DELHI: Jasprit Bumrah returned with figures of 4-39 before Rohit Sharma scored a quickfire century and lifted India to a thumping eight-wicket victory over Afghanistan in their second ICC World Cup 2023 match. Chasing 273, India comfortably knocked the winning runs for the loss of just two wickets and 90 balls to spare. Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan gave the hosts a flying start with an impeccable 156-run partnership.

Sharma dominated the opening stand by thrashing the Afghan bowlers and soon brought up his century in just 63 balls. Afghanistan then finally found a moment to cherish in the 19th over when their star spinner Rashid Khan got rid of Ishan Kishan, who scored a run-a-ball 47 with the help of five boundaries and two sixes. Sharma was then joined by Virat Kohli at the crease and the two veterans added 49 runs to the total together before Rashid struck again to dismiss the Indian captain. Rohit Sharma remained the top-scorer for India with 131 in 84 balls, laced up with 16 boundaries and five sixes. Kohli took charge of India’s pursuit after Rohit’s dismissal and comfortably led India over the line in just 35 overs, courtesy of an unbeaten half-century.

He scored 55 in 56 deliveries, hitting six boundaries. For Afghanistan, only Rashid Khan picked two wickets while the rest went wicketless. Bumrah provided India their first breakthrough in the seventh over at a total of 32 after Afghanistan opted to bat first.

Rahmat Shah and Rahmanullah helped Afghanistan to reach 63 with a brief 31-run stand before both batters fell within three deliveries. With two new batters on the crease, India appeared to be in a dominant position however, Afghanistan batters counter-attacked to pull their team out of trouble. Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi and allrounder Azmatullah Omarzai responded with a solid 121-run partnership for the fourth wicket, with batters reaching half-centuries.

Hardik Pandya broke the stand when he bowled Omarzai at the score of 184-4. Omarzai scored 62 off 69 with the help of two boundaries and four sixes. Shahidi stood his ground and was involved in a 41 partnership with Mohammad Nabi before Kuldeep Yadav trapped him in front of the stumps.

Shahidi top-scored for Afghanistan with an anchoring 82 off 88, featuring eight boundaries and one six. Jasprit Bumrah then returned to attack to dismiss Mohammad Nabi and Najibullah Zadran in the same over, reducing Afghanistan to 235-7.

Published in The Daily National Courier, October, 12 2023

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