New Delhi: Rohit Sharma oozed class and elegance en route to a recording-breaking hundred, leading India to an emphatic eight-wicket win over Afghanistan in the ODI World Cup on Wednesday.
ICC wrote on X to confirm the win, “Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah helped India continue their assertive run in the CWC23”.
On a batting beauty, India skipper Rohit (131 off 84) was unstoppable and flaunted his envious range of strokes. Sharma reached his century in 63 balls, thus making it the fastest ton by an Indian in the World Cup. He eventually finished with 131 off 84 balls, his seventh World Cup hundred overall. Hasmatullah Shahidi’s dogged 80 and the young Azmatullah Omarazai’s gutsy 62 took Afghanistan to 272 for eight after opting to bat. Jasprit Bumrah took four wickets and finished with his best ever figures in a World Cup match.
India chased down Afghanistan’s total of 272 for eight with ease, winning in just 35 overs. The victory gives India a big boost to their net run-rate ahead of their third World Cup fixture against arch-rivals Pakistan on October 14.
Australia are aiming for a comeback in the ICC Men’s ODI Cricket World Cup 2023 when they take on South Africa at the Lucknow’s Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
Australia got off to a bad start in the tournament with a loss against hosts India in their first match. South Africa, on the other hand, kicked off their campaign with a thumping win over Sri Lanka.
All eyes will be on the likes of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood as well as South Africa’s batters Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen in this crucial match.
“Australia looks to bounce back against an in-form SOuth Africa”, wrote ICC on X.
The match between Australia and South Africa is shaping up to be a close and exciting encounter. Both teams are evenly matched and it will be difficult to predict a winner.