| ICC Males’s Cricket World Cup 2023, Delhi: |
| Afghanistan 272-8 (50 overs): Hashmatullah 80 (88), Azmatullah 62 (69); Bumrah 4-39 |
| India 273-2 (35.0 overs): Rohit 131 (84), Kohli 55 (56) |
| India gained by eight wickets |
| Scorecard. Desk |
Captain Rohit Sharma’s scintillating century sprinted India to an emphatic eight-wicket World Cup defeat of Afghanistan in Delhi.
Rohit crunched a glowing 131 from 84 balls earlier than India reached their goal of 273 with 15 overs to spare.
Hashmatullah Shahidi made 80 to place Afghanistan on the right track for a more difficult goal, however Jasprit Bumrah’s 4-39 had them finish on 272-8.
It’s a second defeat in two video games for Afghanistan, whereas India have two wins.
The hosts be a part of New Zealand and Pakistan in having an ideal report after two video games and now play their fierce rivals Pakistan in essentially the most anticipated match of the event in Ahmedabad on Saturday.
Afghanistan keep in Delhi to fulfill defending champions England on Sunday.
File-breaking Rohit places on a present
Rohit was the main runscorer on the final World Cup in 2019, however missed out on a rating in India’s opening win over Australia.
This, although, was an superior and record-breaking knock that bulldozed a surprised Afghanistan assault.
His seventh World Cup ton is a report, beating the six of India legend Sachin Tendulkar.
In reaching three figures from 63 balls he scored the quickest hundred by an Indian at a World Cup, beating a well-known 72-ball effort by Kapil Dev at Tunbridge Wells in 1983. Rohit’s third six was his 554th in all worldwide cricket, going previous the earlier better of West Indies’ Chris Gayle.
It was an innings easy in its class, savage in its clean-hitting. When Afghanistan dropped brief, Rohit snapped into pull pictures. Once they had been too full, he drove by way of or over the off aspect. In a century opening stand, Ishan Kishan contributed simply 14.
When Kishan supplied a vanguard on 47, it ended the partnership of 156, permitting Virat Kohli so as to add one other 49 with Rohit.
Rohit finally fell to his first ugly stroke, a wild sweep at Rashid Khan, however by then solely 68 had been wanted.
Kohli ended on 55 not out to comply with his 85 in opposition to Australia, India wanting ominous to each different staff within the event.
Bettering Afghanistan outclassed
Afghanistan had been woefully wanting their greatest in a one-sided defeat by Bangladesh however right here confirmed indicators they will compete because the event progresses.
Skipper Hashmatullah added 121 for the fourth wicket with Azmatullah Omarzai. Left-hander Hashmatuallh performed deft glances to 3rd man, Azmatullah belted the ball down the bottom.
With Afghanistan 184-3 within the thirty fifth over, India had been exhibiting indicators of desperation earlier than Azmatullah was bowled by a Hardik Pandya slower ball for 62.
The innings stalled and wickets fell often, most crucially when Hashmatullah was leg earlier than sweeping the left-arm wrist spin of Kuldeep Yadav. With Bumrah at his potent greatest, Afghanistan might add solely 83 within the ultimate 15 overs.
The overall was by no means more likely to problem India, particularly because the dew underneath the floodlights made batting simpler.
Nonetheless, nearly no goal might have defended given the sensible show of Rohit. Afghanistan curiously held again star leg-spinner Rashid till the fifteenth over, by which era a lot of the harm had been finished.
In reality, nothing was going to cease the outstanding Rohit.
‘An extended approach to go’ – response
Participant of the match, India captain Rohit Sharma: “It’s all the time particular to attain 100 in a World Cup.
“I do not wish to take into consideration data an excessive amount of. There’s a lengthy approach to go and I do not wish to lose my focus.
“It is vitally vital to get momentum at first and have the profitable streak proceed.”
Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi: “We had a goal of 300+ in these circumstances, particularly as India’s batting line-up is powerful. However back-to-back wickets value us.
“We’ll try to be taught from our errors and are available again with a optimistic angle.”