Australia started the defence of their World Cup crown with a seven-wicket victory over Afghanistan in Bristol courtesy of a measured 89 not out off 114 balls from David Warner.
Fifteen months on from the fateful ball-tampering scandal, Warner and Steve Smith made their competitive international comebacks as Australia overhauled Afghanistan's 207 all out with 15.1 overs to spare.
Across the River Severn in Cardiff, New Zealand, beaten finalists four years ago, also got off to a flyer after thrashing Sri Lanka by 10 wickets.
Tweet of the day
Great win Australia. So good to see @davidwarner31 back in the green and gold. 89* 👏🏻👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/w7xKErV054
— Candice Warner (@CandyFalzon) June 1, 2019
The man of the moment. Warner is known for his bullish and even fearless approach to batting but there was an air of responsibility in the manner in which he refused to take the attack to Afghanistan's bowlers. Opening partner Aaron Finch instead took up the mantle with 66 from 49 balls but even the departure of the captain refused to sway Warner, who stuck to his task manfully to get the reigning champions over the line.
World Cup snapshot
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Quote of the day
The leg-spinner was asked whether the boos that have routinely greeted Warner and Smith since arriving on these shores spur on the pair. While Warner stood out against Afghanistan, Smith struck a century in a warm-up against England last week.
Stat watch
2 – Dimuth Karunaratne (Sri Lanka) is just the second player to 'carry their bat' in an ICC Cricket World Cup match, the other being Ridley Jacobs (49*) against Australia in 1999; he's only the 2nd Sri Lankan to do so in any ODI. Solo #CWC19 #NZvSL pic.twitter.com/JdQyBR8vAg
— OptaJim (@OptaJim) June 1, 2019
Karunaratne had played only one one-day international since March 2015 but he was head and shoulders the best Sri Lankan batsman on display in the Welsh capital. Sri Lanka delivered an abject performance as they were rolled out for 136 with more than 20 overs unused. The total was put into context by Martin Guptill and Colin Munro overhauling Sri Lanka's efforts in only 16.1 overs.
Top shot
Guptill thrilled those in attendance when he shovelled Jeevan Mendis over the long-on boundary and out of Sophia Gardens. It was the Kiwi opener's second maximum en route to 73 not out from only 51 balls. Opening partner Munro proved more than a capable foil with 58 from 47 balls as the Kiwis sauntered to victory.
Best ball
Afghanistan were up against it when Mitchell Starc castled Mohammad Shahzad in the first over. It was a vintage delivery, tailing back into the right-hander a touch and pitching on a fullish length to leave Afghanistan's all-time leading one-day international run-scorer groping at thin air. It proved his only breakthrough, though, with Pat Cummins and Adam Zampa each taking three wickets for Australia.
What's next?
June 2: South Africa v Bangladesh at the Oval.
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