England v Afghanistan: Cricket World Cup – as it happened

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2015/mar/13/england-v-afghanistan-cricket-world-cup-live

Version 0 of 1.

11.13am GMT11:13

Right, that’s it from me. Be sure to stick around on site for all the reports and reaction from Sydney. But for now, cheerio!

11.12am GMT11:12

So let the post-mortems begin! We’ve learned four-fifths of nothing at all from today’s subdued affair. I think it’s been a bit of a trial for the England players really – glum faces all round despite the win.

11.07am GMT11:07

England win by nine wickets

Bell skips down the track and dinks away a single to confirm the win. He ends 52 not out. That’s that then. The victors depart the tournament wondering exactly where they go from here. The losers depart the tournament wondering if they’ll ever be back.

11.06am GMT11:06

18th over: England 100-1 (Taylor 8, Bell 51) Taylor skews a cut away off Dawlat for a couple to third man to take England to within one run of victory.

A blast of How Soon Is Now as the between-overs music at the SCG, as the sons and heirs of nothing in particular close in on win #ENGvAFG

11.02am GMT11:02

17th over: England 97-1 (Taylor 6, Bell 50) Shapoor Zadran comes in for one last blast and Ian Bell goes to within a single of his half century with a late cut that zips yards over the head of the man at slip and down to third man boundary. A dab off the next brings the 50 off 53 balls and you won’t see many more underwhelmed ‘celebrations’ than the one he puts in. A quick lift of the bat and a scowl is all you’re getting, and fair enough really.

10.55am GMT10:55

16th over: England 91-1 (Taylor 5, Bell 46) A couple of singles are squeezed off Hassan, who then sends down a leg-side wide when in search of a yorker. Figures of 5-0-18-1 are nothing to be ashamed of, though. England need just 10 more.

10.51am GMT10:51

15th over: England 87-1 (Taylor 3, Bell 45) Nabi continues to tease and test the batsmen with what Nasser Hussain describes as “good old-fashioned off-spin”. He and Hassan have certainly been the pick of the bowlers – just three from the over.

10.47am GMT10:47

14th over: England 84-1 (Taylor 1, Bell 44) So what has been, in cricket parlance, a Pretty Ordinary tournament for Alex Hales ends in frustrating fashion.

Updated at 10.51am GMT

10.45am GMT10:45

WICKET! Hales c Zazai b Hassan 37 (England 83-1)

Just 23 more runs needed for England. Hassan returns and again there’s fielding hesitancy on the midwicket boundary, with two fielders leaving the ball to each other and almost allowing it to trundle over the rope. So Hassan balls up his rage and sends down a cracker that does for Hales! It’s a beauty, just holding its line outside off and forcing a nervous poke from the England opener, who can only feather an edge through to the keeper.

10.42am GMT10:42

13th over: England 78-0 (Hales 35, Bell 41) Nabi finds the Hales edge but there’s no slip and the ball whistles away for a couple to third man. The Afghanistan captain again finds some useful turn – four from the over.

10.38am GMT10:38

12th over: England 74-0 (Hales 32, Bell 40) Bell punches a Shenwari full toss out to wide long on … and Hassan fumbles the ball pretty miserably over the rope. Ugly stuff. Hales requires not help a couple of balls later, though – a huge slog-sweep disappears into the stands at square leg.

10.35am GMT10:35

11th over: England 62-0 (Hales 25, Bell 35) This is a bit of a procession for England. Nabi continues and keeps the batsmen honest. Three from the over.

10.33am GMT10:33

10th over: England 59-0 (Hales 23, Bell 34) Sami Shenwari enters the fray. He’s too short and Bell pulls hard out to the boundary, where Shafiq fumbles the ball over the rope. From the next, he turns one onto Bell’s pads and there’s a big appeal but the umpire decides it’s just sliding down leg. Hawkeye shows the ball clipping leg, but it would’ve been umpire’s call on any review.

10.29am GMT10:29

9th over: England 52-0 (Hales 23, Bell 27) Spin now from Mohammad Nabi. Bell works him to leg for a couple then they scurry through for a quick single that brings up the England 50. Nabi finds some decent turn, but nudging and nurdling adds to more singles to the tally.

