| 4.2 : 4.2: Ur Rahman to R Sharma, OUT! TIMBER! Mujeeb strikes! The tight bowling early on has paid dividends. Huge wicket this as Rohit was in top form in this World Cup. An absolute peach to get rid of him. Mujeeb goes wide of the crease and angles it into the batter. Rohit plays for the original trajectory but it pitches and holds its line, beats the outside edge and hits the off pole. The Afghanistan players are delighted. Just the start they would have wanted after being asked to bowl first. |
| 5.2: A Alam to KL Rahul, FOUR! First boundary for India. A lovely shot by Rahul. Back of a length ball on off, Rahul stands tall and guides it through cover-point. It is in the gap and once it beats the fielder in the ring, it is going to race away. |
| 5.5 : 5.5: A Alam to KL Rahul, EDGED! It goes between the keeper and the fielder at second slip! FOUR! They just moved him to second slip and they would now be ruining on that move. This lands around off and then straightens. Rahul ends up playing inside the line, the ball goes off the outside edge and through the vacant first slip region for a boundary. |
| 7.4 : 7.4: A Alam to V Kohli, FOUR! Poor ball and put away! Alam drifts it on the pads, Kohli is too strong over there, he flicks it behind square and the ball races away to the fence. |
| 7.5 : 7.5: A Alam to V Kohli, FOUR! Now through the off side! Consecutive boundaries! This time there is width offered outside off, Kohli punches it off the back foot, finds the gap through cover-point and it races away. |
| 10.6 : 10.6: Ur Rahman to V Kohli, FOUR! Poor ball and it spoils the over completely! A full toss down the leg side, Kohli flicks it fine and it races to the fine leg fence. |
| 14.2 : 14.2: M Nabi to KL Rahul, OUT! Nabi strikes! Rahul looks to innovate but it does not come off. Such shots are wonderful when they come off but ugly when they don't. Rahul looks to play the reverse sweep but Nabi bowls it slower and gets some extra bounce on it. The ball goes off the top edge and it balloons to the fielder at short third man. Zazai there takes a dolly. A much-needed wicket for Afghanistan as the two were looking in control and the partnership was starting to look threatening. |
| 19.1 : 19.1: R Khan to V Kohli, FOUR! Not the start Rashid would have wanted, especially after his previous game. He serves a half volley outside off, Kohli caresses it through covers, no chance for the long off fielder too. Boundary to welcome Rashid into the attack. |
| 22.1: R Shah to V Shankar, FOUR! Another leggie is welcomed into the attack with a boundary! Tossed up ball landing full outside off, Vijay gets on the front foot and drills his drive through extra cover. Nabi moves across to his left from long off, puts in a dive but fails to stop it cleanly. Ends up pushing it towards the rope. 100 up for India! |
| 24.3 : 24.3: R Shah to V Shankar, FOUR! Lovely shot! Shankar does play that shot well. Shah floats it a little too full outside off, Shankar stays leg side of the ball and lofts it over covers for a boundary. Also, the 50-run stand is up and this one is a good one for India. It has come up in good pace. Needs to continue though. |
| 25.6 : 25.6: R Khan to V Kohli, FOUR! The last ball spoils the over! This is down the leg side and it is short, easy pickings for a batsman of Kohli's caliber. He whips it through backward square leg and the ball races to the fence. |
| 26.1 : 26.1: R Shah to V Shankar, OUT! Umpire's call and Vijay Shankar is out of here! He can't make use of the start he got. A good decision in the end by Aleem Dar. The idea to continue with Shah has paid off. He lands this around the leg stump and gets it to straighten. Shankar looks to sweep but misses to get hit on the pads. The umpire has his finger up immediately as soon as the bowler puts in the appeal. Shankar reviews after a chat with his skipper. Replays roll in and they show the ball to be |
