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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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 164-1 (20), Sharma 108, Kohli 2, Naveen 0-22 (3) need 109 runs to win
Four more! A simple but powerful drive from Rohit Sharma welcomes Naveen-Ul-Haq back into the attack and brings the captain a boundary.
He pushes the ball down the ground for a single to bring Virat Kohli on strike for the final two delieveries of Naveen’s over. Kohli blocks the first one then edges the second down to third man for one.
India 158-1 (19), Sharma 103, Kohli 1, Rashid 1-14 (3) need 115 runs to win
Virat Kohli comes to the crease to a loud round of applause and lots of cheering. He’s of the mark immediately and will want to see this run chase through to the end with his captain.
Wicket! Ishan Kishan ct Ibrahim Zadran b Rashid Khan 47 (47), India 156-1 (18.4)
Rashid Khan gets the breakthrough for Afghanistan. He draws a leading edge out of Ishan Kishan who tries to work the ball into the legside.
Instead it loops into the air and Ibrahim Zadran takes the catch.
India 154-0 (18), Sharma 101, Kishan 46, Nabi 0-32 (4) need 119 runs to win
Mohammad Nabi continues and floats one wide to Rohit Sharma. Sharma pushes at the ball and slices it away behind point for four runs!
He moves to 99.
100 for Rohit Sharma! A push into the legside brings him to his century, a seventh at the Cricket World Cup. That’s more than Sachin Tendulkar made and he brought it up off 63 balls.
Ishan Kishan doesn’t want to be outdone and bangs Nabi down to the ground for six to bring up the 150 for India. Three more singles make it 14 from the over.
India 140-0 (17), Sharma 95, Kishan 38, Rashid 0-10 (2) need 133 runs to win
The players stop for a drink with India having already knocked off more than half of their required runs in just 17 overs. Rohit Sharma is closing in on a century while Ishan Kishan works his way up to fifty.
This has been a barnstorming assault from the two opening batters.
India 140-0 (17), Sharma 95, Kishan 38, Rashid 0-10 (2) need 133 runs to win
Rohit Sharma seems to be working towards his hundred. He’s put the big shots away and works Rashid Khan over to the legside for a single to move to 94.
Kishan then forces the ball over the offside and scrambles back for two runs. Two more singles end the over. Five runs come from it.
India 135-0 (16), Sharma 93, Kishan 35, Nabi 0-18 (3) need 138 runs to win
After Sharma gets off strike Ishan Kishan goes on the move. Nabi drags one down allowing the left-hander to get onto the back foot and smoke the ball away for four runs.
Kishan inside edges the final delivery of the over past his own stumps and gets away with one. The two Afghanistan spinners have slowed the rate down, slightly.
India 130-0 (15), Sharma 92, Kishan 31, Rashid 0-5 (1) need 143 runs to win
Rashid Khan is now brought into the attack for Afghanistan. He’s the best bowler in the team by a long way and will try to slow down India’s scoring rate if not take some wickets.
Sharma and Kishan take one apiece then a flick around the corner brings Sharma an easy two. Five runs come from Rashid’s first over.
India 125-0 (14), Sharma 88, Kishan 30, Mujeeb 0-40 (5) need 148 runs to win
The runs are flowing and there’s nothing Afghanistan can do to stop them. Kishan works Mujeeb away for four before taking one to bring Sharma back on strike.
Sharma guides the ball past the fielder at short fine leg then lifts Mujeeb over cover. Both shots bring him boundaries and he ends the over with a single.
14 from it.
India 111-0 (13), Sharma 79, Kishan 25, Nabi 0-17 (2) need 162 runs to win
Kishan is unleashing now as well! He’s had a look at Nabi and decides to go on the attack. Two sweep shots, one for four and one for six bring him 10 runs and he takes a single off the last ball.
11 from the over.
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