Australia v Afghanistan: Cricket World Cup 2023 – live

Hello everybody and welcome to live OBO coverage of match 39 of the 2023 Cricket World Cup. Australia v Afghanistan will get under way in Mumbai at 2pm local time (7.30pm AEDT/8.30am GMT).

With five wins in a row, Australia have overcome a rocky start to the tournament to now be on the cusp of a spot in the knockout phase. Moreover, they seem destined to avoid the poisoned chalice that is fourth place on the group table, and a meeting with India in the semi-finals.

Australia have done all this without yet piecing everything together. For various reasons they have yet to name a first-choice XI, and the working parts of the side have not all clicked simultaneously. Depending how you look at things there is a lot more still to come from the perennial contenders, or they have ridden a fair amount of luck to this point that will eventually even itself out.

Afghanistan also remain in the mix for a semi-final berth, but with Australia today and South Africa to follow, their prospects are much dimmer. However, with four victories in the bank, this has already been a World Cup to remember, and the underdogs are already assured of a spot in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.

That should do for now, so settle in while I steer you through the pregame and first innings, after which Adam Collins will see you through to the end of play.

If you’d like to get in touch while I’m on, please fire all communication to jonathan.howcroft.casual@theguardian.com.