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Yet another low scoring thriller adds spice to world cup

Sunday, June 23, 2019 • Common Sport News Comments
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Putting a big blow on the expectations the fans may have had on Rohit Sharma, He was the first to depart, Off the tenth ball he faced. With just a single to his account, Rohit Sharma was cleaned up by Mujeeb Ur Rahman in the second ball off the fifth over. Exactly 60 balls and 57 runs Apart, A needless reverse sweep attempt became fatal for KL Rahul's stint and he had to depart for 30 off 53 with just 2 fours. Nabi took this wicket, With catching credits to Zazai.

A 58 run stand between Vijay Shankar did happen at one point, Kohli was looking in fine touch and was rotating the strike as well. Yet, At 26.1 Shankar fell to the leg spin of Rahmat Shah by getting out plumb LBW for 29 off 41 with two fours. 12 runs and 4.3 overs later, Kohli attempted to cut Nabi's short ball and got out caught by Rahmat for 67(63) with 5 fours.

Although no wicket fell from the point to almost the next 14 overs and 57 runs. Yet, Dhoni and Jadhav couldn't accelerate either. Dhoni got out stumped, A rarity in his career.As rare as Only the second time in ODIs. Rashid Khan dismissed Dhoni for 28(52) 3x4. 25 runs and as many balls later, Hardik Pandya fell to Aftab Alam's bowling for 7(9)

In the last over, Afganistan's captain Naib picked up the wickets of Shami (1 of 2) and Kedhar Jadhav (52 off 69 with 3 fours and a six, The standalone six of the Indian innings as well. Mujeeb -Nabi -Rashid trio combined to pull off an effort which read 29-0-97-4 In India's 224-8, Their lowest after batting full 50 overs since 2015's match vs South Africa at Indore wherein India scored 247/9, Only 49 runs came off the last 10 overs for the loss of 4 wickets.

India, With a necessity to defend its 4th lowest total (in matches that had 45 overs or more ) in world cups, Took to the field in the second innings. At 6.2 overs, Hazratullah Zasai, Contrary to his flamboyant style of gameplay, Fell as the first wicket (To Shami ) by getting bowled out after swinging hard and connecting hardly anything. His score read 10 off 24 with a boundary. A 44 run stand between Naib and Rahmat fell apart exactly 62 balls later, As Naib's Vigil was put to an end by virtue of a top edge of a seam up delivery and a neat catch by Shankar at deep square leg. The Afghanistan captain scored 27 off 42 with 2 fours.

Rahmat carried on and stitched 36 off 63 with 3 fours. Bumrah generated a top edge and Chahal completed the specific catch at fine leg. 106/3(28.4 ) soon became 106/4(29) as Hashmatullah Shahidi was dismissed caught and bowled by Bumrah for 21(45) with two fours.

Exactly 5 overs later, Ashgar Afghan got out to Chahal, Looking to slog sweep the leggie on the 19th ball faced after scoring 8 runs. At 34, Afganistan was 130-5. 45 balls and 36 runs later, Najibullah Zadran got out to Pandya after playing a brisk knock of 21(23) with two fours. Chahal completed the catch to execute this soft dismissal.

40 runs were the target for Afganistan in the last 5 overs. When 35 runs were needed off 26 balls, Rashid got a taste of his own medicine from Chahal to get stumped by Dhoni for 14(16 ) with 1x4. Bumrah's over (47th ) yielded 8 including a six and a single for Nabi.

Nabi escaped a scare as DRS saved him off the first delivery. He got a single off the next ball. Ikram Ali the keeper made next 3 as dots and then took two off the last ball. 21 of 12, Was the equation.

Bumrah Penultimate over had only 5 runs coming off it. Hence 16 was needed of Shami's last over. Nabi smacked a boundary off the first ball towards long off. He did not run off the next. The 3rd ball again Went straight in the air. Yet, Pandya ran across and pouched it at long on. Nabi's masterclass of 52(55) 4x4 1x6 came to an end.

In came Aftab Alam and got cleaned up as the 9th wicket! Shami did the same to Mujeeb to register the second hat trick by an Indian in World cups. 10th hat trick overall in world cups

India registered a thrilling victory by 11 runs to eliminate Afganistan out of the series. Jasprit Bumrah was chosen as the player of the match.

Match Facts

#INDvsAFG #Southampton

#CWC2019

India opts to bat.

India (Playing XI): Lokesh Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli(c), Vijay Shankar, MS Dhoni(w), Hardik Pandya, Kedar Jadhav, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah

Mohammed Shami in for Bhuvaneshwar Kumar

Afghanistan (Playing XI): Hazratullah Zazai, Gulbadin Naib(c), Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Asghar Afghan, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Ali Khil(w), Najibullah Zadran, Rashid Khan, Aftab Alam, Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Hazratullah and Aftab Alam : In

Noor Ali Zadran and Dawlat Zadran : Out

- Kumaran Kumanan

Images Courtesy : ICC BCCI

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