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World T20 Today: Shahzad's super work

Your daily look at the 2016 ICC World T20 featuring the best highlights, pics, tweets, stats and more

LAST NIGHT

Sri Lanka claimed the win but Afghanistan proved - once again - they're not just here in the Super 10 stage to make up numbers.

Report & Highlights: Sri Lanka too good for Afghanistan

It had started to look that way in the early stages as they lost four cheap wickets early on, but inspired by captain Asghar Stanikzai who dug deep to dig his side out of trouble, the Afghanis added 102 runs in the final nine overs to set Sri Lanka a competitive target of 154.

WATCH: Afghans power their way to 153

Tillakaratne Dilshan set about undoing all their good work, but Sri Lanka's run chase was not without drama and unsurprisingly, cult hero Mohammad Shahzad was at the centre of much of it.

His send off for Thirimanne after he was bowled by the teenage leggie Rashid Khan may yet cost him some of his match fee but his run-out in the 13th over was a fine piece of work.

WATCH: Shahzad in fine form behind the stumps

Sadly for Afghanistan, their fielding let them down at crucial times, with a dozen or more runs gifted by simple misfields that conceded boundaries to allow Sri Lanka breathing space and make a six wicket win a comfortable one.

TWEET OF THE NIGHT

Sri Lanka's new selector seems pleased with his side's early work.

PIC OF THE NIGHT

Image Id: ~/media/8E6E2B6179484370A3EBD9D1A35C544D Image Caption: Sami Shenwari ends up on his back, but his unorthodox shot landed him four runs // Getty

TONIGHT'S MATCHES

It's the one Australians have been waiting for; Steve Smith's men are finally in action tonight, beginning their World T20 campaign against New Zealand in Dharamshala. Coverage is live and in HD on free-to-air television on Nine's Wide World of Sports from 8pm.

The second part of a fantastic double-header sees South Africa take on England at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium.

England are desperate for a win after they were blown away by Chris Gayle in their tournament opener on Wednesday night, while this will be South Africa's first match in Group 1. 

AUSTRALIA'S MEN

Australia's captain Steve Smith says the entire squad will need to be able to adapt to the conditions and game scenarios on the fly during the tournament, starting with their opening match against the Black Caps.

Quick Single: Aussies willing to risk injured players

And Smith says there is no plan A, or B, or C in T20 cricket. Instead, the 26-year-old skipper just backs his instincts.

WATCH: Final preparations for tournament opener

"Being flexible for the conditions that we’re going to be faced with (is vital), and it might be playing one side here (in Dharamshala) and in Bangalore it might be completely different conditions and we might put out a completely different side," Smith said.

"So I think this tournament is going to take all 15 of us if we want to get to the end and be successful.

"And we have to be adaptable and flexible with our plans and teams that we pick."

Quick Single: Aussie allrounders battle for Finisher role

Part of that adaptation may well be in the hands of the weather gods, with forecast rain raising the possibility of a shortened match.

AUSTRALIA'S WOMEN

The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars spinners are licking their lips after watching New Zealand's slow bowlers take India to task in their men's WICC orld T20 clash in Nagpur earlier this week.

Quick Single: Aussies looking for spin to win

The Southern Stars kick off their campaign at the same venue – the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium – on Friday night against South Africa, and off-spinner Erin Osborne says Australia's tweakers are keen to see if they can produce the same sort of turn that saw Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi and Nathan McCullum snare nine wickets as India were skittled for 79.

WATCH: Southern Stars gear up for South Africa

"I did manage to watch that game and as a spin bowler I was pretty happy with the conditions," Osborne said on the eve of Australia's opening match.

"I don't know if we'll get a similar pitch to the one that they played on that night, but hopefully we will and our spinners can take full advantage of it."

POINTS TABLES

MOST RUNS

BEST STRIKE-RATE

MOST WICKETS

BEST ECONOMY RATE

SERIES STATS

INNINGS OF THE TOURNAMENT

England thought their 182 in Mumbai was about par. Chris Gayle made it look decidedly short. The big-hitting Jamaican smashed 11 sixes, set a new world record for the number of T20 international career sixes, became the first man to score two World T20 centuries and put England's future in the tournament in grave doubt. After 48 balls, Gayle danced off a winner with an unbeaten century to his name.

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