Batsman David Warner relished a successful return to international cricket, after striking an unbeaten half-century in victory over Afghanistan in Saturday’s World Cup fixture in Bristol.

Warner, who recently returned from an international cricket suspension after last year’s involvement in the ball-tampering saga that marred Australia’s Test tour of South Africa, welcomed a first ODI in over 16 months.

The left-hander gathered an 18th and slowest 50 from 74 deliveries – and ended with 89 not out in 114. His stay featured eight fours and no sixes – and ensured the successful pursuit of a 208-run target with 91 balls to spare.

‘I think it was just nerves getting back into the camp, and getting back into the full intensity of training,’ said Warner.

‘The way that I started out there – playing Twenty20 cricket over the last sort of 12 to 14 months – I hadn’t really moved my feet at all. So to get back into rhythm out there, start moving in the right direction, getting my head over the ball – that was just great to get out there and do that.’

The left-hander shared a 96-run partnership with fellow opening batsman and captain Aaron Finch, who was eventually dismissed for 66 from 49.

‘I was a little bit more relaxed when Finch started going. I think he was struggling for the first half of his innings there. He struggled to time the ball and his feet weren’t really going, so the fact that he kept hanging in there and hanging in there, you always have to remember that it’s going to be harder for a new batter to come in,’ he added.

‘So that was great for him, to just keep on and do that job really well for us and be not out at the end.’

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