| 30.3 : 30.3: M Nabi to V Kohli, OUT! Virat Kohli is dismissed. Mohammad Nabi has hit the jackpot with this prized scalp. He delivers a short ball around off, too close to cut but the Indian skipper still goes for it. He flashes his bat hard but only to edge it down towards short third man. Rahmat Shah, stationed there, moves across a little to his left and then goes down low to take the catch safely. Disappointment writ large over Kohli's face as he returns to the pavilion. India in a bit of trouble no |
| 36.5 : 36.5: R Khan to K Jadhav, FOUR! India will hope that breaks the shackles! A welcome boundary for India. Jadhav premeditated this stroke. He goes down on one knee early, hits the slog sweep against the turn and bags a boundary at mid-wicket. One after 64 balls. |
| 37.1 : 37.1: G Naib to MS Dhoni, FOUR! Hammered! Welcome back into the attack, Naib. A hit-me ball to begin with. Short and it is the slower one outside off, Dhoni waits for it and then clobbers it through covers for one. |
| 39.4 : 39.4: G Naib to MS Dhoni, FOUR! Poor, poor ball at that pace! It is halfway down the track, it just won't trouble Dhoni. He goes back and smashes it through backward square leg and it races to the fence. Second boundary conceded in this spell by Naib. |
| 42.2 : 42.2: A Alam to K Jadhav, FOUR! Bad ball with fine leg up! Short and on the body, Jadhav helps it on its way, over that fielder and into the fence. 6 from the first two balls. |
| 42.5 : 42.5: A Alam to MS Dhoni, FOUR! One bounce and into the boundary! Full and outside off, this is right in the arc of Dhoni. He lofts it over the mid off fielder and bags a boundary. Second in the over. |
| 44.3 : 44.3: R Khan to MS Dhoni, OUT! STUMPED! Dhoni is out of here! Big, big wicket in the context of the game. Rashid Khan gets his first and it is an important one. Dhoni finally decides to take on a spinner, he comes down the track but does not get to the pitch of it. Still swings hard but it turns away. Misses the bat and Ikram makes no mistake behind. |
| 45.2 : 45.2: A Alam to K Jadhav, FOUR! Too easy! Down the leg side, Jadhav says thank you very much and works it past short fine leg for a boundary. India would want a lot more here. |
| 45.5 : 45.5: A Alam to K Jadhav, SIX! Just about carries! Brings up the 200 for India in style! On the fuller side and Jadhav takes a few steps down the track, makes it into a half volley and just extends his arms. It goes just over the long on fence. |
| 48.4 : 48.4: A Alam to H Pandya, OUT! Another wicket for Afghanistan! The short slower one on middle, Pandya looks to upper cut it but has no pace to work with. It takes a feather and goes into the gloves of the keeper. Afghanistan have a realistic chance of restricting India under 230 now. |
| 49.3 : 49.3: G Naib to M Shami, OUT! BOWLED 'EM! You miss, I hit! Slower one and on the stumps, Shami is way too early in the swing, he misses and the leg stump is disturbed. Three runs and a wicket from the first half of the last over. |
| 49.5 : 49.5: G Naib to K Jadhav, OUT! Second wicket in the over for Naib! Once again an Indian batter falls to a slower one. This is bowled very slow. Jadhav dances down the track and looks to go over covers but does not get the desired elevation. Noor Ali Zadran, the substitute, takes it in the second attempt. |
| 3.3 : 3.3: J Bumrah to H Zazai, EDGY FOUR! Afghanistan won't mind though. Good length and around off, angling away. Zazai looks to defend but the ball flies off the outside edge, past the diving Kohli at second slip and races to the third man fence. First boundary of the bat. |
| 6.3: M Shami to H Zazai, OUT! KABOOM! Shami gets his man! Just poor, very poor shot selection, that has been the case throughout for the Afghanistan openers, they have been lucky so far but this time, Zazai's luck runs out. Shami goes slightly fuller and around middle, Zazai once again looks to heave it across the line but the ball does not bounce as much as he expected it to and the stumps are shattered. India get an early breakthrough. Another failure for Zazai. 206 needed in 261. |
