Latest Match Report – India vs Afghanistan ninth Match 2023/24
India 273 for two (Sharma 131, Kohli 55*, Rashid 2-57) beat Afghanistan 272 for 8 (Shahidi 80, Omarzai 62, Bumrah 4-39) by 8 wickets
India vs Afghanistan was one of many nearer encounters of the 2019 World Cup, however a blistering hundred from Rohit Sharma ensured there could be no double jeopardy in 2023. Any jeopardy in any respect was taken out of the sport within the first ten overs or so of the chase, when Rohit, who went previous Sachin Tendulkar for many a whole bunch on the ODI World Cup, took the assault to all Afghanistan bowlers, turning a probably difficult chase of 273 right into a internet run price boosting cakewalk. A half-century from Virat Kohli capped a near-perfect day for India as they eased to an eight-wicket win with 15 overs to spare, after a disciplined efficiency with the ball had restricted Afghanistan to a below-par complete regardless of half-centuries from Hashmatullah Shahidi and Azmatullah Omarzai.
India’s high order, Rohit included, had missed out badly towards Australia after the hosts fell to 2 for 3. At the moment, Rohit would guarantee there was to be no repeat of that. A sedate first couple of overs have been adopted by Rohit’s first boundary, and the floodgates opened. Fazalhaq Farooqi was belted over long-off for a six adopted up by a few fours. There was a repeat dose in his following Farooqi over, with Rohit rushing alongside to a lightning half-century, which he introduced up with a boundary, off 27 balls. One other couple of sixes and a boundary adopted, and by the tip of the powerplay, India had rollicked alongside to 94, the best of this event.
With Ishan Kishan content material to play a supporting function on the different finish, Rohit let his languid arms unfastened. The spinners weren’t spared; Mujeeb-ur-Rahman leaking three boundaries in 4 deliveries to the opener, and earlier than the tip of the 18th over, the inevitable Rohit hundred was up. Coming in 63 balls, it was the quickest by an Indian at an ODI World Cup; that Rohit was the one which achieved that document was not within the least stunning.
Rashid Khan eliminated Ishan Kishan on the different finish, however Rohit simply motored together with Kohli for some time. However Rashid, who got here on to bowl later than his aspect maybe wanted him, lastly cleaned him up with a flipper for 131, although by now India wanted solely to undergo the motions. Kohli’s innings was little greater than batting follow, and by the point he tonked the profitable shot again down the bottom, that internet session, and India’s win, was full.
Afghanistan had gained the toss and elected to bat first, however spent a lot of the innings enjoying too many dot balls interspersed with the occasional boundary. Jasprit Bumrah proved onerous to get away, as ever, although Mohammad Siraj got here in for some faucet, leaking 76 in 9 overs. Openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran fell cheaply, with Rahmat Shah falling to the golden arm of Shardul Thakur, leaving Afghanistan tottering at 63 for 3.
Afghanistan’s finest passage of play would comply with. Shahidi and Omarzai compiled a 121-run partnership that rendered the spinners largely ineffective, forcing Rohit to carry the quicks again sooner than he might need wished. In direction of the again finish, as each introduced up half-centuries, Afghanistan have been choosing up boundaries at will, and appeared primed for a complete in extra of 300.
As soon as Hardik Pandya cleaned up Omarzai with an off cutter, although, issues started to disintegrate. Mohammad Nabi seemed woefully out of contact, his knock of 19 off 27 robbing Afghanistan of momentum as an alternative of giving it any, and the boys that adopted may by no means fairly wrench management again. Shahidi plugged alongside, his 88-ball 80 very important in placing up a decent rating, however when he fell reverse-sweeping to Kuldeep Yadav, any hopes of 300 went up in smoke.
It left Rashid, Mujeeb and Naveed to play dainty little cameos that pushed the rating as much as the 272 they managed, however as Rohit ensured, it was a lot too little ultimately.
