Edition

English

News
Sports News
Cricket News
India vs Afghanistan Highlights, T20 World Cup 2021: India crush Afghanistan by 66 runs to keep semis hopes alive

THE TIMES OF INDIA | Nov 03, 2021, 23:46:12 IST

Comments

India vs Afghanistan Highlights, T20 World Cup 2021: India crush Afghanistan by 66 runs to keep semis hopes alive

Defending 210, India bowlers took wickets at regular intervals to stop Afghanistan at 144/7 in 20 overs. With the 66-run win, India not only opened their account, they also improved their NRR to +0.073. Sent in to bat, openers Rohit Sharma (74) and KL Rahul (69) put on a record 140-run partnership to power India to a massive 210 for 2. After openers, Hardik Pandya (35*) and Rishabh Pant (27*) took India past the 200-run mark. Stay updated with Times of India to get all the live cricket score updates of the 2021 T20 World Cup match between India and Afghanistan.

23:46 (IST) Nov 03

MATCH REPORT | All-round India demolish Afghanistan by 66 runs, stay in competition

A formidable India led by their stylish openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul finally put up a near-flawless performance to annihilate a hapless Afghanistan by 66 runs to stay afloat in the ICC T20 World Cup on Wednesday. It could well be a case of joining the party two games too late but a solid batting show to first score 210 for 2 and then bowl the disciplined lines to restrict Afghanistan to 144 for 7 kept their billion plus fans interested. With their net run-rate finally entering the positive bracket (+0.073), India would now hope that Afghanistan can recover from this drubbing and upset New Zealand, giving Virat Kohli's men an outside chance to qualify for the semi-finals behind Pakistan who are set to top the group.

READ FULL STORY

23:25 (IST) Nov 03

Much better wicket to be fair. We spoke about the fact that in the other games, if we just had two overs of free-flowing batting, then that sends a message to the opposition that we are going to put you under the pump. When we do that, we know how we can play. Sometimes, you do fall to the pressure and have to accept that. T20 cricket is a very instinctive game, in batting, bowling and decision-making. We do make decisions on the go. Top three is mostly settled unless situations like today when the openers batted all the way through and the power-hitters were ready. We don't always decide early to go hard, but we do back ourselves and when we do get going, we know what we can do. Well, yes that is the plan (to keep playing this way) but as I said, sometimes you just give in to the pressure. The other teams bowled really well to us. Yes, it (net run rate) was to be honest. We are always positive, and so we were thinking about it. The return of Ash (is the biggest positive), we saw him doing well in the IPL and when he does this, we get control in the middle overs. That's what I'm most pleased about (today).

India skipper Virat Kohli

23:24 (IST) Nov 03

We usually bat first, we tried to chase due to the dew. Also the wicket looked really good. Yeah, there wasn't much dew, but the wicket played really good. India batted really well, and put us under pressure. Not always, we try to rotate strike a bit too. Today we didn't do well enough but we lost early wickets and that put us under pressure. Hopefully, we can win our last game.

Afghanistan skipper Mohammad Nabi

23:21 (IST) Nov 03

The idea was to go after it, and get off to a good start, which didn't happen in the first two games and lay the platform for the others. Exceptional batting from Rahul, and that partnership was vital. We were prepared to field first, and it was a good pitch to bat on. Getting to a respectable total was important, and the NRR could come into play so we had to win by a good margin, so glad we got that. Today it was necessary to get off to a good start, and that's not my natural game - I usually like to get in. So I made an effort to settle in, play cricketing shots, and put up a big total.

Man-of-the-Match Rohit Sharma (74 off 47 balls)

23:18 (IST) Nov 03

Here's how the two teams fared tonight as India opened their account in the tournament.

23:16 (IST) Nov 03

* With the big win, India's net run rate (NRR) has improved to +0.073 from -1.609. India are currently fourth in the Group 2 standings with 2 points, behind Pakistan (already qualified for semifinals with 8 points), Afghanistan (4 points) and New Zealand (4 points).

23:11 (IST) Nov 03

It's all over! India (210/2) crush Afghanistan (144/7) by 66 runs for their first win in the tournament.

14 runs off Hardik Pandya's over, but Afghanistan ended 66 runs short of the massive target. India improved their net run rate to positive with this big win.

23:07 (IST) Nov 03

AFG 130/7 after 19 overs, need 81 more in 6 balls

Two wickets and just 5 runs off Mohammed Shami's final over as he returned figures of 3 for 32 in 4 overs.

23:02 (IST) Nov 03

OUT! Shami scalps Rashid (0) | AFG 127/7 in 18.3 overs

After Ravindra Jadeja's brilliant effort went in vain, Mohammed Shami sent Rashid Khan packing for naught. Rashid hits it straight to Hardik Pandya at long-on.

23:00 (IST) Nov 03

OUT! Shami strikes to dismiss Nabi (35) | AFG 126/6 in 18.1 overs

Slowe delivery from Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Nabi hits it straight to Ravindra Jadeja at deep midwicket. Nabi scored 35 off 32 balls.

22:58 (IST) Nov 03

AFG 125/5 after 18 overs, need 86 more in 12 balls

1, 6, 4, 2, 1, 2 - Big one for Afghanistan as they scored 16 runs off Shardul Thakur.

22:56 (IST) Nov 03

Thakur to Nabi | SIX! AFG 116/5 in 17.2 overs

BOOM! Mohammed Nabi (28*) smacks Shardul Thakur straight down the ground for a big maximum. Boundaries coming regularly for Afghans in the middle.

22:53 (IST) Nov 03

AFG 109/5 after 17 overs

Jasprit Bumrah completed his spell with an expensive over, 11 runs off it. His final figures: 4-0-25-1

22:51 (IST) Nov 03

Bumrah to Nabi | FOUR! AFG 107/5 in 16.3 overs

BANG! Wide full toss and Mohammed Nabi smashes it past backward point fielder for a four off Jasprit Bumrah.

22:50 (IST) Nov 03

* FOUR! Karim Janat (22*) brings up 100 for Afghanistan with a four off Jasprit Bumrah | AFG 102/5 in 16.1 overs

22:48 (IST) Nov 03

AFG 98/5 after 16 overs

10 runs off Shardul Thakur's over as Karim Janat smacked a six in it. The asking rate has now climbed to more than 28 per over.

22:46 (IST) Nov 03

* India have to win by 63 runs or more to improve their NRR to positive figures. It's -1.609 at the moment.

22:45 (IST) Nov 03

Thakur to Janat | SIX! AFG 95/5 in 15.2 overs

BOOM! Karim Janat smacks Shardul Thakur over fine leg for a big six.

22:42 (IST) Nov 03

AFG 88/5 after 15 overs, need 123 more in 30 balls

Jasprit Bumrah came back into the attack and gave away just three singles in it.

22:38 (IST) Nov 03

AFG 85/5 after 14 overs

A comeback to remember for Ravichandran Ashwin as he completed his spell with a five-run over. Ashwin returned figures of 2 for 14 in 4 overs. Remember, he is playing white-ball match for India for the first time since July 2017.

89 More Updates

TOI

India vs Afghanistan Highlights, T20 World Cup 2021: India crush Afghanistan by 66 runs to keep semis hopes alive

India skipper Virat Kohli

Afghanistan skipper Mohammad Nabi

Man-of-the-Match Rohit Sharma (74 off 47 balls)

Match Statistics

Venue

Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

IND PLAYING XI

AFG PLAYING XI

Top Stories Right Now