10.25am GMT10:25

8th over: England 47-0 (Hales 22, Bell 25) Hassan once more. A pretty hideous misfield at mid off turns a single into a double for Bell – Afghanistan’s fielding has been the weakest facet of their game in this tournament – but again the bowler keeps it very tight. Just three from the over.

10.21am GMT10:21

7th over: England 44-0 (Hales 22, Bell 22) Dawlat Zadran returns but continues where he left off in the second over – too short and being slammed through the leg side by Hales. He bangs an angry ball in in response and finds the top edge, but the ball whistles away to the boundary once more, this time over the keeper’s head. There’s an lbw appeal from the last, but there was a fairly sizeable inside edge.

10.17am GMT10:17

6th over: England 36-0 (Hales 14, Bell 22) If this is to be Ian Bell’s final ODI for England, he’s keen to go out in style. A couple of his shots so far have been vintage Sledgehammer of Eternal Justice. He’s quieter here, though, tied down by the impressive Hassan. Just four from the over.

“Can you explain why, when Afghanistan’s total came at a run rate of 3.08 runs an over, we’ve been given a total that requires a rate of 4.04 runs an over?” writes Peter Spink. “I’m an Englishman following this in Kabul and I have to confess, I want Afghanistan to win. They deserved to beat Sri Lanka, so they really should beat our shower. The only thing if Afghanistan wins though is the risk of celebratory gunfire - quite a number of people were injured after the victory against Scotland. I imagine there’d be rather more gunfire if they beat England.”

It’s your D/L method, innit?

10.12am GMT10:12

5th over: England 32-0 (Hales 13, Bell 19) A ferocious cut from Hales brings him four more off Shapoor Zadran. But next up he’s dropped again! And again it’s the man at backward point. Almost a carbon copy – this one was perhaps a touch easier – but Najib Zadran makes a mess of it once more.

10.06am GMT10:06

4th over: England 25-0 (Hales 8, Bell 17) Hamid Hassan, who has arrived dressed as one of Arnie’s buddies in Predator, replaces Dawlat Zadaran. And, though he’s not hunting an invisible game-hunting alien, he still shows some hostility and firepower. Just one from a very useful over.

10.01am GMT10:01

3rd over: England 24-0 (Hales 8, Bell 16) A third narrow escape for the opening pair, as Bell just gets enough on a drive to plonk it over extra cover. He’s got hold of this one, though – a glorious thunk over cover again, this time struck sweetly for four. Both batsmen are showing a bit of intent, at least.

9.55am GMT09:55

2nd over: England 17-0 (Hales 8, Bell 9) This is more like it from Alex Hales. He waits on Dawlat Zadran’s first delivery before carting him over midwicket for six. Fine shot, though not a great ball. He then skews awkwardly into the infield for a single and Bell follows it up with another boundary thwacked through the leg side.

Here’s a date for the diaries – 17 September at the Kia Oval sees Strauss Help for Heroes XI (coached by Botham) vs. a Rest of the World XI coached by Kirsten with a captain TBC. Preceded by a disability T20 between a Help for Heroes XI vs. a top flight disabled XI. Tickets go on sale today. More details here.

9.51am GMT09:51

1st over: England 5-0 (Hales 1, Bell 4) So England set off in search of 101 runs from 25 overs. Shapoor Zadran takes the new ball. Hales leaves alone outside off, then blocks off the back foot. And from the third ball he’s dropped! Hales thick-edges a straight drive to backward point, where the diving Najib Zadran can’t cling on. And he probably should’ve done really, though it wasn’t a dolly by any means. Bell crashes the last over the covers for four.

Updated at 10.10am GMT

9.44am GMT09:44

Out come the players. Ian Bell and Alex Hales stride out to the middle under the floodlights.

9.32am GMT09:32

Very shortly, in fact. England will need 101 from 25 overs.

9.31am GMT09:31

Let there be play …

8.45 start, 25 overs.

So we’ll be under way in about 15 minutes time. England’s target “to be announced shortly”.

9.16am GMT09:16

And here’s Neil Keenan: “In reply to Stu Cherry, as an Irishman enjoying our seat at the head of European cricket, I’ve already been laughing at England for some time. Some of that cricket has been farcical and by some, I mean all. But after three thrilling wins, it’d be just our luck to be rained off on Sunday morning. Am I right in saying that would give us the 1 point needed to qualify? How’s the forecast looking in Adelaide?”

Yep, a washout would take Ireland through to the quarter-finals. The weather forecast, though, is for sun, sun and more sun.

