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 7-0 (2), Sharma 6, Kishan 0, Mujeeb 0-5 (1) need 266 runs to win
Mujeen Ur Rahman is opening up from the other end with a few slow paced spinners. Rohit Sharma twice whips him into the legside and collects two runs each time.
A push down the ground brings the Indian captain another run as he looks to settle quickly into this innings.
India 2-0 (1) Sharma 1 Kishan 0, Fazal 0-2 (1) need 271 runs to win
Sharma is off the mark first ball with a single off Fazal.
Kishan had a bit more difficulty against the Afghanistan seamer who seemed to be getting a bit of lift and movement off the surface.
Afghanistan set India 273 runs to win
And it’s almost time for the second innings to get underway...
Afghanistan set India 273 runs to win
Virat Kohli has said he will feel “awkward” playing in front of the pavilion named after him in India’s next World Cup match in Delhi.
The star batsman was referring to the venue for his country’s next game in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium, in comments made to his team mate KL Rahul.
Team India are currently in Delhi, where Kohli grew up and embarked on his journey as a cricketer, for their second match in the World Cup against Afghanistan on Wednesday.
Virat Kohli says he feels ‘awkward’ playing in front of pavilion named after him
‘Local lad is bracing himself for his homecoming’
Afghanistan set India 273 runs to win
When Sybrand Engelbrecht took the field for Netherlands’ match against New Zealand in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, only a handful of ardent cricket fans would have recognised him.
Engelbrecht had last played a competitive match back in 2016 for Western Province, a domestic cricket team in South Africa, in a three-day cup, before retiring as a professional cricketer.
He decided to use his MBA degree to move to the Netherlands and start working as an investment specialist.
But the Johannesburg-born player then did something bizarre.
He decided to return to cricket.
The Netherlands’ latest World Cup recruit had almost given up on cricket altogether
All-rounder’s name had stood out during the 2008 Under-19 world cup tournament that gave the world its first glimpse of many cricketing greats
Afghanistan set India 273 runs to win
Here’s another look at some of the stories around the cricket World Cup:
Star batter Shubman Gill is set to rejoin Team India but remains doubtful for their upcoming clash with arch-rivals Pakistan on 14 October in the Cricket World Cup 2023.
Gill, who missed India’s opening match in the World Cup against Australia after reportedly catching a fever, is expected to reach Ahmedabad on 11 October, as per media reports.
Gill did not travel with the Indian team to Delhi for their second match after their six-wicket victory over Australia and was believed to be down with dengue but this was never confirmed by the team management. The 24-year-old opening batter was taken to a hospital in Chennai for treatment but was eventually discharged after his health improved.
Shubman Gill to rejoin India ahead of WC match against Pakistan
Shubman Gill has missed India’s opening two matches in World Cup 2023
Afghanistan set India 273 runs to win
Here are some photos from the first innings:
Afghanistan set India 273 runs to win
Afghanistan have dug in and set a total, it might be far from the highest seen at the World Cup, but after their defeat to Bangladesh they have shown that they cannot be underestimated in the tournament.
During the middle period, India struggled to take the required wickets, and Hashmat and Amzat enjoyed a strong partnership that briefly threatened to lift their side towards a 300-total.
Spin will be key, especially with Afghanistan boasting Rashid Khan.
Afghanistan 272-8 (50), Naveen 9, Mujeeb 10, Siraj 0-76 (9)
Mohammad Siraj will finish off the innings for India. He starts well with a couple of dot balls before Naveen lifts him down the ground for a couple of runs.
A late cut from the batter then takes Afghanistan over 270 with a boundary. This is a good score now and will cause India a few problems during the chase.
Two more byes come from the over and Afghanistan finish on 272-8. They’ll be over the moon with that total.
Afghanistan 264-8 (49), Naveen 3, Mujeeb 10, Bumrah 4-39 (10)
Naveen-Ul-Haq is the new batter and will pick up as many runs as he can. He works Bumrah away for three.
The Indian seamer finishes with four wickets for just 39 runs in a fantastic effort for the home team. One over to go, what can Afghanistan finish on?
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