India practice ahead of World Cup clash with Afghanistan
India are targeting a second straight victory at the Cricket World Cup when they take on Afghanistan in Delhi. Rohit Sharma’s side overcame a tricky start to their World Cup campaign by defeating Australia by six wickets in Chennai.
Having bowled Pat Cummins’ men out for 199, the Indians slumped to two for three before they were rescued by Virat Kohli’s enterprising 85. The former captain led the way in a partnership of 165 with KL Rahul who finished 97 not out and took the hosts to victory with close to nine overs left in the innings.
Afghanistan’s first fixture saw them easily swept aside by Bangladesh. Batting first the associate nation could only muster 156 runs and Shakib Al Hasan’s men knocked off the total for the loss of just six wickets. Afghanistan will be hoping to improve on that performance today and will be buoyed by the absence of India’s star batter Shubman Gill who misses out once again due to dengue.
Follow all the updates from India vs Afghanistan below plus get all the latest odds and tips for the Cricket World Cup right here:
India vs Afghanistan
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Afghanistan 147-3 (30), Shahidi 35, Azmat 46, Siraj 0-38 (5)
Mohammed Siraj comes back into the attack and is met with a welcome from Azmatullah Omarzai who smokes him away for four runs before taking a single to get off strike.
Not to be undone Shahidi dispatches Siraj to the boundary and ends the over with a single. 10 runs come from it in total.
Mike Jones11 October 2023 11:51
Afghanistan 137-3 (29), Shahidi 30, Azmat 41, Bumrah 1-15 (6)
The annoying thing for Afghanistan is that they haven’t been able to properly push up the run-rate. With two batters now set they need to look to be pushing it above sixes or sevens an over to really set a challenging target.
At the minute it is still under fives. Bumrah is starting to mix things up with slower balls and yorkers but India still can’t break this partnership.
Mike Jones11 October 2023 11:45
Afghanistan 133-3 (28), Shahidi 29, Azmat 40, Jadeja 0-31 (6)
The pace at which Jadeja bowls has brought India back under the time threshold for the overs bowled. Sharma asks him to continue but Azmat whacks the left-armer into the stands for six!
Four singles and a two also come from the over which goes for 12. Another good one for Afghanistan.
Mike Jones11 October 2023 11:40
Afghanistan 121-3 (27), Shahidi 27, Azmat 30, Bumrah 1-12 (5)
Rohit Sharma has seen enough. He brings Jasprit Bumrah back on to break this partnership which has the potential to hurt India.
Shahidi works the ball through square leg and takes a single. Azmat meanwhile pulls Bumrah into the deep midwicket boundary and calls his captain through for a couple of runs.
Mike Jones11 October 2023 11:36
Afghanistan 118-3 (26), Shahidi 26, Azmat 28, Jadeja 0-19 (5)
Rohit Sharma calls the batters’ bluff and keeps the same field for India asking the Afghan batters to take on the left-arm spinner.
Shahidi works him away for a couple of runs before the batters rotate the strike for two more. Only four runs come from the over but the batters look more determined to score now.
Mike Jones11 October 2023 11:32
Afghanistan 114-3 (25), Shahidi 25, Azmat 25, Kuldeep 0-23 (5)
There’s the breaking point! Shahidi continues on his merry way but Azmat takes the risk and lofts Kuldeep back over his own head for a maximum.
He goes again but this one is a little wider. Azmat targets mid off this time and nails it out of the middle of the bat for six more!
14 runs come from the over and the fifty partnership comes up between Shahidi and Azmat. If they can push on now, Afghanistan will be in a very good position.
Mike Jones11 October 2023 11:30
Afghanistan 100-3 (24), Shahidi 24, Azmat 12, Jadeja 0-15 (4)
Eight overs of spin have now been bowled in a hurry with just 24 runs coming from them. Four singles come from the first balls of Jadeja’s fourth over and Azmat is happy to continue that way.
A push into the legside brings him one before Shahidi brings up the hundred for Afghanistan with another one. Six singles from the over.
Mike Jones11 October 2023 11:26
Afghanistan 94-3 (23), Shahidi 21, Azmat 9, Kuldeep 0-9 (4)
Afghanistan have hard a look at the two spinners and are starting to open up. Azmat smokes Kuldeep over to the fielder at deep midwicket but only collects one run.
Shahidi struggles to find the gaps as Kuldeep is super accurate in targeting the stumps. India continue to bowl impressively and the run rate is slowing down.
Mike Jones11 October 2023 11:22
Afghanistan 93-3 (22), Shahidi 21, Azmat 8, Jadeja 0-9 (3)
Fortune favours Hashmatullah Shahidi who looks to whack Ravindra Jadeja over the legside boundary. He doesn’t get to the ball and edges it away to third man for four runs!
Jadeja bowls a no-ball, as there were only four fielders inside the circle, which leaves Shahidi with a free hit to face. He spoons the ball straight up into the air and is caught but the batters sprint through for one.
Azmat ends the over with a run of his own. Seven runs come from it.
Mike Jones11 October 2023 11:19
Afghanistan 86-3 (21), Shahidi 16, Azmat 7, Kuldeep 0-8 (3)
More of the same from Shahidi who pushes the ball into the offside and takes a single. Azmat is more expansive and attempts a drive that isn’t quite on.
He gets lucky as the ball bounces short of the fielder at mid-off. Smartly though, Azmat manages to get off strike before Shahidi rotates the ball into the offside for another single.
Mike Jones11 October 2023 11:15