9.12am GMT09:12

Here’s Robin Hazlehurst: “I was pondering the same thing as Stu Cherry, and while it would be much funnier for England to be eliminated by rain after beating Bangladesh, it would also be more tragic, as it would let the ECB simply say ‘well we would have qualified (and gone on to win the thing) if only it hadn’t been for the rain...’. At least the rain here is denying them the chance to say ‘but we still won two games’.”

9.10am GMT09:10

The rain has stopped at the SCG. And there’ll be a pitch inspection it about 2o minutes. Given the time lost it looks like it would be a 20-over (ish) run chase for England if they can get back out there.

9.03am GMT09:03

“Good work on the drip-by-drip coverage,” writes Stu Cherry. “As our resident Aussie isn’t in the office yet, I have a question for non-England fans out there. Which would have been funnier: England losing to Bangladesh and not qualifying or England beating Bangladesh and then not qualifying because this game was rained off with England in a likely winning position?”

8.55am GMT08:55

New Zealand win by three wickets! A couple of Tim Southee boundaries get the hosts home with seven balls to spare. So we have our first confirmed quarter-final tie lined up: it’ll be India v Bangladesh at the MCG next Thursday.

8.47am GMT08:47

Meanwhile in Sydney, the clock is ticking …

80 minutes to get this game restarted or thats it. still raining.

8.46am GMT08:46

Corey Anderson swipes a huge, HUGE, six into the stands at cow corner, where a punter takes a nonchalant one-handed catch. Next ball, Anderson tries again but gets himself clean bowled. Three wickets left, 20 needed off 16.

8.39am GMT08:39

Four overs to go in Hamilton and New Zealand need 33 from 24 balls, with six wickets down. Anderson and Vettori at the crease.

8.35am GMT08:35

In an alternate universe where England had beaten Bangladesh, this would be one of the tensest couple of hours of the tournament so far, with England desperate for the rain to stop and for New Zealand to finish the job against Bangladesh. Instead, well, the only thing up for grabs is third place in the table.

8.31am GMT08:31

Pitch inspection cancelled! Well, postponed. The rain is coming down again at the SCG.

8.20am GMT08:20

In Hamilton Ross Taylor has just unveiled a radical new DRS technique – he’s just reviewed an lbw decision but trudged off the field while waiting for the technology to do its work. The replay shows he’s plumb, but he knew that anyway. Strange. Anyway, New Zealand are 223-5 chasing 289. They’ve got 48 balls remaining and 66 runs to gather.

8.11am GMT08:11

The rain has eased in Sydney so the umpires are going to don their waders and have a look in about 20 minutes or so. But it’s still a bit dark over Bill’s mother’s:

The rain has eased in Sydney but we're awaiting inspection from the umpires: http://t.co/L0MpU5ccO0 #CWC15 #fireitup pic.twitter.com/FPJcavBnui

8.09am GMT08:09

If you missed the team news earlier, England have brought in Ravi Bopara and James Tredwell for Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes. Both have been tidy: RavBop has figures of 8-1-31-2 and Tredwell 7-0-25-1.

7.53am GMT07:53

The rain very briefly paused over in Sydney … but it’s coming down again now. This is certainly the end of the Afghanistan innings. Setting the England target will be a job for the calculators from this point.

7.47am GMT07:47

Over in Hamilton, meanwhile, New Zealand need a further 103 runs from 92 balls to beat Bangladesh. Ross Taylor has just gone to his half century off a very steady 83 balls.

7.42am GMT07:42

Hello everyone. I’m afraid I bring bad tidings:

Scg not looking too promising at the moment pic.twitter.com/W9sUyS3G4K

7.32am GMT07:32

With the likelihood that there will be no play for a while (no further updates on that front, but here’s a vaguely semi-helpful and only very mildly encouraging weather radar), and the possibility that Afghanistan’s innings is at an end, I’m going to toss the baton to John Ashdown, who will lead you through what remains of England’s World Cup campaign. All emails to john.ashdown@theguardian.com henceforth and from now on, and @John_Ashdown is the address on ye Twitter. Bye!

Updated at 7.38am GMT

7.18am GMT07:18

That may be the last we see of Afghanistan’s batsmen at this World Cup. With 10 runs already lost from the match, anything more than the briefest of showers will finish their innings.

