New Delhi: Two Asian heavyweights India and Afghanistan will square off in a Super 8 clash of the T20 World Cup 2024 at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Thursday. It is certainly a battle of the equals as both teams are coming on the back of three wins from their respective groups and have been placed in Group 1 of the Super 8 stage. While India remain unbeaten in the tournament so far, Afghanistan have endured just one loss.
Fans have high expectations from the clash which will be played at a batting-friendly track in Bridgetown. The clash promises to bring exciting stuff, majorly due to what went down when these two Asian rivals met each other in a T20I match last time. Afghanistan were touring India for a three-match T20I series and were already on top of their game after their exploits in the ODI World Cup 2023.
Having established themselves as a team that rose from the ashes and disposed of the minnow tag, Afghanistan gave India tough battles in each of the three games but couldn’t succeed. In the first T20I, hosts India won by six wickets, and in the second with the same margin. Afghanistan was looking for a consolation win in the third T20I and looked hell-bent on beating India to go back home on a high. But what followed next was pure sports cinematic stuff!
India and Afghanistan play double Super Over
It was the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru where India looked to sweep the series away on Wednesday, January 17. Meanwhile, Afghanistan wanted to make it 2-1 to get a respectable exit. India won the toss and opted to bat first. The opening duo of Yashasvi Jaiswal and skipper Rohit Sharma walked out to bat but the former fell earlier into the game. Even Virat Kohli flopped with a golden duck and the middle order consisting of Shivam Dube and Sanju Samson all went back cheaply.
It was the skipper who stood firm on the crease and smashed an unbeaten ton, scoring 121 off 69 balls laced with 11 fours and eight sixes. He was joined by explosive batter Rinku Singh who hit 69* off just 39 balls including two fours and six sixes. Both stitched a 190-run stand for the fifth wicket as India posted 212/4 in 20 overs. Fareed Ahmad was the top wicket-taker, bagging three wickets.
Coming out to chase, Afghanistan openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran hit fifty each and were followed by Gulbadin Naib’s unbeaten and quick 55. From the middle, veteran Mohammad Nabi contributed with 34 and a few more single-digit scores led Afghanistan to tie the match in 20 overs. The crowd was on the edge of their seats and didn’t have any fingernails left.
Super Overs
The match headed into a Super Over and Afghanistan on the back of Nabi and Gurbaz posted 16/1 as their total against India’s Mukesh Kumar. To chase it down Rohit and Jaiswal walked out and Azamatullah Omarzai helmed the over. Rohit hit two grand sixes and ran a single before getting retired hurt which baffled the Afghanistan setup. It was indeed a smart move from India as they called down Rinku Singh when 2 were required off 1. However, India could manage a single as the match headed into a second Super Over.
It was India’s turn to bat first and Rohit and Rinku were out to bat. Rohit started off with a six and a four followed by Rinku and his wicket as India posted just 11 this time. It was Ravi Bishnoi who was handed the big responsibility of defending 12 runs. He sent back Nabi in the first ball and in the third got Gurbaz as India finally took a sigh of relief and made it 3-0, sweeping the series and continuing their home dominance.
As India take on Afghanistan in a Super 8 clash at the T20 World Cup 2024 on Thursday, we revisit all the drama that went down in their last T20I meeting, making it a one-of-its-kind thriller. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