| 10.3: Y Chahal to R Shah, FOUR! Good attempt in the field but it goes in vain. Short and around middle, Shah is quickly onto his back foot. He pulls it over mid-wicket. Kuldeep from long on runs to his right, dives and pushes the ball back in. The umpires go upstairs to check if it is clean and replays show that he was in contact with the ball and the ropes at the same time. |
| 11.3: H Pandya to G Naib, FOUR! Up and over! Slightly shorter and on middle, Naib stands tall and lifts it over mid-wicket for a boundary. Pandya is leaking runs here. |
| 11.4 : 11.4: H Pandya to G Naib, FOUR! Clobbered! 50 up for Afghanistan and it has been brought up in style. He goes short again, Naib goes back and hammers it over the mid-wicket fielder for a boundary. Consecutive boundaries. India and Pandya under pressure. |
| 16.5 : 16.5: H Pandya to G Naib, OUT! In the air... taken! Excellent bowling change by Kohli. Not many, trust me, after looking at his first spell, not many would have wanted Pandya to bowl at the moment. He though silences his critics by providing the breakthrough India needed. The short ball does the trick for him. It is outside off, Naib looks to pull but only manages a top edge which goes high up in the air towards square leg. Shankar from the deep runs in and takes a good catch. End of a budding |
| 20.6 : 20.6: H Pandya to R Shah, FOUR! Much-needed boundary! Releases some pressure. Shah comes down the track and also makes room. He crashes it through covers for a boundary. 5 from the over. Runs needed now below 150. |
| 21.2 : 21.2: K Yadav to H Shahidi, FOUR! Poor delivery and duly punished! A rank long hop on middle, Shahidi goes deep inside the crease and hammers his pull shot to the deep mid-wicket fence. |
| 24.2: Y Chahal to H Shahidi, FOUR! Finds the gap this time! Slightly shorter again and just outside off, Shahidi goes back and plays late, gets it past point and bags a welcome boundary. |
| 25.4 : 25.4: K Yadav to R Shah, FOUR! Picks his spot brilliantly! Too short by Kuldeep. Enough time for Shah to go back and pull it in between long on and mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 28.4: J Bumrah to R Shah, OUT! Superb catch by Yuzvendra Chahal! India get a lifeline here. The 42-run stand is broken and the crowd has also come back to life. Bowling short more often than not works against the Asian batsmen. Bumrah digs it in at 144 kph, nicely directed, Shah takes on the challenge to pull but fails to middle his shot. It flies off the top edge behind square leg and Chahal rushes forward and across from the deep to take a fine low catch. 119 needed more! |
| 28.6 : 28.6: J Bumrah to H Shahidi, OUT! Caught and bowled! Bumrah has turned things around and is sending jitters to the Afghan dressing room. He switches to 'round the wicket for the left-hander and delivers a back of a length ball around off. Shahidi is stuck inside the crease and plays his shot early. The face of the bat is closed when the ball arrives and it lobs back off the leading edge. Bumrah runs forward to complete the catch and throws the ball up in celebration. India have roared back into |
| 32.6: Y Chahal to M Nabi, FOUR! What a shot! Chahal slows this up in the air but lands it a touch short outside off, Nabi rocks back and cuts it through the line. Once it beats the diving point fielder, it's always going to the fence. |
| 34.1 : 34.1: Y Chahal to M Nabi, FOUR! Great start to the over! Pressure on the bowler. Less than a 100 needed now. Nabi brings out the sweep shot, hits it nicely and past the diving short fine leg fielder for a boundary. |