7.16am GMT07:16

Meanwhile in Hamilton, Martin Guptill has completed an 88-ball century against Bangladesh, where New Zealand are 156-2 in the 28th over.

7.16am GMT07:16

More rain!

36.2 overs: Afghanistan 111-7 (Zadran 12, Hassan 0)

Jordan returns, and Zadran thrashes his first delivery back over his head for four, the ball landing six inches from the rope. The next delivery is banged in short, which Zadran fends off. And then the umpires think it’s a little too rainy, and head back to their changing room to towel themselves down.

7.13am GMT07:13

36th over: Afghanistan 107-7 (Zadran 8, Hassan 0)

Before Broad starts his over the umpires have a little look at the sky (still grey), amid reports of further drizzle. But they decide to push on through, one run is scored, and then the (reduced to four overs for rainy reasons) powerplay is signalled.

7.09am GMT07:09

35th over: Afghanistan 106-7 (Zadran 7, Hassan 0)

The batmen cross while the ball is in the air, and Zadran boffs the first post-dismissal delivery to the square leg boundary for four. Nice shot.

7.07am GMT07:07

WICKET! Shafiqullah c Bopara b Tredwell 30 (Afghanistan 101-7)

Shafiqullah goes big in search of a six but gets a massive top edge and Bopara, running around to his left, takes a fine, low catch at deep square leg.

7.05am GMT07:05

34th over: Afghanistan 101-6 (Shafiqullah 30, Zadran 2)

Broad’s back again, with his seventh over of the day, but even with his added pace, six wickets down and all sorts of encouragement for seam bowlers there are no slips in place for Shafiqullah and thus when he edges too wide for Buttler there’s nobody to collect it (it probably wouldn’t have carried) and they run a couple.

6.59am GMT06:59

33rd over: Afghanistan 97-6 (Shafiqullah 27, Zadran 1)

Afghanistan do lots of running. Once they might have been punished for it, but Bopara failed to hit the stumps from his position at short third man.

6.57am GMT06:57

32nd over: Afghanistan 93-6 (Shafiqullah 21, Zadran 0)

Now I’ve been burned before when doing the first innings of England games at this tournament. At that midway stage I thought they’d done pretty well against Sri Lanka. I thought they’d probably beat Bangladesh. So I hesitate before making this premature assertion, but surely, weather depending, they’re romping to victory here? Surely?

6.54am GMT06:54

WICKET! Nabi c Tredwell b Bopara 16 (Afghanistan 93-6)

Nabi tries to hit big, mistimes his stroke and hits meekly to Tredwell at mid-on, who takes a very easy catch.

6.52am GMT06:52

31st over: Afghanistan 91-5 (Shafiqullah 21, Nabi 15)

Tredwell bowls, and Afghanistan’s run-plundering slows considerably, with just the two runs coming from the over, when Shafiqullah works the ball into a big empty space on the leg side.

6.49am GMT06:49

30th over: Afghanistan 89-5 (Shafiqullah 21, Nabi 15)

Nabi has got his attack helmet on here. Or something. This time he goes after Bopara, and he thunders the ball over cover point for four. Then he tries to hit the ball over midwicket with maximal violence, misses it completely and is a bit fortunate to see it just miss the stumps.

6.46am GMT06:46

29th over: Afghanistan 82-5 (Shafiqullah 20, Nabi 9)

Six! Six runs! Off a single delivery! Nabi trots down the wicket again and this time he connects sweetly, and sends the ball freewheelin’ over cover. A couple of singles follow.

Updated at 6.50am GMT

6.42am GMT06:42

28th over: Afghanistan 74-5 (Shafiqullah 19, Nabi 2)

Bopara bowls and Shafiqullah hits it high, high into the air over midwicket. There’s nobody there when it comes down to land, about three yards from the rope, and it dribbles down to the boundary. With a couple of singles following, that’s the (joint with two others) second most expensive over of the innings.

Updated at 6.49am GMT

6.39am GMT06:39

27th over: Afghanistan 68-5 (Shafiqullah 14, Nabi 1)

Nabi comes down the track to Tredwell and flays wildly at the ball, sending it perfectly safely to cover point, one of three singles off the over.

