CRICKET:Luke Wright's unbeaten 99 got England's defence of their ICC World Twenty20 crown off to a perfect start in last night's record 116-run trouncing of Afghanistan at the Premadasa Stadium.
Wright crunched eight fours and six sixes from only 55 balls, and became the second Englishman this year to miss out on his country’s first Twenty20 century by just a single run.
He powered England to 196 for five, overwhelming any prospect of a successful Afghanistan chase as the minnows folded to 80 all out in reply.
It was down only to number eight Gulbodin Naib’s 44 that they bettered by 13 runs the lowest-ever score by any international team in this sprint format.
England are therefore assured of a place in the Super Eight stages, irrespective of how they fare back at the Premadasa Stadium on Sunday against India — who have also qualified after their own opening Group A victory over Afghanistan.
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