| 0.0 : From tournament favourites to being on the verge of getting knocked out, that is the been the story so far for India. Every game is a must-win and by some margin and also hope the other results go their way. It will be nothing short of a miracle if they go through but first, theyâll have to beat an in-form Afghanistan side who have impressed one and many with the brand of cricket they have played. |
| The Afghans are themselves in with a chance to go to the top 4 and are probably in a better position than their opponents to make it through. A win against India will not only boost their possibility of going to the semis but also lift their confidence to another level. India are big time favourites but we have seen before, there can be an upset. Welcome to the coverage. |
| Mohammad Nabi, the Afghanistan skipper says that, they will bowl first because there was a lot of dew in the previous match during the second half. Informs that Mujeeb Ur Rahman is still not available to play. Adds that they are ready to bat first or bowl first and today there are going for the latter. Menstions that they will go out their and enjoy. |
| The Indian captain, Virat Kohli says that they do know the situation is a tricky one. Adds that they haven't played to their potential and knows they can play better. Also adds that there's still a chance if they do play well. Informs that he would have liked to bowl first as well but it's not the worst thing to bat first against a team who themselves like to put the runs on the board. Lastly, he also informs that there are a couple of changes to the squad, Suryakumar Yadav comes back in to ta |
| TOSS - The two captains are out in the middle for the toss. Mohammad Nabi calls head and it is heads. Afghanistan will have a BOWL FIRST. |
| Afghanistan (Playing XI) - Hazratullah Zazai, Mohammad Shahzad (WK), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sharafuddin Ashraf (In for Asghar Afghan), Mohammad Nabi (C), Najibullah Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan, Naveen-ul-Haq, Hamid Hassan. |
| India (Playing XI) - KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli (C), Suryakumar Yadav (In for Ishan Kishan), Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin (In for Varun Chakravarthy), Jasprit Bumrah. |
| Right then, we are almost ready for play. Both the teams are out in the middle for their respective national anthems. First, it will be Afghanistan's, followed by India's. Done with all the pre-match formalities, now, the Indian openers, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul make their way out into the middle. Spin to begin things as Mohammad Nabi has the ball in hand. Let's get going.... |
| 0.1 : Mohammad Nabi to KL Rahul, Nabi starts with a juicy half volley, outside off. KL Rahul drives it straight to point. |
| 0.2 : Mohammad Nabi to KL Rahul, KL Rahul and India are underway. Flatter one, on middle and nudged towards mid-wicket for a quick single. |
| 0.3 : Mohammad Nabi to Rohit Sharma, Rohit Sharma is off the mark straightaway. Slightly fuller and on middle, stroked through mid-wicket for a run. |
| 0.4 : Mohammad Nabi to KL Rahul, On off and slightly drifting away, Rahul plays it towards covers. |
| 0.5 : Mohammad Nabi to KL Rahul, Full, on off. KL Rahul makes a bit of room and pushes it towards mid off for a quick single. The fielder scores a direct hit at the bowler's end but Rahul is well in. |
| 0.6 : Mohammad Nabi to Rohit Sharma, FOUR! Rohit Sharma goes up and over and it's the first boundary of the game. Tossed up, around off and Sharma lifts it over extra cover and the ball runs away into the fence. 7 from the first over. |
| 0.4 : Who will bowl from the other end? Sharafuddin Ashraf, it is! |
| 1.1 : Sharafuddin Ashraf to KL Rahul, On middle and leg, Rahul nudges it towards mid on for a single. |
| 1.2 : Sharafuddin Ashraf to Rohit Sharma, FOUR! Rohit Sharma is looking to be the aggressor from the word go. Outside off and Sharma plays a cheeky paddle sweep past the short fine leg fielder and into the fence. |
| 1.3 : Sharafuddin Ashraf to Rohit Sharma, Fuller one, on leg stump. Sharma drives it through mid-wicket and rotates the strike. |
| 1.4 : Sharafuddin Ashraf to KL Rahul, Tossed up, on middle and leg. KL Rahul makes room but can't get it past short cover. |
