ABU DHABI: Super 12s – India collects its first two points with a convincing win by 66 runs against Afghanistan. Rohit Sharma (74 runs) and KL Rahul (69 runs) attacked the bowling from the start, not allowing the Afghan bowlers to settle. India put together the highest T20I score in this world cup of 210 runs for the loss of only 2 wickets. Indian bowlers too performed exceptionally well to restrict Afghanistan to 144 for 7 wickets in 20 overs,
Earlier today, after winning the toss, Afghanistan invited India to bat first maybe hoping to put India in the back foot with quick wickets. What unfolded thereafter was beyond Afghanistan and Captain Nabi is sure to regret the decision to bowl first.
India looked wholesomely a different team from the one that played and lost against New Zealand few days ago. It was a treat to watch KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma display clean power hitting putting together an opening partnership of 140 runs. Rohit Sharma launched a power show with three 6s and eight boundaries to reach 74 runs off 48 balls. KL Rahul joined the party with clean hitting to score 69 runs off 48 balls (Two 6s and Six 4s). Rishab Pant and Hardik Pandya added 27 runs and 35runs respectively off 13 balls to achieve the highest score in an innings in this T20 WC of 210 runs for 2 wickets (20 overs). The earlier highest score was by Afghanistan of 190 runs against Scotland.
Afghanistan chasing such a colossal score kept losing wickets at regular intervals and could only reach 144 runs off 20 overs. R Ashwin showed his class by taking 2 wickets giving away only 14 runs (4 overs). He was not part of the Indian team that lost to New Zealand. Mohamed Nabi (35 runs) and K Janat (30*) held the Afghanistan innings together and helped Afghanistan to reach 144 for 7 wickets off 20 overs. Mohamed Shami picked up 3 wickets for 32 runs.
India won by 66 runs and this also means it improves their run rate while weakens the Afghanistan run rate. India was able to move up to 4th place with 2 points and a positive run rate of 0.073. Prior to this match India run rate was a negative 1.609. Afghanistan run rate fell from 3.097 to 1.481 after this loss but they still hold on to the 2nd position.
In the event the run rate comes in to play to choose the 2nd semi finalist team from the Group 2, India could make it to the semi-finals if they increase the run rate in the next two matches and hope New Zealand lose one of their upcoming matches. Afghanistan now has only one chance to win against New Zealand and to count on the positive higher run rate.
Rohit Sharma was named the player of the match for his blazing 74 runs (RZ)
[Image credit icc-cricket.com]
