India v/s Afghanistan T20 World Cup: India Beat Afghanistan by 66 runs.
This is India’s first win of the tournament, opening their account in the group standings and pushing their Net Run Rate into a positive zone. India beat Afghanistan by 66 runs in their Super 12 match in Abu Dhabi to bag their first win of the tournament. Rohit Sharma (74) was adjudged the ‘Player of the Match’.
Finally ,after 10 days and 2 matches, the Indian team finally managed to secure their first victory of the showpiece event. They beat Afghanistan by 66 runs. In chase of 211, AFG lost two early wickets at the start of their chase as Jasprit Bumrah removed Zazai (13) and Mohammed Shami got the wicket of Mohammad Shahzad (0). However, Gurbaz and Gulbadin took the attack to the Indian bowlers to take the total to 47/2 after the powerplay. Soon after, Gurbaz was sent packing on 19 by Ravindra Jadeja. Just as Gulbadin Naib threatened to take off, he was trapped LBW plumb in front by R Ashwin. Afghanistan reached 61-4 after 10 overs.
R Ashwin, before finishing his spell with figures of 2/14 in 4 overs, cleaned up Najib as Afghanistan reached 98/5 after 16 overs. Eventually, Mohammed Shami bagged two more, en route to three wicket-haul as India restricted Afghanistan to 144/7 in 20 overs. Earlier in the first innings, India posted 210/2 in 20 overs after being asked to bat by Afghanistan. Courtesy of a flurry of boundaries unleashed by openers KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma, India posted 53/0 by the end of the first innings Powerplay.
Afghanistan bowlers pulled things back for three overs before a few timely boundaries from KL Rahul helped India post 85/0 at the halfway stage. Soon after, the duo brought up their 4th T20I century stand and Rahul also brought up another half-century. The Indian openers then went on to add 140 runs for the first wicket, a new record for India in T20Is, before Karim Janat dismissed Sharma on 74. Rahul was dismissed on 69 soon after by Gulbadin Naib but that did not deter Hardik Pandya (35*) and Rishabh Pant (27*) to put on a show. The two put on 63 runs off 21 balls to take India to the massive total.
SIX off the final ball, but Virat Kohli doesn’t care. India have won this game by 66 runs. Big win and that will do NRR a world of good. 66-run margin also means India stay alive in the tournament.