David Warner scored an unbeaten 89 in his first major international appearance since a year-long ban for his role in a ball-tampering scandal as champions Australia launched their World Cup defence with a seven-wicket thrashing of Afghanistan in Bristol on Saturday. Afghanistan's total of 207 all out, made following captain Gulbadin Naib's surprising decision to bat first at Bristol on Saturday, never looked like troubling Australia.
Former Australia captain Steve Smith, who was also given a 12-month ban for his part in the ball-tampering affair in South Africa, made 18 before being dismissed just three runs shy of a victory completed with 91 balls to spare.