| 1.5 : Sharafuddin Ashraf to KL Rahul, SIX! Wow! Ashraf looks to york KL Rahul but bowls it into the slot. Rahul hits through the line nicely and clears the long on fence with utmost ease. |
| 1.6 : Sharafuddin Ashraf to KL Rahul, FOUR! And again Ashraf misses his mark and KL Rahul doesn't spare him. Rahul lofts it easily over mid on and the ball trickles into the long on fence for another boundary. 16 off the over, a good one for India. |
| 2.1 : Naveen-ul-Haq to Rohit Sharma, Naveen-ul-Haq hurls across a length ball from wide of the crease. This is angled in on off stump and Sharma taps it towards the mid-wicket region. |
| 0.0 : Change. Time for some pace as Naveen-ul-Haq will speed in... |
| 2.2 : Naveen-ul-Haq to Rohit Sharma, Slower one, well outside off and holds in the surface a bit. Rohit Sharma waits for it and taps it through cover-point for a single. |
| 2.3 : Naveen-ul-Haq to KL Rahul, Fuller delivery, on middle. Rahul pushes it towards mid on for another one. |
| 2.4 : Naveen-ul-Haq to Rohit Sharma, Good-length ball, angled in from outside off. Sharma looks to drive it on the up but taps it back onto the deck off the inner half of the bat. |
| 2.5 : Naveen-ul-Haq to Rohit Sharma, FOUR! This delivery deserved to be punished. Naveen-ul-Haq bowls a slower length ball, around off. Rohit Sharma just hangs back and then pulls it away in front of square on the leg side for another boundary. |
| 2.6 : Naveen-ul-Haq to Rohit Sharma, Full and around off, Sharma drives it towards covers where Nabi dives to his left and gets a hand on it. Practically saved 3 runs for his team there, did Nabi. |
| 3.1 : Hamid Hassan to Rohit Sharma, A length ball, just outside off. Sharma dabs it down towards third man for a single. |
| 0.0 : Change. Hamid Hassan to have a go! |
| 3.2 : Hamid Hassan to KL Rahul, Full and straight, Rahul jams it out to mid off for a run. |
| 3.3 : Hamid Hassan to Rohit Sharma, Excellent delivery. Hassan looks for the block hole and finds it. Rohit Sharma does well to keep it out. |
| 3.4 : Hamid Hassan to Rohit Sharma, Hassan goes full again, Sharma digs it towards mid off. The call for the single is a bit late from Rohit but they get through easily in the end. |
| 3.5 : Hamid Hassan to KL Rahul, Length ball, on middle and this is flicked on the leg side for another one. |
| 3.6 : Hamid Hassan to Rohit Sharma, Length again, around off, Sharma drives it straight to cover where the fielder fumbles and allows the batters to cross. |
| 4.1 : Naveen-ul-Haq to Rohit Sharma, NO BALL! Slower one, angled in full and on leg stump. Rohit Sharma caresses it towards cover. The third umpire signals a no ball for overstepping. Free Hit time... |
| Naveen-ul-Haq to Rohit Sharma, Naveen-ul-Haq goes short and well outside off. Rohit Sharma fetches it and pulls it aerially towards deep mid-wicket for a single. The no ball didn't cost much for Afghanistan. |
| 4.2 : Naveen-ul-Haq to KL Rahul, A length ball, on off and Rahul pushes it towards the cover region for a quick single. |
| 4.3 : Naveen-ul-Haq to Rohit Sharma, FOUR! Rohit Sharma looks to be in good touch out there. Naveen-ul-Haq offers width and Rohit gladly accepts it. Sharma frees his arms and carves it over point and the ball races away into the boundary. |
| 4.4 : Naveen-ul-Haq to Rohit Sharma, Change of pace again, a slower delivery just outside off. Sharma with a gentle push to mid off. |
| 4.5 : Naveen-ul-Haq to Rohit Sharma, SIX! Naveen-ul-Haq isn't enjoying his bowling today. This is in the slot, around the off stump. Rohit Sharma hangs back and looks to lift it over the long off fence and that is he what he does. A 90m six, that one. |
| 4.6 : Naveen-ul-Haq to Rohit Sharma, FOUR! Magnificent shot to end the over from Rohit Sharma. A length ball, outside off, Sharma skips down the track and creams this one over covers and the ball takes a couple of bounces before ending in the fence yet again. 17 off the over and India are motoring along. |
| 5.1 : Hamid Hassan to KL Rahul, A fuller delivery, just outside off, KL opens the face of his blade and steers this to third man for one. |
| 5.2 : Hamid Hassan to Rohit Sharma, Around off, Rohit mistimes his push to the fielder at mid off this time. |
