Moeen Ali stars as England survive Afghan scare at World Twenty20

Captain Eoin Morgan praised England's strength in depth after a late flourish from Moeen Ali and David Willey spared the team's blushes against Afghanistan at the World Twenty20 on Wednesday.

Ali and Willey shared an unbroken 57-run partnership for the eighth wicket to push England to 142 for seven after they were struggling at 85-7 at one stage.

After losing early wickets, Afghanistan never looked like overhauling their illustrious opponents but went down fighting as they reached 127-9 at New Delhi's Feroz Shah Kotla stadium, losing by 15 runs.

The result means Afghanistan have no chance of progressing to the semi-finals but England are in second place in their group ahead of their final match on Saturday against Sri Lanka.

After last Friday's dramatic victory over South Africa, when England pulled off a record run chase in Mumbai, the batting performance was a major letdown.
And Morgan, who was bowled for a golden duck, said the team should not have been caught unawares by the turning conditions in New Delhi.

"I think it was simply a matter of not adapting," Morgan said.

"Coming here and playing a T20 world cup I think this is the type of wicket that every single one of us was expecting," he added.

Moeen's unbeaten 41 was the one innings of real note but he was ably supported by Willey, who hit two sixes in a sparkling 20 off 17 balls. The penultimate over yielded 25 runs as Amir Hamza took a battering.

"I think the difference between 120 and 140 is huge. Our strength is that we bat right down the order. But I thought he (Moeen) batted really well," said Morgan.

- England made to sweat -

The Afghan slow bowlers made England sweat on a hot and sunny afternoon in the Indian capital.
Skipper Asghar Stanikzai gave the new ball to Hamza and the left-arm spinner did not disappoint, snaring dashing opener Jason Roy in the third over.

James Vince, who came into the side in place of the injured Alex Hales, then tried to counter-attack along with in-form Joe Root and they put on 26 for the second wicket.

But veteran off-spinner Mohammad Nabi's introduction reaped immediate rewards.

Vince was caught and bowled while the departure of Morgan and Root -- who was run out -- in quick succession spelt big trouble for England.

With the batting in disarray, leg-spinners Rashid Khan and Samiullah Shenwari joined the party to remind England of their humiliating 2014 World T20 exit, when they lost to the Netherlands.

But Ali's 33-ball knock, which was laced with four boundaries and a six, knocked some of the gloss off the Afghan figures.

"They played good cricket, especially Moeen Ali so they were able to take the score to 140. He played according to the situation," said Rashid.

Afghanistan's chase was dealt a severe blow after destructive opener Mohammad Shahzad (four) was trapped lbw off David Willey with the third ball of the innings.

Willey and new-ball partner Chris Jordan kept up the pressure, with dangermen Stanikzai (1) and Gulbadin Naib (0) dismissed.

The minnows slipped further after spin was introduced as Moeen and Adil Rashid struck to give Afghanistan a taste of their own medicine.

The Afghans were never in the mix after being reduced to 39-5 as England gained control.

Shenwari (22) and Shafiqullah (35 not out) tried to breathe some life into the chase with a few lusty blows in the finale but could do little to alter the outcome.

England are second in the Super 10 group table after two straight wins, while Afghanistan remain bottom of the heap.
Source: AFP