England started their title defence at the T20 World Cup with a bang as they beat minnows Afghanistan by 116 runs in a group league matchup at Colombo yesterday.
A report in the Times of India writes that England through this victory made an emphatic statement that they are all set for their title defence and also would not miss the services of their star batsmen Kevin Pietersen.
Afghanistan at one point of time were reeling at 26 for eight and in danger of crashing to the lowest T20 score ever, but Gulbodin Naib saved them the blushes with a brave 44 off 32 balls.
The report further adds on that it was not just Luke Wright's unbeaten 99 (55b, 8x4, 6x6) that served a warning to India, who are England's next opponent but also the way England's pace trio of skipper Stuart Broad, Steven Finn and Jade Dernbach will give Dhoni and his men something to ponder over.
Menawhile a report in The Hindu writes that Just one run separated Luke Wright from his maiden Twenty20 hundred.
Though the personal milestone eluded Wright, his unbeaten 99 helped placed his team on such a pedestal , that all Afghanistan could do was stand and watch.
The Asian minnows lacked the intent that they showed in the last match against India and were looking like emerging squad wilting at the slightest hint of pressure.
Wright’s belligerent knock was the cornerstone on which England based its 116-run victory over Afghanistan in a Group B match of the ICC World Twenty20 at the R. Premadasa Stadium here on Friday.
England posted 196 for five and bundled out Afghanistan for 80 in 17.2 overs.