Published 19:04 IST, June 1st 2019
World Cup 2019 | WATCH: Here's how 2015 WC's 'Player of the Tournament' Mitchell Starc set up Mohammad Shahzad's dismissal
Reigning World Champions Australia will be looking to start their title defence on a winning note when they lock horns against a spirited Afghanistan team in their ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 match at Bristol on Saturday. Meanwhile, Afghanistan, who are the dark horses and the underdogs will be hoping to pull off the first upset of this tournament.
Reigning World Champions Australia will be looking to start their title defence on a winning note when they lock horns against a spirited Afghanistan team in their ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 match at Bristol on Saturday. Meanwhile, Afghanistan, who are the dark horses and the underdogs, will be hoping to pull off the first upset of this tournament.
Afghan skipper Gulbadin Naib won the toss and elected to bat first. Their explosive opening batsman Mohammad Shahzad was all set to entertain the crowd with his hard-hitting abilities, but Mitchell Starc, who bowled the opening over, had other ideas.
On the very first delivery, Shahzad looked to hit Starc into the stands as he had charged down the wicket with aggressive intent, but then changed his mindset at the very last minute by blocking the ball. On the second delivery, Starc bowled an out-swinger and Shahzad once again defended the ball outside off stump. On the third delivery, Starc went the other way as he bowled what might be one of the best deliveries of the tournament, probably unplayable even for the world's best batsmen. The left-arm quickie bowled an inswinging delivery and the Afghan keeper-batsman had no clue about this one, as he tried to heave it for a big one. But, he was too late in judging the ball as he completely missed it and his stumps are rattled as the Aussies got rid of a dangerous batsman early on.
Mitchell Starc's set-up plan to dismiss Shahzad was posted by Cricket World Cup. Watch it right here.
It was an ideal start for Starc who was named 'Player of the Tournament' in the previous edition which Australia had won in their own backyard for a record fifth time. This dismissal was also similar to that of the previous edition where Starc had set up a plan for the then New Zealand captain Brendon Mccullum. He succeeded as Mccullum was castled in the first over of the World Cup final, which shifted the momentum in Australia's favour.
Updated 11:56 IST, June 14th 2019