Updated at 6.49am GMT

6.36am GMT06:36

26th over: Afghanistan 65-5 (Shafiqullah 12, Nabi 0)

Bopara bowls the first post-second-stoppage over, and there’s an immediate flood of singles, three of the pesky blighters off the first three balls. But then he gets his wicket, and Nabi survives the last two deliveries without scoring.

Updated at 6.36am GMT

6.35am GMT06:35

WICKET! Jamal c Buttler b Bopara 17 (Afghanistan 65-5)

Jamal is sent packing after a 52-ball 17 having nibbled at a decent, full delivery just wide of off-stump.

6.31am GMT06:31

The players are back out in Sydney to resume their now-abridged match!

6.19am GMT06:19

Play will restart at 6.30am UK time (10 minutes from now), and the teams will have 45 overs each.

6.17am GMT06:17

“On reflection, what happened in the game against Bangladesh is that England became mentally disorientated by playing against a team in green and red,” suggests Ian Forth (pictured left). “These are the colours that clash most to the human retina. It’s why Wes Craven chose this combo for Freddie Krueger. So, really, what chance did they have?”

5.57am GMT05:57

@Simon_Burnton One of the few things Eng got right this WC was having Mo as spinner. Picking Tredwell would've meant him replacing a batsman

Only if we weren’t prepared to sacrifice a seamer. Sometimes England’s bowling does seem relentlessly seamy, often without seeming particularly dangerous. A full-time spinner may have been able to restrict scoring better, without being significantly less likely to take wickets.

5.55am GMT05:55

Rain stops play again

This stoppage surely will have an impact on the number of overs each side will have to face. Obviously you’ll find out here first (or at least a close second). The rain isn’t hard, but it does seem quite persistent.

5.52am GMT05:52

25th over: Afghanistan 62-4 (Jamal 16, Shafiqullah 11)

Tredwell takes us through to the halfway stage, conceding a few singles, and as the over comes to an end umbrellas are popping up around the ground. Nooooooo!

5.50am GMT05:50

24th over: Afghanistan 59-4 (Jamal 15, Shafiqullah 9)

After some drinks Broad is so energised that his first delivery is banged in short and flies way over the batsman’s head, a wide. There are also a couple of singles.

5.44am GMT05:44

23rd over: Afghanistan 56-4 (Jamal 14, Shafiqullah 8)

James Tredwell, hello! A first sighting of the England spinner at this World Cup sees a single scored from his first delivery, and nothing off his next five.

5.41am GMT05:41

22nd over: Afghanistan 55-4 (Jamal 13, Shafiqullah 8)

Broad returns, and there are two singles and one fine delivery that just beats the edge.

5.38am GMT05:38

21st over: Afghanistan 53-4 (Jamal 12, Shafiqullah 7)

Runs! Bopara concedes three singles, a wide and then a four, driven to the long-on boundary and just making it there before a diving Morgan arrived. Meanwhile in Hamilton, McCullum and Williamson both go in a single Shakib over and New Zealand are 33-2 after five.

5.33am GMT05:33

20th over: Afghanistan 45-4 (Jamal 7, Shafiqullah 5)

This has, so far, been a good, disciplined bowling display from Jordan, who is too wayward too often, but then his last delivery is a little wide and a little short and sent through the covers for four by Shafiqullah.

Updated at 5.34am GMT

5.29am GMT05:29

No he isn't!

The ball didn’t touch anything at all, it turns out.

5.29am GMT05:29

REVIEW! Is Jamal out here?

The ball is pitched short, flies across Jamal and through to Buttler. Did it touch bat? England think so, the umpire thinks so, the batsman reviews immediately ...

5.27am GMT05:27

19th over: Afghanistan 41-4 (Jamal 3, Shafiqullah 3)

Shafiqullah deflects Bopara’s first delivery along the ground and just past second slip, running a couple before third man fetches it and returns it, and then pushes the ball square for a couple more.

5.24am GMT05:24

18th over: Afghanistan 37-4 (Jamal 3, Shafiqullah 1)

Jordan continues, and the batsmen help themselves to a run apiece. Five runs off the last five overs. “Afghanistan will score over 100,” predicts Dean Laffan. “Buckle up, this could go either way!”

5.20am GMT05:20

17th over: Afghanistan 35-4 (Jamal 2, Shafiqullah 0)

Bopara bowls, and Jamal scores his second single off his 27th delivery. “I’m 15 km South of the SCG. More rain on the way,” writes Garry Way. Noooooooooo! “England and the Afghanistan to finish on 3 points a piece. Great WC (World Cup) for the Afghans an absolute WC ( Water Closet) for the poms.” Say it ain’t so, Garry!

