Afghanistan ramped up the expectation on themselves in their first World Cup, after beating United Arab Emirates by 14 runs in their final warm-up game.
Both Afghanistan and UAE had lost their first warm-ups – to India and Australia respectively – but nevertheless produced 602 runs between them at Melbourne's Junction Oval today with the former reaching 308 for nine.
Afghanistan struggled to get going with the bat after winning the toss, but a fourth-wicket stand of 59 between Asghar Stanikzai and Samiullah Shenwari rescued them.
Shenwari scored 58 and also compiled a 65-run stand with Najibullah Zadran.
Amjad Javed picked four wickets for UAE, while late scoring from the likes of Mirwais Ashraf and Gulbodin Naib boosted the Afghanistan total.
UAE enjoyed a comfortable start primarily thanks to Andri Berenger and Krishna Chandran – who scored 39 and 49 respecively – but they limped to 253 for seven after Aftab Alam’s useful spell with the ball.
Rohan Mustafa led the rally late on for UAE with a brisk 24 but his dismissal in the 47th over, meant Alam had the simple task of despatching Saqlain Haider for his third wicket and end UAE’s chase at 294.