| 5.3 : Hamid Hassan to Rohit Sharma, NOT OUT! Afghanistan lose a review early on. This never looked to be out. On a fuller length, around middle and leg, Rohit Sharma gets low and looks to work this to the leg side but he misses and the ball takes the pad and goes to the leg side. An appeal from the bowler for LBW but it is turned down. With time ticking away on the timer, Nabi takes the review really late. Looked to be going down leg but let's see what the replays say. UltraEdge says that there |
| 5.4 : Hamid Hassan to Rohit Sharma, A laser-guided yorker, around middle, Rohit shuffles quickly and jams this one out. |
| 5.3 : At the last second, Mohammad Nabi decides to go for the review. UltraEdge confirms there's no bat involved. Ball Tracking shows the impact is outside leg. Original decision of NOT OUT stays and Afghanistan lose a review as well. |
| 5.5 : Hamid Hassan to Rohit Sharma, A full toss, around off, Sharma slaps this, without much timing, to the mid off fielder. |
| 5.6 : Hamid Hassan to Rohit Sharma, What a cracking over from Hasan, just a single off the last over of the Powerplay! Around off, hit straight by Rohit to the mid on fielder. India are at 53/0 at the end of the Powerplay! |
| Gulbadin Naib has been brought into the attack now. |
| 6.1 : Gulbadin Naib to KL Rahul, Around off, on a length, Rahul slaps this one through point this time. It looks like it will be a boundary but Hazratullah Zazai has other plans. He runs to his left, dives, and does extremely well to push the ball away from the boundary ropes. Replays show that the save was a clean one. Zazai saves two for his side. |
| 6.2 : Gulbadin Naib to KL Rahul, Short, on off, and angling in, KL looks to pull but the ball takes the body and goes to the off side. |
| 6.3 : Gulbadin Naib to KL Rahul, Slower ball, around off, knocked through mid on for a run. |
| 6.4 : Gulbadin Naib to Rohit Sharma, A gentle push by Rohit Sharma to this length ball, down to long off for a run. |
| 6.5 : Gulbadin Naib to KL Rahul, Back of a length, around off, KL Rahul camps back and punches this through point. Takes one, wants another, but it is not available on this occasion. |
| 6.6 : Gulbadin Naib to Rohit Sharma, Around off, on a length, heaved through mid on for a single. 6 from Naib's first over! |
| 7.1 : Rashid Khan to Rohit Sharma, Rashid starts with a flatter ball, around off and middle, knocked through mid-wicket for one. |
| 0.0 : In comes Rashid Khan to bowl his leg-spin. |
| 7.2 : Rashid Khan to KL Rahul, Quicker and fuller on the pads, easily clipped behind square on the leg side for a single. |
| 7.3 : Rashid Khan to Rohit Sharma, Another single as this is whipped through square leg this time. |
| 7.4 : Rashid Khan to KL Rahul, Good running by the Indian batters! Fuller, around off, lands and turns in this time, KL goes back and tucks this through mid on. They take one, realize that they can get another, and complete the second one too. |
| 7.5 : Rashid Khan to KL Rahul, Short this time, on middle and leg, KL goes back and looks to pull but gets an inside edge back onto the pad. |
| 7.6 : Rashid Khan to KL Rahul, 6 off Khan's first over! On middle, worked to the leg side for one. |
| 8.1 : Sharafuddin Ashraf to KL Rahul, Drags it short this time, Rahul nudges this to deep mid-wicket and rotates the strike. |
| 0.0 :  Sharafuddin Ashraf (1-0-16-0) has been brought bck into the attack. |
| 8.2 : Sharafuddin Ashraf to Rohit Sharma, Rohit Sharma skips down to this full delivery and drives it to the left of the long on fielder for one. They were looking for two, but it was never a double. |
| 8.3 : Sharafuddin Ashraf to KL Rahul, FOUR! Nice shot from Rahul! A boundary to release some pressure! Slightly short, around off and middle, skidding on, KL Rahul gets low and sweeps this one over the short fine leg fielder for a boundary. |
| 8.4 : Sharafuddin Ashraf to KL Rahul, On middle, KL plays this one nicely through mid-wicket for one. |
| 8.5 : Sharafuddin Ashraf to Rohit Sharma, Rohit Sharma moves to the leg side and Sharafuddin Ashraf follows him with a short delivery. RS heaves this towards deep square leg for one. A misfield in the deep and Rohit looks for one more, but they settle for one. |
| 8.6 : Sharafuddin Ashraf to KL Rahul, 9 off this over! On middle and leg, milked to the long on region for one. |