5.17am GMT05:17

16th over: Afghanistan 34-4 (Jamal 1, Shafiqullah 0)

Another maiden, with this one bringing the added bonus of a wicket off the first ball. England’s decision to field first is being thoroughly vindicated here, though I wouldn’t want to speak (type) too soon.

Updated at 5.20am GMT

5.13am GMT05:13

WICKET! Shenrawi c Morgan b Jordan 7 (Afghanistan 34-4)

Shenwari tries to drive through cover but gets a thick edge and the ball flies to Morgan at backward point, who takes a fine low catch!

5.11am GMT05:11

15th over: Afghanistan 34-3 (Jamal 1, Shenrawi 7)

Ravi Bopara does his first significant thing of the World Cup, specifically bowling. And it’s another maiden, the third of the innings (though eight overs have gone for one run or fewer).

Updated at 5.21am GMT

5.08am GMT05:08

14th over: Afghanistan 34-3 (Jamal 1, Shenrawi 7)

Jordan tempts Jamal into a drive, but he misses the ball completely. Then he bowls his first wide of the day (and there’s often a few), after a bouncer to the same batsman ends up clearing his head by about three feet. Finally Jamal scores a run, from the 17th ball he’s faced.

“Judging by the number of edges you’re describing and the references to swing, you’d almost think the England bowlers are pitching it up,” writes Robin Hazlehurst. “What on earth are they up to? Haven’t they seen the data, don’t they know to bowl everything really short all the time? Cos that has always worked well before now.” They’re actually bowling short a little too often, but varying it just enough to stop me laying into them.

Updated at 5.21am GMT

5.04am GMT05:04

13th over: Afghanistan 32-3 (Jamal 0, Shenrawi 7)

Anderson’s seventh over brings the day’s first boundary, Shenrawi pushing past extra cover and all the way to the rope. The bowler also gets a warning for running down the wicket. His first ball moved a bit, but then it seemed to give up.

Updated at 5.21am GMT

4.59am GMT04:59

12th over: Afghanistan 26-3 (Jamal 0, Shenrawi 1)

Shenrawi shields the ball to square leg and the batsmen set off for two, but then he slips when turning so they settle for one. The last three overs have gone for none, one and one.

Updated at 5.21am GMT

4.56am GMT04:56

WICKET! Zazai c Buttler b Jordan 6 (Afghanistan 25-3)

Pitched full and just outside off stump, that’s too close to the batsman for him to leave, but not close enough for him to play like that. He waves his bat around the line of off stump and edges it through to Buttler!

4.54am GMT04:54

11th over: Afghanistan 25-2 (Zazai 6, Jamal 0)

Afghanistan continue to add to their score extremely slowly, with Zazai snaffling a single off the third ball of Anderson’s over.

Updated at 5.22am GMT

4.50am GMT04:50

10th over: Afghanistan 24-2 (Zazai 5, Jamal 0)

Chris Jordan comes on first change for England, and it’s a decent enough over, neither very threatening nor very expensive. Not at all expensive, in fact - it’s a maiden. The last delivery is the best, fuller and wide enough to tempt a batsman to stretch, without being wide enough to tempt the umpire to extend his arms. Jamal misses it entirely.

Updated at 5.22am GMT

4.45am GMT04:45

9th over: Afghanistan 24-2 (Zazai 5, Jamal 0)

Anderson bowls the final delivery of his fifth and England’s ninth over, and Zazai lets it pass through to the keeper.

Updated at 5.22am GMT

4.42am GMT04:42

Play will resume in three minutes. No overs have been lost.

4.38am GMT04:38

Bangladesh’s innings ends, and they’ve scored 288-7, with Mahmudullah unbeaten on 128. Against the same opponents, the entire England team scored 123.

4.36am GMT04:36

The covers are off in Sydney! More news when I get it.

4.32am GMT04:32

I have no updates from Sydney. Mahmudullah’s innings meanwhile goes from strength to strength. With one over to go, he’s got 120 from 119 balls and Bangladesh are on 272-6.

4.21am GMT04:21

Over in Hamilton England’s torturer in chief, Mahmudullah, has completed back-to-back centuries against New Zealand. Bangladesh oare on 246-5 with three-and-a-bit overs remaining.

