Afghanistan register their second-highest score in World Cup

On Wednesday, Afghanistan registered their second-highest score in the history of the World Cup. Playing against India, on October 11, they went on to score 272 for the loss of eight wickets at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.

Afghanistan have won the toss and decided to bat first. Their highest score in the World Cup came against West Indies on July 14, 2019 at Headingley in Leeds. Prior to that, their highest score had come against Sri Lanka on February 22, 2015, 232 in 49.4 overs at the University Oval in Dunedin.

This time, against India, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmat Shah gave good starts to the team with 21, 22, and 16 respectively, but failed to carry on. Shahidi and Azmatullah Omarzai then stitched together on 121 runs for the fourth wicket end the Afghanistan innings on a good note. Shahidi scored 80 runs off 88 balls with eight fours and a six before getting out LBW off Kuldeep Yadav. Omarzai scored 62 runs off 69 balls with two fours and four sixes.

Jasprit Bumrah claimed 4 wickets conceding 39 runs as birthday boy Hardik Pandya took 2-43 in seven overs. The score might not be a huge one considering the kind of team India is. But the way Afghanistan showed up against the star-studded side at their home, is commendable.

Prior to the match, the skipper of the Afghanistan team Hashmatullah Shahidi said, “We will bat first. It looks like a good batting surface. We have a good bowling attack to restrict them. It looks like a good surface, we want to bounce back with the bat. We are enjoying, good chance to showcase our talent. We are going with the same team.”