India defeats Afghanistan in T20 World Cup Super 8s match

New York – Suryakumar Yadav’s blistering half-century and a formidable bowling performance lifted India to a convincing 47-run win over Afghanistan in the 43rd match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 on Thursday. Afghanistan set a challenging target of 182 but faltered and could only manage 134 as they were bowled out on the last delivery of their innings. Afghanistan’s chase got off to a shaky start, losing three wickets for just 23 runs inside the first 4.1 overs. Gulbadin Naib and Azmatullah Omarzai tried to stabilize the innings with a 44-run partnership for the fourth wicket. However, both fell in quick succession, reducing Afghanistan to 71/5 in 11.1 overs. Naib scored 17 off 21 balls, including two boundaries and a six, while Omarzai top-scored for Afghanistan with 26 off 20 balls, hitting two fours and a six. Veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi and Najibullah Zadran added 31 runs for the sixth wicket before Zadran was dismissed in the 16th over after scoring 19 off 17 balls. Nabi was out for 14 off 14 balls in the next over, and the tailenders could not withstand India’s bowling attack. Despite Noor Ahmad’s brave 12, the Afghan innings folded at 134. Jaspert Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh led the Indian bowling with three wickets each, while Kuldeep Yadav took two and Ravindra Jadeja chipped in with one. Earlier, India posted 181/8, thanks to Suryakumar Yadav’s quick 53 off 28 balls and Hardik Pandya’s crucial 32 off 24 balls. India’s innings started shakily as captain Rohit Sharma was dismissed for 8 by Fazalhaq Farooqi in the third over, with the score reading 11.

Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant then formed a 43-run partnership with Pant being the aggressor, scoring 20 off 11 balls. Kohli, who regularly scored 24 off 24 balls, was run out in the ninth over.

Yadav took charge and built a brief partnership with Shivam Dube (10 out of 7) before getting solid support from Hardik Pandya. Their 60-run stand tilted the match in India’s favor until Yadav was dismissed by Farooqi in the 17th over. Yadav’s innings featured five fours and three sixes.

India suffered a double blow in the 19th over when set batsman Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja were dismissed in quick succession, leaving the team at 165/7. Axar Patel and Arshdeep Singh then added a partnership of 16 runs, with Patel scoring 12 off 6 balls before running out on the last delivery. Farooqi and Rashid Khan were the standout bowlers for Afghanistan, taking three wickets each, while Naveen-ul-Haq has taken one.

Player of the match Suryakumar Yadav reflected on his performance and said, “A lot of hard work and practice has gone into this. I have a clear routine and process when I get started. I believe any bowler could have earned this award as well. This is my first Player of the Match award as a batsman, and hopefully the first of many. Rashid Khan’s bowling is always a challenge.

“Adaptation of conditions in the US to the West Indies was crucial; Knowing the game plan was key. When Hardik (Pandya) joined me, I emphasized that there is not too much left before the end, when the ball starts to turn. Our aim was to accelerate by the 16th and build from there, focusing on the team’s objectives.”

Scores in brief

INDIA 181-8 (Suryakumar Yadav 53, Hardik Pandya 32, Rashid Khan 3-26, Fazalhaq Farooqi 3-33) defeated
AFGHANISTAN 134 (Azmatullah Omarzai 26, Gulbadin Naib 17, Jasprit Bumrah 3-7, Arshdeep Singh 3-25) by 47 runs.