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 100-0 (12), Sharma 79, Kishan 14, Mujeeb 0-26 (4) need 173 runs to win
Rohit Sharma seems to have reined in his attacking instincts for the time being and is content to accummulate the runs. Four singles come from the over but India bring up their 100.
173 runs needed to win.
India 96-0 (11), Sharma 77, Kishan 12, Nabi 0-2 (1) need 177 runs to win
Ishan Kishan seems like a forgotten man at the other end with Rohit Sharma absolutely teeing off. There’s no pressure on him to score quickly so he’s taking the time to get settled.
Mohammad Nabi comes on and Kishan punches him away for a single. Sharma is watchful to the new bowler and turns him into the legside for one more.
Just two from the over.
India 94-0 (10), Sharma 76, Kishan 11, Mujeeb 0-22 (3) need 179 runs to win
Mujeeb is brought back on to try and bring Afghanistan some control. Rohit Sharma tries to nail him into the stands after a wide ball and just chips the ball down the ground.
He escapes as that was catchable and has to settle for one. Ishan Kishan gives the captain the strike back and Sharma sweeps the last ball away for four!
10 overs gone, India are scoring at 9.4 runs per over.
India 87-0 (9), Sharma 71, Kishan 10, Azmat 0-12 (1) need 186 runs to win
Azmatullah Omarzai is brought into the attack to bowl at Rohit Sharma. Maybe his batting can give him some confidence against the India captain’s onslaught.
Or maybe not. A short ball is launched into the stands for a maximum before Sharma stands his ground and drills a fuller delivery over mid-off for four more.
That last six went 93 metres. It’s the biggest six of the World Cup so far. Sharma also steals the strike off the last ball of the over too.
India 75-0 (8), Sharma 60, Kishan 10, Naveen 0-17 (2) need 198 runs to win
Rohit Sharma is searching for his fifty. Twice he tries to dab the ball down and sprint through for a single but can’t get off strike. A more powerful drive on the third delivery from Naveen hits the fielder at point.
There is is! A smack down the ground brings up Sharma’s 50 in just 30 deliveries. He’s got India motoring towards the total.
Huge! With his fifty brought up Sharma mullers the ball into the stands for another six! India need less than 200 already.
India 64-0 (7), Sharma 49, Kishan 10, Fazal 0-39 (4) need 209 runs to win
Fifty for India! Rohit Sharma is totally in the zone. He launches the first ball of the over into the offside for a one bounce four then smashes a cut shot through point for consecutive boundaries.
A leading edge brings two for Sharma as the runs continue to flow.
Six more! A short ball down the legside is pulled away and Sharma says thank you for the freebie. The Indian captain then calls Kishan through for a quick single to move to 49.
17 runs from the over.
India 47-0 (6), Sharma 32, Kishan 10, Naveen 0-10 (1) need 226 runs to win
Naveen-Ul-Haq has a few variations in his arsenal and could be a crucial component in Afghanistan’s defence.
He comes round the wicket to Ishan Kishan and tempts him to flick the ball through fine leg. The comes seriously close to the fielder but Kishan collects four.
He and Sharma rotate the strike for a single each before Kishan takes another loose ball down the fine leg boundary for four more.
India 37-0 (5), Sharma 31, Kishan 5, Fazal 0-22 (3) need 236 runs to win
Six! Rohit Sharma is really starting to get going. He’ll want to get a big one today after missing out against Australia. A shuffle down the wicket gets him to the pitch of the ball and he nails it up and over mid off for a maximum.
Sharma now has over 1000 runs in World Cup matches, becoming to fourth Indian player to do so.
Four more! A change in field sees fine leg come up but Fazal strays into the pads. Sharma helps it on its way and picks up another four.
And again! This one goes through the offside. Huge over for India. 14 coming from it.
India 23-0 (4), Sharma 17, Kishan 5, Mujeeb 0-11 (2) need 250 runs to win
Four runs! Ishan Kishan gets off the mark for the tournament by freeing his hands through a cover drive and finding the gap perfectly to send the ball flying away to the boundary.
The next ball sees him quickly rock onto a back foot and pull the ball to the legside boundary for one more.
Short and gone! A drag down delivery from Mujeeb is mullered through midwicket by Rohit Sharma who picks up a second boundary of the over.
10 runs come from the fourth over.
India 13-0 (3), Sharma 11, Kishan 0, Fazal 0-8 (2) need 260 runs to win
Fazal’s left-arm seamers are pretty good. It looks as if he’s getting a bit of zip off the pitch despite only bowling in the low 80mph.
Sharma’s balance is equally as good and he leans into a loose ball that swings down the legside, dispatching it through square leg and away for four!
A tightening of his line from Fazal keeps Sharma stuck on his crease and he can only push the ball into the offside. A punch through square-leg off the back foot brings Sharma another couple of runs.
The Indian captain seems to have settled quickly.
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