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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Your support makes all the difference.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:
Afghanistan 70-3 (15), Shahidi 5, Azmat 2, Hardik 1-17 (4)
There should be a period of rebuilding for Afghanistan as they look to keep India at bay. Azmat takes a single but Shahidi pushes the ball down the ground and collects a couple of runs.
Shahidi pushes the ball into the legside to bring up four runs from the over. Despite the wickets, Afghanistan have been scoring pretty consistently as just under five runs an over.
Afghanistan 66-3 (14), Shahidi 2, Azmat 1, Thakur 1-16 (3)
Azmatullah Omarzai is the new batter for Afghanistan and gets off the mark with a push into the offside. More than ever now they need to build a partnership especially with two new batters at the crease.
Shahidi takes a couple from the last delivery to get his innings going as well.
Wicket! Rahmat Shah lbw Thakur Shardul 16 (22), Afghanistan 63-3 (13.1)
That’s not good for Afghanistan. Shardul Thakur gets in on the wicket taking action by targeting the stumps at the right-handed Rahmat Shah.
Rahmat misses his attempted drive and is struck on the pads. Ball-tracking shows that the ball is just clipping leg stump but as he was given out on the field Rahmat has to depart.
India have their third wicket and Afghanistan are up against it now.
Afghanistan 63-2 (13), Shahidi 0, Rahmat 16, Hardik 1-12 (3)
Afghanistan’s captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, is the new batter and brings a new dimension to the innings by being left-handed. Hardik Pandya finishes off his over with a couple of dot balls.
Wicket! Rahmanullah Gurbaz ct Shardul Thakur b Hardik Pandya 21 (28), Afghanistan 63-2 (12.4)
Gone!
Hardik Pandya has a wicket. He bangs a short one in at Rahmanullah Gurbaz who can’t help but take it on. A pull shot into the air sails down to fine leg where Shardul Thakur is waiting.
He takes the catch, releases the ball, skips over the boundary rope then nips back in to complete the catch. Afghanistan are two down.
Afghanistan 63-1 (12.3), Gurbaz 21, Rahmat 16, Hardik 0-12 (2.3)
Four more! Hardik Pandya angles the ball into Rahmat Shah’s legs and the batter eases the ball away to the boundary at fine leg. That’s a good shot and Rahmat seems to be getting into the flow of the game.
A prob into the offside brings him another run leaving Gurbaz four deliveries to face in the over...
Afghanistan 58-1 (12), Gurbaz 21, Rahmat 11, Thakur 0-13 (2)
Bang! Rahmat Shah gets into the action with nicely worked pull shot that flies away to the boundary. Thakur’s response is a sharp bouncer but it’s too high and gets signalled as a no-ball.
Rahmat faces up to a free hit but Thakur sends down a wide. The next attempt is a low full toss that Rahmat drills back at the bowler. Thakur fumbles the ball and the batters sprint through for one.
Afghanistan 51-1 (11), Gurbaz 21, Rahmat 6, Hardik 0-7 (2)
Afghanistan bring up their fifty as Rahmat and Gurbaz work Hardik away for a couple of singles.
The Indian all-rounder is targeting the pads and trying to force a mistake out of the batters. Rahmat looks to push one towards mid-on and chips the ball short of the fielder there which keeps the Indians interested.
Another wicket here will halt Afghanistan’s progress. They really need a lengthy partnership to set up a big score. Rahmat scrambles through for one to end the over.
Afghanistan 48-1 (10), Gurbaz 20, Rahmat 4, Thakur 0-6 (1)
There’s a bowling change at both ends as Shardul Thakur comes into the attack. He’s a medium pace seamer that has replaced Ravichandran Ashwin for this match.
Three tight dot balls start Thakur off well but a loose, short and wide delivery is pounced on by Gurbaz who smokes a pull shot over the legside and dispatches the ball into the stands for six!
Afghanistan are ticking along a little under five runs per over as the first powerplay comes to an end.
Afghanistan 42-1 (9), Gurbaz 14, Rahmat 4, Hardik 0-4 (1)
Rohit Sharma decides the time is right for a change of bowling. Hardik Pandya comes into the attack. He took a knock to the finger against Australia on Sunday and struggled to find some rhythm, can he do better today?
A short ball is latched on by Gurbaz who cuts Pandya through the infield and collects four runs. Hardik tightens up his line and keeps Gurbaz glued to the crease.
One of the deliveries hits the Afghanistan opener on the pads but the ball is angling down the legside and the umpire turns down the appeals.
A legbye into the legside brings another single before Rahmat sees out the final ball of Hardik’s opening over.
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