Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Mohammad Nabi including part-timer Rahmat Shah spun a magical web around the formidable Indian batting lineup to restrict India to a modest 224 for eight. Chasing the target, Rahmat and Hashmatullah Shahidi bravely negated the Indian wrist spinners as Afghanistan stayed largely on the Sri Lankan track hoping to pull off the second big upset of ICC World Cup 2019 on Saturday. But just then came Jasprit Bumrah booming in as he managed to scalp back-to-back wickets on the slowish Rose Bowl track which was followed by the thrilling hat-trick from Mohammed Shami as India escaped with a narrow 11-run victory from the jaws of defeat.
Afghanistan are the only side who haven’t opened their account in the 12th edition of the showpiece event. After playing six matches in World Cup 2019, they haven’t managed to bag a single win nor they have been aided by rain.
“We played really well in the first innings. The bowlers bowled really well. We know India have a strong batting line-up. Bumrah was superb at the death – in the last two, three overs. Spinners bowled according to the plan. Rashid, Mujeeb, Rahmat. Everyone bowled well. In the end, it was a good game,” said skipper Gulbadin Naib.
“We lost badly in the first half of the tournament, but we have played some good cricket in the second half and I am happy with the way the team has performed,” he added.