That’s Mahmudullah’s ton, he’s played a fine innings, made the most of his luck early. He blows a kiss to the crowd, BAN 242-5 #nzvban ^RI

4.18am GMT04:18

@Simon_Burnton two early wickets. Nothing can possibly go wrong.

Well indeed, as anyone who saw the Bangladesh game will remember. So England can put their feet up as the rain falls, and relax in the knowledge that nothing bad can now happen.

4.10am GMT04:10

Rain! Not much rain, but definitely rain!

8.5 overs: Afghanistan 24-2 (Zazai 5, Jamal 0)

Whoosh! There’s an absolute zinger here from Anderson, angled into Zazai and beating him all ends up, but flying an inch wide of the off stump. Zazai prods to mid-on for two runs, then he gets two more to midwicket, and then it starts to gently rain and with one ball of the over remaining, the covers come on.

4.06am GMT04:06

8th over: Afghanistan 20-2 (Zazai 1, Jamal 0)

That’s a wicket maiden, right there. And England will start over No9 with a fourth slip in place.

4.03am GMT04:03

WICKET! Ahmadi c Root b Broad 7 (Afghanistan 20-2)

No movement this time, but Broad doesn’t need any! He pitches it up, Ahmadi goes for the drive and he edges it straight to Root at first slip.

4.01am GMT04:01

7th over: Afghanistan 20-1 (Ahmadi 6, Zazai 1)

The over brings two runs and then the sixth delivery is called a wide, and from the seventh there’s a leg bye. Mangal spent 28 balls compiling his four runs. If his team-mates all score at the same rate Afghanistan’s innings will end, after 50 overs, with 43 runs on the board.

Updated at 4.06am GMT

3.57am GMT03:57

WICKET! Mangal c Root b Anderson 4 (Afghanistan 17-1)

The breakthrough! A little wide, a little short, but Mangal chases it and top-edges high to Root at first slip, who takes the catch with both hands above his head.

3.55am GMT03:55

6th over: Afghanistan 16-0 (Ahmadi 6, Mangal 4)

Ahmadi drives past point, but the ball grips to the presumably rather damp outfield and is easily chased down, the batsmen running three runs. That brings Mangal on strike, and again there’s an edge, and again it doesn’t carry. This time Jordan fields it on the bounce at third slip. England’s game plan, assuming they still have game plans and haven’t just given up on the things, definitely involved wickets falling in these early stages.

3.51am GMT03:51

5th over: Afghanistan 13-0 (Ahmadi 3, Mangal 4)

Anderson continues to find swing, but he’s pitching it a bit short and Mangal is able to leave most of the over well alone. There’s one wide, as the ball refuses to swing and goes down the leg side, and that’s yer lot. Mangal’s four runs have come off 22 deliveries.

3.46am GMT03:46

4th over: Afghanistan 12-0 (Ahmadi 3, Mangal 4)

There’s a muted appeal at the ball flies past Mangal and through to Buttler, but though there was clearly a noise, England decide not to appeal. Just as well - the ball flicked his pocket on its way through. Mangal takes a single off the last.

3.43am GMT03:43

3rd over: Afghanistan 11-0 (Ahmadi 3, Mangal 3)

Very nice bowling this from Anderson, sending the ball swinging one way and then the other. But, other than those four leg byes, the batsmen have handled it all pretty well.

3.39am GMT03:39

2nd over: Afghanistan 10-0 (Ahmadi 3, Mangal 2)

Broad bowls, and this time there is an edge! But it doesn’t even nearly carry to Root at first slip, bouncing a couple of feet short. And then there’s another edge! But this one flies out of the reach of Bopara at third slip, high to his right.

3.35am GMT03:35

1st over: Afghanistan 6-0 (Ahmadi 1, Mangal 1)

Anderson starts, and immediately finds some movement. Three slip fielders wait with great anticipation, but there are no edges, and instead each batsman snaffles a single while the fourth ball swings into Mangal, flicks his pad and disappears to the boundary for four.

3.29am GMT03:29

So here we are, the beginning of the end. The batsmen are at the crease. Deep breath, people.

3.27am GMT03:27

The anthems are being sung. The SCG looks very sparsely populated for this meeting of Pool A’s outsiders.