| 9.1 : Rashid Khan to KL Rahul, FOUR! Finds the gap, does KL! Good batting from the stylish player! Rashid Khan bowls a fuller delivery, pacy too, on the pads, KL Rahul gets low and sweeps this past short fine leg. Boundary. |
| 9.2 : Rashid Khan to KL Rahul, On middle, hit to deep mid-wicket for one. |
| 9.3 : Rashid Khan to Rohit Sharma, Fuller, tossed up, slightly outside off, Rohit Sharma gets low and sweeps this to deep mid-wicket. One. |
| 9.4 : Rashid Khan to KL Rahul, A flatter googly this time, on the pads, Rahul goes back and eases this to long on for one. |
| 9.5 : Rashid Khan to Rohit Sharma, What a delicate shot! Fuller, slower through the air though, around off, Rohit reverse-hits this past the short third man fielder. He gives it chase and just about manages to pull the ball back, before the ropes. Three taken comfortably by the Indian batters. |
| 9.6 : Rashid Khan to KL Rahul, On middle, KL plays this to the leg side and takes a run to complete the over, 11 off this one. |
| 10.1 : Gulbadin Naib to KL Rahul, Fuller and outside off, this is driven through covers for one. |
| 9.6 : DRINKS! After suffering two heavy defeats, India are looking like the team everyone expected them to be. This has been true so far given the openers, Rahul and Sharma have been sensational and have both raced into the forties. Afghanistan need wickets to stem the flow of runs or else they'll find themselves chasing a really big target. Also, Gulbadin Naib (1-0-6-0) comes back into the attack. |
| 10.2 : Gulbadin Naib to Rohit Sharma, Rohit skips down the track, Gulbadin spots that and bangs it short. Rohit looks to pull but gets an inside edge onto the body. |
| 10.3 : Gulbadin Naib to Rohit Sharma, FOUR! Cheeky and brilliantly played! Shorter and on off, Sharma makes room and at the end, opens the face of the bat and guides it past short third man for a boundary. |
| 10.4 : Gulbadin Naib to Rohit Sharma, Outside off, another slower one. This is slapped through covers for one. |
| 10.5 : Gulbadin Naib to KL Rahul, Fuller and on off, Rahul pushes but finds the man at cover. |
| 10.6 : Gulbadin Naib to KL Rahul, Ouch! That must have hurt! Shorter and on the body, Rahul stays back and looks to pull but misses. He gets hit near the ribs. |
| 11.1 : Naveen-ul-Haq to Rohit Sharma, That looked close but probably going down leg! Shorter and angling into the batter, stays low. Rohit looks to pull but misses to get hit near the crotch. An appeal but turned down. |
| 0.0 : Naveen-ul-Haq (2-0-24-0) has been brought back into the attack. |
| 11.2 : Naveen-ul-Haq to Rohit Sharma, FOUR! That fielder should have done better there! Rohit Sharma won't care though as he gets a boundary and reaches his half ton. A crucial knock in a crucial game. He though needs to bat longer here. This is short and outside off, Sharma cuts, it goes through point. The fielder in the deep runs to his left and looks to stop it but it bursts through his hands and goes behind into the fence. |
| 11.3 : Naveen-ul-Haq to Rohit Sharma, Rohit misses out! A full toss, outside off, Rohit looks to hit it over covers but hits it a lot squarer than he would have liked. It goes to the sweeper for one. |
| 11.4 : Naveen-ul-Haq to KL Rahul, SIX! The 100 is up in style for India! Still a little more than 8 overs to go, they can get to 200 if the two hang in there. This is another hit-me ball, it is short and on the body, this is pulled and it goes well over the square leg fence. |
| 11.5 : Naveen-ul-Haq to KL Rahul, Goes length now and outside off, Rahul stands tall and looks to hit it through the off side, it goes off the inner half through square leg for one. |
| 11.6 : Naveen-ul-Haq to Rohit Sharma, FOUR! Up and over! Short and wide, asking to be hit! Rohit carves it over short third man for yet another boundary. Naveen has taken a real pounding today. 40 from his three. |
| 12.1 : Gulbadin Naib to KL Rahul, FOUR! Up and over! Raining boundaries at the moment! Rahul now gets to his half ton. Another sublime knock from him. This is right in his slot. Full and outside off, Rahul stands tall and lofts it over covers for a boundary. |
| 12.2 : Gulbadin Naib to KL Rahul, Angled into the pads, Rahul works it down to long on for one. |
