2023 ODI World Cup digest: Afghanistan pull off historic victory; Australia’s hopes on a knife edge
The Males’s 2023 ODI World Cup is underway in India and runs from October 5 till November 19. Every morning we’ll spherical up the newest motion and information from the occasion and convey you the insights from our reporters on the bottom.
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Prime Story: The Nice Upset – Afghanistan deliver World Cup to life with England conquest
Afghanistan 284 (Gurbaz 80, Alikhil 58, Adil Rashid 3-42) beat England 215 (Brook 66, Rashid Khan 3-37, Mujeeb 3-51) by 69 runs
Afghanistan claimed essentially the most well-known scalp of their worldwide historical past, and within the course of supplied the primary huge shock of the 2023 World Cup, by routing England’s world champions by 69 runs in a spin-and-seam masterclass below the Delhi floodlights.
Their dominance was set in movement by a fearless show of power-hitting from the 21-year-old Rahmanullah Gurbaz, whose 80 from 57 had promised a lot extra till a run-out sawed him off in his prime. However Ikram Alikhil marshalled Afghanistan’s lower-order with a valuable half-century in his first recreation of this yr’s World Cup, whereupon they set about making a goal of 285 appear as dim and distant as England’s hopes of defending their title should now really feel.
Match evaluation: Overlook Bazball, this was Gurbazball
Rashid Khan clinches Afghanistan’s historic win in opposition to England•Getty Photographs
The ball skidded previous Mark Wooden’s bat and into the stumps, and Rashid Khan stood together with his arms outstretched, arching his again and going through the night time sky. It was a second to savour, one which can reverberate throughout Delhi, India and much past: Afghanistan had not solely crushed the world champions, however thrashed them.
This was the efficiency of a group with no worry or inhibition, attacking first with the bat after which with the ball. Afghanistan had received as soon as of their 17 earlier World Cup matches, a one-wicket victory over Scotland eight years in the past: they have been a group with nothing to lose, who gained all the things.
Amid political turmoil and humanitarian crises, India has develop into a house away from dwelling for Afghanistan. This, their most well-known night time as a sporting nation, got here in entrance of over 25,000 followers in a metropolis with a considerable Afghan diaspora. A lot of them waved Afghanistan flags and danced alongside as Afghan Jalebi performed over the PA system.
England have been on the flawed finish of some huge upsets in ICC occasions and have been shocked as soon as once more on this World Cup, by Afghanistan in Delhi. Which of those defeats was essentially the most stunning? Click on right here to vote
Should Watch: Aaron Finch on Pat Cummins
Information headlines
Match preview
Australia vs Sri Lanka, Lucknow (2pm IST; 8.30am GMT; 7.30pm AEST)
Even in a match with 9 group-stage matches which permits room for a slip up or two, you do not wish to be 0-3 early within the competitors. However that is precisely the scenario which can confront certainly one of Australia and Sri Lanka after they face off in Lucknow in what already shapes as a contest to retain real looking semi-final hopes. It has been a tricky begin for either side, however two factors on this fixture will revive perception that they will nonetheless problem for the highest 4.
Group information
Australia (possible): 1 David Warner, 2 Mitchell Marsh, 3 Steven Smith, 4 Marnus Labuschagne, 5 Josh Inglis (wk), 6 Glenn Maxwell, 7 Marcus Stoinis, 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Pat Cummins (capt), 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Josh Hazlewood
Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kusal Perera, 3 Kusal Mendis (capt, wk), 4 Sadeera Samarawickrama, 5 Charith Asalanka, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva, 7 Dunith Wellalage, 8 Chamika Karunaratne, 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Kasun Rajitha, 11 Dilshan Madushanka
Characteristic: Drained and examined – Australia’s challenges at this World Cup
It is little question a view colored by latest outcomes and the mediaperson’s tendency to hanker for shiny new issues to speak about, however there is a particular jadedness to Australia’s ODI set-up. The place another groups – India, as an illustration – have torn up their ODI template and began over greater than as soon as over the past two World Cup cycles, Australia proceed to play the best way they’ve at all times performed. They’ve an explosive line-up buttressed by a pair of busy anchors, and so they belief of their finest – which often interprets to Take a look at – quick bowlers it doesn’t matter what the situations are.
