above 34 degrees Celsius well after sunset, looked to be getting the better of tough-as-nails Wade. But he stuck to his task admirably to register his highest ODI score and provide the perfect foil to Clarke as they combined for a 131-run stand.
They were undone by Afghanistan's most experienced spinners in Samiullah Shenwari and Mohammad Nabi. Shenwari's wrist spin was particularly good, save for two rank full tosses that were both dispatched by Clarke. He should have claimed both wickets, having had Wade dropped by his captain Nawroz Mangal at midwicket on 32. Wade fell to a sharp return catch by the offspinner Nabi, before Shenwari became only the sixth man in ODIs to spin one past the advancing blade of Clarke to have the Australian captain stumped.
Australia's debutant, Victoria allrounder Glenn Maxwell, was promoted to No. 4 during the batting Powerplay without success. He holed out to long on for just 2 before the Hussey brothers did what the Hussey brothers do to tick the total beyond 200. But a brilliant piece of fielding from Gulbodin Naib to run out David hindered Australia's progression momentarily, before Michael showed how valuable he still is to this Australian outfit with a finishing flurry that only he could have compiled. Michael Hussey and George Bailey combined for 53 in five overs. The purity of their striking was made even more impressive by the fact that the wicket was getting progressively slower. It was the third time in four innings that this duo have posted 50 or more together.
It is a night of firsts all-round. Not only is the first meeting between these two nations, it is also the first time Australia are involved in a match in which both 50-over innings are to be completed under moonlight. The Afghanistan players also took prayer breaks at both drinks junctures as well as the innings break, something foreign to this Australian side.
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