Twitter reactions on Mohammed Shami’s hat-trick: Twitter was exhilarated on India playing a nerve-wrenching match vs Afghanistan.
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During the 28th match of the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 between India and Afghanistan at Southampton, India defeated Afghanistan by 11 runs to register their fourth victory in the tournament.
Chasing a 225-run target, a couple of decent partnerships saw Afghanistan in a comparatively easy position to win the match. However, India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah picking two wickets in three balls changed the course of the match.
Going down to the wire, the chase saw Afghanistan needing 40 runs in the last five overs. While India had dismissed six Afghani batsmen, veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi held the key for them.
Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni worked in unison to stump Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan (14) to further bolster their chances of winning the match. Having said that, Nabi pulling Bumrah for a six in the following over added balance to the contest.
India fast bowler Mohammed Shami conceding just three runs in the 48th over reduced the equation to the opposition needing 21 runs in the last two overs. Needing 16 runs off six balls, Nabi scored a boundary down the ground to add value to the cliffhanger.
What sealed the match for India was Shami registering a hat-trick in the last over. Him dismissing Nabi (52), Aftab Alam (0) and Mujeb Ur Rahman (0) saw Afghanistan getting bundled out on 213 in 49.5 overs.
After India captain Virat Kohli won the toss and chose to bat, India scored a mediocre 224/8 in their allotted quota of 50 overs. A 52nd ODI half-century saw Kohli top-scoring for India with 67 (63) with the help of five fours. With bowling figures of 9-0-33-2, Nabi was the pick of the bowlers for them. Other than him, even their captain Gulbadin Naib (9-0-51-2) dismissed a couple of batsmen.
Twitter reactions on Mohammed Shami’s hat-trick:
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