| 34.6 : 34.6: Y Chahal to A Afghan, OUT! TIMBER! Chahal has got the breakthrough. Once again, just when Afghanistan seemed like they were moving ahead, India strike back. Yuzvendra tosses it up on off, it is the leg spinner. Afghan looks to hit it against the turn over the leg side. He misses and the ball kisses the off pole. Half the side back in the hut for Afghanistan. 95 needed in 90 balls. |
| 38.4 : 38.4: M Shami to N Zadran, FOUR! Up and over the infield! Minimum risk with mid off up in the circle. A length delivery around off, Najibullah strides forward and lofts it over the in-ring fielder for a boundary. |
| 40.1 : 40.1: M Shami to N Zadran, FOUR! Brilliant start to Powerplay 3 for Afghanistan! A little too straight by Shami, Zadran goes back and works it through mid-wicket. No chance for the deep square leg fielder. Shami under pressure, needs to bowl the next 5 balls nicely. |
| 41.3 : 41.3: H Pandya to N Zadran, OUT! Soft, soft dismissal! Hardik Pandya strikes in his last over. Gets his second and another important wicket. He bowls the off cutter on middle, Zadran looks to flick but the ball sticks in the surface and comes slow. Najibullah ends up chipping it straight to the fielder at mid-wicket where Chahal makes no mistake. A decent innings from Zadran but he needed to continue. India though will be relieved to see the back of him as this partnership was starting to worry |
| 44.1 : 44.1: M Shami to M Nabi, FOUR! Lovely shot! Once again, a boundary of Shami's first ball of the over. Puts all the pressure on the bowler. Nabi uses his feet and coverts it into a half volley. Nabi hits it over mid off and bags a boundary. |
| 45.3 : 45.3: Y Chahal to R Khan, FOUR! Innovation at its best! That's a brilliant strike. Yes, it's risky but it has paid off. Full and around off, Rashid brings out the reverse-batted shot and nails his shot over point. |
| 45.4 : 45.4: Y Chahal to R Khan, OUT! Stumped! Beauty of a delivery. One leggie to another leggie and it's a beautiful sight, if you are an Indian fan. Nicely tossed up ball by Chahal. He serves it full and outside off, Rashid is drawn forward as tries to drive but it spins away to beat the outside edge. He has dragged his back leg outside the crease in a process as well and Dhoni needs no second invitation. 35 needed off 26 balls, this is getting close! |
| 46.3 : 46.3: J Bumrah to M Nabi, SIX! What a hit! Bumrah bangs this short and on middle, Nabi stays back and pulls it over the square leg fence for a biggie. 200 up for Afghanistan! |
| 49.1 : 49.1: M Shami to M Nabi, FOUR! Once again a boundary to begin Shami's over! Ideal start for Afghanistan. Shami misses the yorker by a little and ends up bowling a low full toss. Nabi powers it past long on for a boundary. Also, fifty up for Nabi. His 14th ODI fifty. Can he win Afghanistan this game? |
| 49.3 : 49.3: M Shami to M Nabi, OUT! There goes Nabi and there goes all the hopes of Afghanistan chasing this down. The Indian supporters and the Indian players can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Shami goes very full, Nabi looks to go over the long on fence. He though does not get under it and hence, the power is not there. It goes to Pandya who takes a good catch moving to his left. A top knock by Nabi but his effort will probably go in vain. 12 needed in 3 balls. |
| 49.4 : 49.4: M Shami to A Alam, OUT! TIMBER! Two in two for Shami. What a comeback from him after going for a boundary on the first ball. He is delighted. He punches his fist in joy. He attacks the stumps, Alam swings but misses. The furniture behind is disturbed. |
| 49.5 : 49.5: M Shami to Ur Rahman, OUT! KABOOM! Shami takes a hat-trick! Only the second Indian to take a hat-trick in the World Cup. What a comeback into the team for him! He was given the responsibility of the last over and has come out with flying colors. He keeps it simple, goes full and straight at 142 kph, right at the base of the leg stump. Mujeeb swings but misses and the ball kisses the leg pole. All smiles in the Indian camp as they WIN BY 11 RUNS! |
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