ODI World Cup India vs Afghanistan, 9th Match - Afghanistan Innings : 272/8 in 50 overs

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In the World Cup match on Wednesday, Afghanistan posted a respectable 272 for 8. Azmatullah Omarzai (62), the team's captain, and Hashmatullah Shahidi (80) both had excellent fifties, but Afghanistan struggled from the 35th to the 45th over and only managed a respectable score overall.

Afghanistan will be pleased with this result. Yet it's far from a score that ends the game. This pitch is excellent for batting despite not being a road like the one used for the South Africa-Sri Lanka match.

As Rahmat Shah was dismissed, it was 63/3 and Afghanistan were in trouble. Gurbaz and Ibrahim had excellent starts but wasted them.

Nonetheless, Azmatullah's promotion was a great success. Together with his captain Hashmat, the all-rounder kept the innings steady and delivered powerful hits to the spinners as well.

Both hitters reached their fifties, but the all-rounder was struck by a slower Pandya ball. Also, it stopped the momentum and slowed down the innings.

Shahidi, the captain, persisted and was on pace to score 100 runs before Kuldeep bowled him out. Bumrah re-entered the game and scored four times to keep Afghanistan from reaching the 300-point mark.

Najibullah and Nabi fell easily, while Rashid Khan's perilous cameo was cut short by a good catch. India is the clear favourite to win this race. To counter that, though, what can Afghanistan produce?

LIVE Ind vs Afg Score: Key Highlights of the Match

• Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi wins toss and opts to bat first
• Pacer Jasprit Bumrah is leading India's bowling attack
• Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran started on a steady note for Afghanistan
• Jasprit Bumrah provided team India with the first wicket and Ibrahim Zadran walked back to the pavilion

• Rahmanullah Gurbaz was playing well but then birthday boy Hardik Pandya sent his back to the pavilion
• Shardul Thakur came back well from the drinks break and dismissed Rahmat Shah
• Hashmatullah Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai are trying to build a partnership
• Hardik Pandya provided Team India with BIG breakthrough as he dismissed Azmatullah Omarzai

• Kuldeep Yadav grabbed a BIG wicket of skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi and soon Jasprit Bumrah departed Najibullah Zadran and Mohammad Nabi
• After 50 overs, Afghanistan is at 272/8