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:
India 212-2 (27), Shreyas 1, Kohli 24, Azmat 0-22 (3) need 61 runs to win
Virat Kohli’s job is to now see India over the line. They need 66 runs, sorry make that 62 as Kohli smokes Azmat away to the fence. He guides the ball to third man for a single to take anothe five runs from the over.
India 207-2 (26), Shreyas 1, Kohli 19, Rashid 2-43 (6) need 66 runs to win
Shreyas Iyer is the new batter for India. He’s off the mark immediately as the hosts take five from Rashid’s over despite losing the wicket of Sharma.
Wicket! Rohit Sharma b Rashid Khan 131 (84), India 205-2 (25.4)
Got him! Rohit Sharma drops low to sweep Rashid Khan away across the line. He misses the ball and Rashid hits. The bails are dislodged and the Indian captain has to depart for a magnificent 131.
India 205-1 (25.3), Sharma 131, Kohli 18, Rashid 1-40 (5.3) need 68 runs to win
Rashid Khan doesn’t get much of a break and comes on at the other end. His first three balls are worked away for three singles...
India 202-1 (25), Sharma 131, Kohli 16, Azmat 0-17 (2) need 71 runs to win
Azmatullah Omarzai returns to the attack with Rashid Khan getting a break. Virat Kohli whips him into the gap behind backward square leg for finds the boundary for four runs.
The 200 is up for India at the halfway stage of the innings. Kohli takes Azmat for five runs in the over, India need 71 more to win.
India 197-1 (24), Sharma 131, Kohli 11, Naveen 0-31 (5) need 76 runs to win
Naveen-Ul-Haq wants to win a personal battle with Virat Kohli. The game is quickly being taken away from Afghanistan but he’ll feel a good deal better if he can get the wicket of Kohli.
Kohli just works him away for one run and moves into double figures. Three singles come from the over.
India 194-1 (23), Sharma 130, Kohli 9, Rashid 1-39 (5) need 79 runs to win
Rashid Khan is slightly short and wide which allows Rohit Sharma to cut him away for four runs. The next ball is straight but Sharma shuffles onto the back foot and spanks him away for four more.
Six! Rashid goes full, Sharma goes big. This is insanely good batting and Sharma wants to finish this in a hurry.
The over ends with a single each for Sharma and Kohli.
India 178-1 (22), Sharma 115, Kohli 8, Naveen 0-28 (4) need 95 runs to win
India need 100 more runs from 29 overs as Naveen-Ul-Haq continues. Sharma takes him over the top and takes the seamer for four more runs.
A flick to the fielder at deep midwicket brings him one more and leaves Kohli three balls to play out. Naveen seems to be slightly sharper when bowling at the Indian great and targets the stumps more.
India 173-1 (21), Sharma 110, Kohli 8, Rashid 1-23 (4) need 100 runs to win
Virat Kohli is properly underway. His characteristic cover drive is drilled into the gap and brings him a first boundary of the innings as the crowd start to chant his name.
Four singles and a wide come from the rest of the over bringing India nine runs closer to the total.
Rohit Sharma smashes six-hitting record in international cricket
Rohit Sharma has smashed his way into the history books, becoming the player with the most sixes in all forms of international cricket.
India hosted Afghanistan in Delhi in the second match of the ICC Cricket World Cup and were set 273 to win, with Sharma opening at the top of the order.
Before the match, Rohit sat second in the list behind Chris Gayle, with 551 to the West Indian’s 553. But Delhi was witness to not one but multiple records from the Indian captain en route to his century.
Rohit Sharma smashes six-hitting record in international cricket
The Indian captain broke Chris Gayle’s record for number of sixes in international cricket
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