India beat Afghanistan by 66 runs with the help of Rohit Sharma (74), KL Rahul (69), Rishabh Pant (27) and Hardik Pandya (35). Rohit Sharma became player of the match.
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| India beat Afghanistan by 66 runs (Photo:-t20worldcup) |
India beat Afghanistan by 66 runs with the help of Rohit Sharma (74), KL Rahul (69), Rishabh Pant (27) and Hardik Pandya (35). India made 210/2 runs in 20 overs and Afghanistan could make only 144/7 runs in 20 overs. India’s bowlers also performed good in the match. Mohammad Shami took 3 wickets and Ravichandran Ashwin took 2 wickets. India’s overall performance was very good in the match which led India to win.
Earlier, Afghanistan won the toss and decided to bowl first. In the last match, India had come with the new opening pair of Ishan Kishan and KL Rahul and that proved not very good. But in this match India came with their perfect openers KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma. They didn’t disappointed the Indian fans this time and helped in scoring good runs for India.
Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul both gave good start to India. Both the players started playing great shots from the very beginning. They did great use of powerplay. They both made the partnership of 140 runs which becomes a record for the Indian team.
India’s first wicket fell in the 15th over as Rohit Sharma at the score of 140. Rohit Sharma made 74 runs in 47 balls with the help of 8 fours and 3 sixes. Mohammad Nabi took his catch on the bowl of Karim Janat. Rohit’s previous two matches didn’t prove good for him but this match boosts his confidence.
KL Rahul made good partnership with Rohit. He made 69 runs in 48 balls with the help of 6 fours and 2 sixes. Both Rahul and Rohit were hitting huge shots even to the top bowler of Afghanistan Rashid Khan. Gulbadin Naib took the wicket of KL Rahul. He was trying to hit the shot backside but he missed the ball and ball hit the wickets.
Rishabh Pant came on the third place. Two times Rishabh saved from lbw on the bowl of Rashid Khan. Then, Rishabh hit two straight consecutive sixes. After Rahul and Rohit’s good start, Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya did good finish. They both made the partnership of 63 runs in just 21 balls*.
Rishabh Pant made 27 runs in 13 balls not out with the help of a four and 3 sixes. Hardik Pandya made 35 runs in 13 balls* with the help of 4 fours and 2 sixes. India made total (210/2) runs in 20 overs.
Then, Afghanistan came on the field to achieve a big target of 211 runs. Afghanistan’s opener Mohammad Shahzad was dismissed by Mohammad Shami at duck. Shardul Thakur took the catch of Hazratullah Zazai on the bowl of Jasprit Bumrah and sent him to pavilion.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz hit some great shots but Hardik Pandya took his great catch from the boundary on the bowl of Ravindra Jadeja. India’s Ravichandran Ashwin did a great comeback for India by taking two wickets in 4 overs. He dismissed Gulbadin Naib by lbw and clean bowled Najibullah Zadran.
Afghanistan’s captain Mohammad Nabi and Karim Janat made 50 runs partnership for 6th wicket. In the 19th over, Mohammad Shami took the wickets of Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan. Karim Janat showed some cameo and made 42 runs in 22 balls. Afghanistan could make (144/7) runs in 20 overs and India won by 66 runs.
Mohammad Shami took 3 wickets, Ravichandran Ashwin 2 wickets and Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja took 1-1 wickets for India. India’s overall performance was very good in the match whether it is batting or bowling which led India to win.