India vs Afghanistan LIVE: Mohammad Shami steers side clear of shock World Cup defeat
Afghanistan were close to producing one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history
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Your support makes all the difference.Mohammed Shami's final-over hat-trick broke Afghanistan hearts as India sealed an 11-run World Cup win at Southampton.
Mohammad Nabi's smart 52 had Afghanistan eyeing the greatest-ever World Cup upset, only for Shami to send him packing - then clean bowl Aftab Alam and Mujeeb Ur Rahman in the next two balls.
Shami's four for 40 and Jasprit Bumrah's two for 39 delivered a bowling masterclass to allow India to defend their paltry 224 for eight from their full 50 overs.
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Welcome
Hello and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of India vs Afghanistan.
Anyone fancy Afghanistan to do something here? No? Thought not.
India won the toss and chose to bat
Kohli demands 'precise performance'
India captain Virat Kohli: "It looks like a really good wicket - nice and hard. It's a beautiful day to play cricket so let's try and score lots of runs. Our mindset is always the same, regardless of the opposition. We can't take a side like Afghanistan lightly. We'll have to be on our A game and put in another precise performance."
Afghanistan captain Gulbadin Naib: "It doesn't matter win the toss or lose it is a long day. I am happy with batting (vs England). It is a good thing we played out 50 overs."
Afghanistan conceded 397 runs against England and they could be in for more of the same as Sharma and Rahul stroll onto the pitch ready to begin.
Mujeeb to open the bowling.
1.0 India 3-0 KL Rahul 2 Rohit Sharma 1
The ball appears to be skipping up from the pitch fairly slowly as Rohit and Rahul push away Mujeeb for a few of singles.
2.0 India 6-0 KL Rahul 5 Rohit Sharma 1
Aftab Alam goes for three as Rahul pushes one through point for two then ends with a single. Good runnnig from the two in the middle.
3.0 India 7-0 KL Rahul 6 Rohit Sharma 1
Very nice bowling from Mujeeb to keep India to just one single in his second over. Five dots to Sharma when he's in this kind of form is some shift.
4.0 India 7-0 KL Rahul 6 Rohit Sharma 1
Maiden over from Aftab Alam.
Of course, we shouldn't be surprsed by India's low-scoring start.
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