| 12.3 : Gulbadin Naib to Rohit Sharma, Takes one now, does Rohit! Angled into the pads, this is worked through mid-wicket for one. |
| 12.4 : Gulbadin Naib to KL Rahul, A yorker now on middle, Rahul clears his front leg and jams it through covers for one. |
| 12.5 : Gulbadin Naib to Rohit Sharma, Shorter and outside off, Sharma plays it through point for one more. |
| 12.6 : Gulbadin Naib to KL Rahul, FOUR! Nice and fine! This is on the pads, Rahul pulls, it goes off the inner half, fine on the leg side. Races away to the fence. A boundary to start the over and one to end it. India batting Afghanistan out of the game at the moment. |
| 13.1 : Rashid Khan to Rohit Sharma, Shorter and on middle, Sharma pulls it through square leg for one. |
| 13.2 : Rashid Khan to KL Rahul, The googly, it lands on middle, Rahul works it through square leg for one. |
| 0.0 : Rashid Khan (2-0-17-0) comes back on. |
| 13.3 : Rashid Khan to Rohit Sharma, Another one on the shorter side, Sharma once again plays the pull, this one goes off the inner half through mid-wicket for one. |
| 13.4 : Rashid Khan to KL Rahul, On middle, this is worked down to long on for one. 4 from the first 4 balls. |
| 13.5 : Rashid Khan to Rohit Sharma, SIX! That is over the fence! Rohit was beaten in the flight there but still manages to clear the fence. Skips down the track, does not get to the pitch of the ball but still goes ahead with the shot. Connects well and it sails over the mid-wicket fence. |
| 14.1 : Karim Janat to KL Rahul, FOUR! That has gone to the fence like a tracer bullet! What a shot! There is no stopping KL Rahul tonight! Short and wide outside off, it is cut through point. This one races away to the fence. |
| 14.2 : Karim Janat to KL Rahul, Goes fuller, this is on off, it is hit down to long off for one. |
| 14.3 : Karim Janat to Rohit Sharma, A rare dot! A full toss, dipping outside off. Sharma looks to go over covers but misses. |
| 13.6 : Rashid Khan to Rohit Sharma, SIX! This time he nails it! The last two balls turns it into yet another huge over! On middle, the googly, Sharma goes down one one knee and slog-sweeps it over the square leg fence for a biggie. |
| Karim Janat to have a go now. |
| 14.4 : Karim Janat to Rohit Sharma, OUT! TAKEN! Finally, Afghanistan manage to get a wicket and it is that of Rohit Sharma! Jannat strikes in his first over. End of a magnificent innings from Rohit Sharma. This is way too full and outside off, Rohit fails to get under it, he tries to loft it over covers but does not get the right elevation. He holes out to the fielder there, where Mohammad Nabi holds on. Can Afghanistan build on this? Can they now keep India under 190 or so? |
| 14.5 : Karim Janat to Rishabh Pant, Pant wastes no time! He straightaway goes after the bowler, he steps out but it is bowled full and outside off, he hits it through covers for one. |
| 14.4 : Rishabh Pant has been promoted up the order and he comes in at number 3. |
| 14.6 : Karim Janat to KL Rahul, Outside off, Rahul waits and then guides it down to third man for one. End of a really good over from Janat! When all the others were going for plenty, he bowls an over which goes for just the 7 and also takes a wicket. |
| 15.1 : Rashid Khan to KL Rahul, Slowed up a bit and on middle and leg. Rahul looks to flick it away but misses. |
| 15.2 : Rashid Khan to KL Rahul, A skiddish delivery, on the pads, KL Rahul works it through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 0.0 : Review time! Afghanistan take the review for this LBW appeal against Rishabh Pant. Nothing on UltraEdge. This one has pitched outside leg and hence, will remain not out. |
| 15.3 : Rashid Khan to Rishabh Pant, NOT OUT! Fuller, around the leg stump. Rishabh Pant comes down the track looking to nudge it on the leg side but gets beaten in flight and gets hit on the pads. A huge appeal from Rashid is turned down but they do take the review. UltraEdge shows no bat is involved but Ball Tracking confirms that the ball was pitching outside leg. Afghanistan are out of reviews now. |
| 15.2 : This time, the finger has gone up for LBW against Rishabh Pant and the southpaw takes the review. This clearly came off the glove and the on-field decision has been reversed. |
