WATCH: Mohammad Shami grabs hat-trick vs Afghanistan in ICC Cricket World Cup 2019

Mohammad Shami grabs hat-trick vs Afghanistan: Indian fast bowler bowled a match-winning last over against Afghanistan.

During the 28th match of the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 between India and Afghanistan at Southampton, India fast bowler Mohammad Shami became only the second Indian bowler (after Chetan Sharma) to grab a hat-trick in the World Cup.

Been included in India’s playing XI for this match in place of injured Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shami bowled a match-winning last over to aid India in jumping to No. 4 on the points table.

Defending 16 runs in the last over, Shami was expected to do the same. However, veteran Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi hitting a boundary on the first ball spoke of the otherwise.

Knowing that Nabi holds the key for the opposition, Shami was successful in dismissing him on the third ball of the last over. While Nabi (52) was out caught at the boundary, Shami’s other two dismissals saw him castling Afghanistan tail-enders in Aftab Alam (0) and Mujeeb Ur Rahman (0) on the first ball that they faced.

Playing an ODI after the last ODI of Australia’s tour of India in March, Shami was on point from the word go. Having registered bowling figures of 9.5-1-40-4, Shami was the pick of the bowlers for India.

Apart from the hat-trick, Shami had dismissed Afghanistan opening batsman Hazratullah Shahidi (10) to make early inroads into the opposition’s batting lineup.

The 28-year old pacer continued on his impressive numbers this year. In 12 ODIs, Shami has picked 23 wickets at an average of 23.56, an economy rate of 5.04 and a strike rate of 28.

Mohammad Shami grabs hat-trick vs Afghanistan:

How Twitter reacted on Shami’s hat-trick:

👆 👆 👆

Nerves of steel from Mohammad Shami.#CWC19 | #INDvAFG pic.twitter.com/H9CLRVMNdd

— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 22, 2019

We won but an outstanding effort from Afghanistan. They can be very proud. Bumrah and Shami saved it for India in the end. Congratulations to @MdShami11 on the Hat-trick. #INDvAFG

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) June 22, 2019

We won but an outstanding effort from Afghanistan. They can be very proud. Bumrah and Shami saved it for India in the end. Congratulations to @MdShami11 on the Hat-trick. #INDvAFG

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) June 22, 2019

The Shami hat-trick might make the headlines, but it was Bumrah’s 49th over that sealed the match

— Sambit Bal (@sambitbal) June 22, 2019

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About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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