ICC Cricket World Cup 2015- Australia vs Afghanistan: Player Ratings

Australia defeated minnows Afghanistan by a record margin of 275 runs in a one-sided encounter at WACA, Perth

After a narrow 1-wicket loss to co-hosts New Zealand at the Eden Park on Saturday, four time World Champions Australia were back in their elements, thrashing minnows and new entrants Afghanistan by a mammoth margin of 275 runs at the WACA in Perth today. In a one-sided encounter, the Afghans fell victim to David Warner and Glenn Maxwell’s brutal assault as Australia registered their biggest ODI win.

Here are the Player Ratings of all the 22 players who took the field in game number 26 of the event:

David Warner- 10/10The Man of the Match scored a career best 178 after the early dismissal of opening partner Aaron Finch. He struck 19 fours and 5 sixes in 133 balls at an astonishing strike rate of 133.8. Looking well on course for the tournament’s second double century after Chris Gayle, the left-hander fell to Shapoor Zadran in the 38th over.

Aaron Finch- 2/10The opener could manage only 4 runs in 9 balls and was Dawlat’s first victim, caught by Mangal at 1st slip. He took the catch of the match to dismiss the highest Afghan scorer Nawroz Mangal however.

Steve Smith- 9/10Coming in at number 3 after Shane Watson was dropped from the squad, the youngster, who had managed only 9 runs in 2 WC games so far, scored 95 in 98 deliveries and was unlucky to miss out on a well desereved century, getting caught at mid off. He shared a record 260-run partnership with Warner for the 2nd wicket – the highest partnership for two Australian batsmen in an ODI.

Glenn Maxwell- 10/10Maxwell, combining with Smith after Warner’s dismissal in the 38th over, raced to a 39-ball 88, with 6 fours and 7 sixes at an unbelievable strike rate of 225.61. He was successful with the ball as well, picking up captain Mohammad Nabi’s wicket.

James Faulkner- 2/10Returning from an injury, Faulkner replaced Shane Watson in the final 11, but could only make 7 runs in 6 deliveries. He went wicketless as well, bowling his 4 overs for 8 runs.

Mitchell Marsh- 1/10The all-rounder, coming in to bat in the 48th over, scored only 8 runs and proved to be the most expensive Aussie bowler going for 25 runs in his 3 overs.

Brad Haddin- 4/10The wicketkeeper played yet another quickfire innings making 20 in only 9 balls, which ensured that the target was well above 400 for the Afghans.

Mitchell Starc- 7/10The hero of the last game against New Zealand, where his career best haul of 6/28 went in vain, Starc scalped 2 wickets in 6 overs with an economy rate of 3. He was replaced by Faulkner after an impressive opening spell and came back to dismiss Najibullah Zadran in his fourth over by bowling the perfect yorker right at the base of the stumps.

Josh Hazelwood- 7/10Replacing Pat Cummins in the squad, Hazelwood managed 2 wickets, giving only 25 runs in 8 overs.

Mitchell Johnson- 8/10After a forgettable match against NZ, where he went for 68 runs in 6 overs, Johnson was back in his elements with the ball, destroying the Afghan batting line up by picking up 4 wickets in 7.3 overs at an economy rate of 2.9

Michael Clarke- 2/10The captain did not get a chance to bat but was proactive on the field, setting aggressive fields for his bowlers, taking 2 catches and even picking up Samiullah Shenwari’s wicket.

Dawlat Zadran congratulated by Afghanistan teammates

Javed Ahmadi- 1/10After the Aussies had piled up the highest WC score yet, the onus was on the Afghani openers to get the team off to a flier. However a 24-ball 13 from Ahmadi, with a strike rate of 54, was well below expectations and Afghanistan were only delaying the inevitable after his early dismissal.

Usman Ghani- 1/10Ghani’s dismissal opened the floodgates for the Afghan batsmen, as they crumbled like nine pins before the Aussie pace bowlers.

Nawroz Mangal- 5/10Mangal tried to steady the innings with a 35-ball 33, the highest score by an Afghan player on the day, but fell to Johnson after Finch took a screamer of a catch – flying miles to his right and hanging on to the ball at second slip.

Asghar Stanikzai- 1/10The batsman fell for 4 in 10 balls, caught by Steve Smith at third man.

Samiullah Shenwari- 3/10Shenwari tried to rebuild the innings after the Afghans had collapsed to 46/3 in 10 overs, but the task eventually proved to be out of his control, and was dismissed for a 31-ball 17.

Mohammad Nabi- 1/10The captain proved expensive with the ball, giving 84 in his quota of 10 overs and only scored 2 in 10 deliveries.

Najibullah Zadran- 2/10The 2nd highest run scorer in the batting lineup, Zadran was Starc’s first casualty, falling for 24.

Afsar Zazai- 2//10The wicketkeeper tried to hang on at the crease in a bid to steady the innings. With wickets falling rapidly at the other end, Zazai’s task was cut out and he was dismissed for a 40-ball 10.

Dawlat Zadran- 4/10One of the most experienced players in the team, Zadran had a forgettable day on the field, going for 101 runs in his 10 overs. He picked up the wicket of Finch, but was taken to the cleaners by Warner and later by Maxwell. He showed impeccable control with the new ball though.

Hamid Hassan- 1/10It was a day the Afghan bowlers would like to forget. Hassan had no answer to the batting assault being inflicted by Warner and Smith and gave 70 runs in 10 overs.

Shapoor Zodran- 1/10Yet another pace bowler who was dispatched to all sides of the park by the Aussies. He picked up 2 wickets for 89 runs.