@Simon_Burnton why no obo of Bangladeshh-Sri Lanka match?

@Simon_Burnton I meant New Zealand Bangladesh match

Just a matter of limited manpower, I think. We have covered most of the pool-stage games, but not absolutely all of them. If it helps, we’ll be doing three of the remaining four games (with UAE v West Indies missing out) and then all the knockout ties.

Updated at 3.28am GMT

3.20am GMT03:20

In the UK, Sky were supposed to have switched their attention from Bangladesh v New Zealand to this humdinger at 3am, 20 minutes ago, and still I wait, increasingly anxiously.

3.16am GMT03:16

This is how Afghanistan line up. There’s already been a bit of rain in Sydney, but it has passed for now. Still, it may return, and by batting second England limit their chances of suffering DLS-related shocks.

Afghanistan's XI: N Mangal, J Ahmadi, A Zazai, N Jamal, S Shenwari, S Shafiq, M Nabi, N Zadran, D Zadran, S Zadran, H Hassan #ENGvAFG #CWC15

3.07am GMT03:07

The first of the big post-World Cup retirements is announced. It’s the Guardian cricket correspondent’s.

Without any fear of contradiction I can say that this will be my swansong reporting on England in a world cup. 8 world cups is enough.

3.02am GMT03:02

England win the toss and bowl first

Yet again, England decide they fancy a run chase. As widely predicfted Ravi Bopara and James Tredwell both play, Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali do not.

England team to play Afghanistan: Hales, Bell, Taylor, Root, Morgan (C), Buttler, Bopara, Jordan, Tredwell, Broad, Anderson #EngvAfg #CWC15

3.01am GMT03:01

Quite a good stat:

England have won their first game against 14 of their 17 previous opponents, losing only to Australia, Pakistan and Zimbabwe.#bbccricket

2.55am GMT02:55

So, we’ve had the matches England were expected to lose (they did). We’ve had the matches England wanted to win but didn’t absolutely have to (they didn’t). And we’ve had the match England absolutely no ifs no buts and certainly no maybes had to win (they didn’t). So we’re left with one more, the one England would prefer not to play at all but if they absolutely have to play then I suppose they’d probably want to win. And that one, against Afghanistan, is going to start very shortly.

England have not had the opportunity to lose to Afghanistan before, never having played them. The Afghans’ form - one win in five matches, against Scotland - isn’t particularly daunting, unless your form, like England’s, is also one win in five matches, also against Scotland. “If losing the game to Bangladesh was terrible we couldn’t possibly imagine what it will be like if tomorrow goes against us,” said the England assistant coach Paul Farbrace. “That would be horrendous.”

But also, surely, even for those who dream of watching great England sides merrily put opponents to the sword and ordinarily get terribly depressed when they don’t, just a teeny bit funny.

There is a little team-selection intrigue: We know that Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali will not play because of injury, and that Alex Hales surely again will, probably as an opener. We may catch a glimpse of Bopara and/or Tredwell. Doors open, doors close, doors get used to beat one’s own head against repeatedly. Such is life with the England cricket team.

There may be some showers in Syndey today (in addition to the England team). It’s certainly quite cloudy:

Good afternoon from an overcast @scg. Toss and team news coming up shortly. #EngvAfg #CWC15 pic.twitter.com/ti5m2LS0Lo

Anyway, hello!

2.45am GMT02:45

Simon will be here shortly. In the meantime, run your eyes over the fighting talk emanating from Afghanistan’s bowler Ahmed Hassan’s mouth.

“We have a very good bowling attack and hopefully we’ll do a good performance [on Friday] against England,” said Hassan. “We have learnt a lot from our mistakes in the past matches, and [on Friday] we don’t want to do any mistakes,” he said. Hopefully we’ll be better, 100% on correct line and length so we can put some pressure early on the England batsmen.”

The 27-year-old’s confidence is somewhat surprising given Afghanistan lost to Australia by 275 runs in their last match. “My friend, he asked the question, ‘the game against Australia, you were scared’. There is no scared. Afghan never scared.”

One man who is a little scared about losing is England assistant coach Paul Farbrace.

If losing the game to Bangladesh was terrible, we couldn’t possibly imagine what it will be like if [Friday] goes against us. That would be horrendous. Our job now is to make sure we give ourselves the best chance, clear heads and go and play proper cricket.

To read the full article, click here.