India vs Afghanistan LIVE: Cricket World Cup 2023 result and reaction as Virat Kohli 50 leads hosts to victory
The hosts aim to win consecutive matches after defeating Australia in their opening game
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India cruised to victory in their second Cricket World Cup match thanks to a stomping innings for captain Rohit Sharma. Chasing 273 to secure a second successive victory of the tournament, Sharma got the hosts off to a flying start, dispatching the ball to all parts as India scored at 9.4 runs per over for the first 10.
He was ably backed up by Ishan Kishan (47) but Sharma stole the show, breaking Chris Gayle’s record for most international sixes hit and becoming the first batter in Cricket World Cup history to record seven centuries in the competition. Kishan’s dismissal brought Virat Kohli to the crease and he received a warm welcome from the crowd.
Kohli, playing second fiddle to Sharma who was eventually bowled for 131, settled quickly and looked determined to lead India over the line having failed to do so against Australia last time out. He notched up a calm and composed 55*, his second half-century of the tournament as India won with 15 overs to spare.
Earlier in the day a total in the vicinity of 300 looked well within Afghanistan’s but a clutch of wickets fell towards the end to leave them short on a batting friendly track. Jasprit Bumrah was pick of the Indian bowlers claiming 4-39.
Relive the action from India vs Afghanistan below plus get all the latest odds and tips for the <strong><em>Cricket World Cup</em></strong> right here:
India beat Afghanistan by eight wickets
India 273-2 (35), Shreyas 25, Kohli 55, Azmat 0-34 (4), India win by eight wickets
Shreyas does Kohli a favour and takes one from the next ball to bring Kohli back on strike. He pulls away a short ball and takes two this time to bring up another World Cup half-century!
And that’ll do it!
Kohli smokes the ball back over the bowler’s head for four runs and takes India over the line, finishing 55 not out in the process.
India 266-2 (34.3), Shreyas 24, Kohli 47, Azmat 0-27 (3,3) need 7 runs to win
Virat Kohli punches Azmatullah Omarzai through the offside to earn himself four runs. The next ball he dances underneath a bouncer before working the third ball of the over down the ground for one.
Seven to win...
India 261-2 (34), Shreyas 24, Kohli 44, Fazal 0-50 (6) need 12 runs to win
Fazal continues after drinks with India looking to finish this match off as quickly as possible. Shreyas takes one to leave Kohli five balls in the over.
Can he bring up a half-century?
He tries with a couple of heavy hits that find the fielders then decides to take a single with a guided push to third man.
Four! Shreyas pulls a soft, short ball to the boundary for four. India need 12 to win.
India 255-2 (33), Shreyas 19, Kohli 43, Mujeeb 0-64 (8) need 18 runs to win
That’s six of them! Shreyas Iyer smashes Mujeeb Ur Rahman into the stands for a maximum. India’s 250 also comes up with that shot.
Kohli flicks the ball into the legside and comes back for a couple of runs, edging his way ever closer to a fifty.
11 runs come from the over. India only need 18 more to win as the players take drinks.
India 244-2 (32), Shreyas 11, Kohli 40, Fazal 0-44 (5) need 29 runs to win
Fazalhaq Farooqi comes back into the attack targeting a couple of wickets. He come around the wicket and it worked into the legside by Shreyas.
Five singles come from the over. India require 29 runs to win.
India 239-2 (31), Shreyas 8, Kohli 38, Mujeeb 0-53 (7) need 34 runs to win
India aren’t in a hurry to knock these runs off anymore. Both batters are happy to work the ball away for singles and chip away at the total.
Just the two runs come from the over.
India 237-2 (30), Shreyas 7, Kohli 37, Rashid 2-57 (8) need 36 runs to win
Virat Kohli is backing up his 85 from the Australia game and is closing in on another half-century. He and Shreyas rotate the strike for the first three deliveries of Rashid Khan’s eighth over.
Five runs come from it. India need 36 to win.
India 232-2 (29), Shreyas 5, Kohli 34, Mujeeb 0-51 (6) need 41 runs to win
Mujeeb Ur Rahman is reintroduced into the bowling attack and gets worked into the outfield for a couple of singles. He then pings a wide down the legside with the wicketkeeper stood up.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz misses the ball behind the stumps and the ball races away for four more additional runs.
11 runs in total come from the over as Shreyas and Kohli work the ball the gaps with ease.
India 221-2 (28), Shreyas 4, Kohli 30, Rashid 2-52 (7) need 52 runs to win
Kohli pushes the ball into the gap at cover for one as Rashid Khan continues for Afghanistan. Shreyas Iyer needs a knock to ease some of the pressure on him.
Like Kohli, he knocks the ball around for one. Kohli then opens up his front hip and and whips the ball through midwicket for four runs!
Nine runs come from this over without India really trying to attack the bowling.
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