| 15.4 : Rashid Khan to Rishabh Pant, NOT OUT! Rashid Khan thought he had his 400th T20 wicket but the third umpire has spoilt it for him. Full and straight, Rishabh Pant looks to sweep but the ball skids through and hits him plumb in front. Rashid appeals and this time the finger goes up but Pant reviews right away. UltraEdge shows that there was a bit of glove on it and hence, Pant survives. |
| 15.5 : Rashid Khan to Rishabh Pant, On middle and leg, swept away to deep square leg for a single. |
| 15.6 : Rashid Khan to KL Rahul, Dragged down, on leg stump. KL Rahul pulls it to deep square leg for another one. |
| 16.1 : Gulbadin Naib to KL Rahul, A length ball, outside off and carved to deep point for one. |
| 16.2 : Gulbadin Naib to Rishabh Pant, Slower one, well outside off and Pant slices it towards sweeper cover for a single. |
| 16.3 : Gulbadin Naib to KL Rahul, OUT! Cleaned him up! KL Rahul tries to get funky but pays the price. Gulbadin Naib sees Rahul walking right across his stumps and fires in a full and quick delivery, on middle stump. Rahul looks to scoop it over short fine leg but gets undone by the pace and the ball sneaks underneath the willow and crashes into middle stump. |
| 0.0 : In walks Hardik Pandya. Can he and Pant tonk a few out of the park and help the Men in Blue end on top? |
| 16.4 : Gulbadin Naib to Hardik Pandya, Back of a length, on middle. Pandya punches it down to long on for a run. |
| 16.5 : Gulbadin Naib to Rishabh Pant, SIX! Wow! Rishabh Pant and one-handed sixes have been a common thing now. In the slot and Pant looks to lift this one over long off. The hand comes off the handle but the ball goes high and handsome over the bowler for a biggie. |
| 16.6 : Gulbadin Naib to Rishabh Pant, SIX! And again! A length ball, on off stump. This time Pant gets an even better connection and hits another one-handed maximum, right back over the bowler's head. |
| 16.4 : Change in bowling. Hamid Hassan (2-0-6-0) returns now. |
| 17.1 : Hamid Hassan to Hardik Pandya, FOUR! Perfectly placed from Hardik Pandya. Full and straight, Pandya, with a flick of the wrist, works this through mid-wicket and beats the chasing long on fielder for a boundary. |
| 17.2 : Hamid Hassan to Hardik Pandya, Length ball, on off and this is driven on the up towards long off for a single. |
| 17.3 : Hamid Hassan to Rishabh Pant, Nicely bowled. Hamid Hassan gets the yorker in, on leg stump and Pant jams it out to deep square leg for a single. |
| 17.4 : Hamid Hassan to Hardik Pandya, FOUR! Hardik Pandya looks like a man on a mission. Hassan bowls a slower length ball, around off. This one sits up nicely and Pandya pulls it with authority and into the mid-wicket fence. |
| 17.5 : Hamid Hassan to Hardik Pandya, FOUR! Top shot from Hardik Pandya as he picks up the third boundary in the over. On the pads and whipped across, splitting long on and deep mid-wicket yet again. |
| 17.6 : Hamid Hassan to Hardik Pandya, LEG BYE! Back of a length, on off and angled in. Pandya looks to pull again but misses. the ball goes off the thigh pads onto the off side. They get a leg bye. 15 off the over. |
| 18.1 : Naveen-ul-Haq to Hardik Pandya, DROPPED! Oh, no. Should have been taken by Gulbadin Naib but it has been dropped. A collision at the striker's end too. Let's start off with the delivery - a slightly shortish delivery, outside off, Hardik Pandya makes room and looks to slap this over the cover region but slices this high in the air. No distance on this and it goes towards long off, where Naib runs ahead, keeps his eyes up, but makes a meal of it as the ball pops out. The batters want the |
| 18.2 : Naveen-ul-Haq to Hardik Pandya, WIDE. A slower fuller ball, way outside off, left alone by Pandya. Wided. |
| 0.0 : The keeper, Mohammad Shahzad and Hardik Pandya have collided and the physio is out having a check. Hope both of them are okay. Everything seems fine now and we are ready to reume play. |
| 18.2 : Naveen-ul-Haq to Hardik Pandya, SIX! RAW PANDYA POWER! That has been forced past the ropes by Hardik! Slightly short, slower this time, outside off, Hardik Pandya makes room, anticipates this well, waits, and then smokes this one well over extra cover. |
| 18.3 : Naveen-ul-Haq to Hardik Pandya, On a fuller length, around off, Pandya finds the long off fielder on the bounce for one. |
| 18.4 : Naveen-ul-Haq to Rishabh Pant, Fuller, wider, outside off, Rishabh gets low and hits this to long off, where the fielder collects it on the bounce. One taken. |
| 18.5 : Naveen-ul-Haq to Hardik Pandya, SIX! HO HO HO! This is now the highest total in the tournament this year. Pandya is looking very menacing at the moment! Around off, in the slot, Hardik Pandya stands tall and spanks this one over the bowler for a biggie. |
| 18.6 : Naveen-ul-Haq to Hardik Pandya, Around off, Hardik mistimes his bunt towards long on. They take the first one quickly and complete the second run too. A direct hit at the striker's end but Hardik had made it back in. 19 off the 19th over! |
| 19.1 : Hamid Hassan to Rishabh Pant, FOUR! Funky batting! Starts the final over with a boundary, does Rishabh! A full toss, way outside off, Rishabh Pant shuffles across and paddle scoops this over short fine leg. One bounce and boundary. |
| 18.6 : Hamid Hassan (3-0-20-0) has been entrusted to bowl the final over. |
| 19.2 : Hamid Hassan to Rishabh Pant, SIX! That is magical hitting! 200 up for India too! The slower ball, on a length around off, Rishabh Pant just smacks this one over the long off fence. Incredible batting from the Men in Blue! |
| 19.3 : Hamid Hassan to Rishabh Pant, A rare dot ball! Slanting across on a length, outside off, Pant looks to heave it across the line but misses. |
| 19.4 : Hamid Hassan to Rishabh Pant, BYE! A pacy short ball this time, outside off, Rishabh Pant backs away and looks to slap it away but misses. They sneak in a bye this time. |
| 19.5 : Hamid Hassan to Hardik Pandya, FOUR! Streaky but it still goes to the ropes. Everything going the way of the Indians! A yorker, around middle and leg, Hardik Pandya looks to whip this to the leg side but the ball takes the inside edge and runs away to the fine leg fence. |
| 19.6 : Hamid Hassan to Hardik Pandya, BYE! A bye to end the innings! On a length, around middle and leg again, Hardik Pandya looks to whack this to the leg side but the ball sneaks in between his legs and to the keeper, who fumbles, letting the batters take a bye. INDIA END ON 210/2! |
| That is a brilliant batting performance from India! They need to win all their games by some margin and their batters have surely done the job, to begin with! Had they been given something over 200 at the toss, pretty sure they would have taken it. |
| It was all set up by the openers, right from the word go, both Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul batted with a lot of intent. They added 140 in no time with both scoring half tons. The foundation was laid. There was a small period when the runs did slow down after the wicket of the two openers but cameos from Pant and Pandya gave India the finishing touches and that took India to a mammoth score of 210. |
| One has to feel sorry for the Afghanistan bowlers. When the likes of Rohit and Rahul are in full flow, no bowler could actually stop them. Every bowler took a pounding. Only Nabi and Janat could be happy with their figures, they though bowled just the one over. Not even Rashid Khan could stem the run-flow. Naveen-ul-Haq had a day to forget, he went for close to 60 in his allotted 4. |
| KL Rahul is in for a quick chat! He says that it's the best wicket they have batted on so far and it gets even better once you settle in. Adds that him and Rohit had a clear plan, which was to score steadily and give the power hitters a platform to launch from and is really happy with the performance. On his partnership with Rohit, he says that Rohit is a world class batter and he let Rohit be the aggressor and Rohit does that really well. On being asked about Rashid Khan, Rahul says that there' |
| Now the target is a huge one! India will look to restrict Afghanistan to as low as possible and they will need to do so. Afghanistan will have to bat extremely well if they are to chase this down. It will be a special chase if they do so. They would be pleased even if they get close. Can they do so? We will find out. Stay tuned for the run chase on the other side. |
| ... THE RUN CHASE ... |
| Right. We are back for the run chase. The Indian players are in a huddle near the ropes as some final words are being said by the Indian skipper. |
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