Abu Dhabi: Team India finally won a match in the T20 World Cup, thrashing Afghanistan by 66 runs here on Wednesday night.
The big win kept India’s semifinal hopes alive, at least on paper, but will it be enough to ultimately take them through?
Indian batsmen came into their own after two flop shows after Virat Kohli lost his third straight toss in the tournament and was again asked to bat first.
Openers Rohit Sharma (74 off 47 balls) and KL Rahul (69 off 48) went all guns blazing from the word go to post a record opening partnership of 140 in just 14.4 overs. Afghanistan bowlers, including crafty leg-spinner Rashid Khan, suffered as India amassed 210 for 2 in 20 overs.
It was the first time a team has topped 200 in this World Cup.
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The top-order Afghanistan batsmen did strike some big blows, but they were never realistically in the hunt for victory chasing an imposing rate of 11 runs an over. Karim Janat top-scored with an unbeaten on 42, while skipper Mohammad Nabi scored 35.
Afghanistan ultimately managed 144 for 7, helping India’s sagging net run rate improve to +0.073 from -1.6.
Mohammad Shami bagged 3/32 and comeback man Ravichandran Ashwin – playing a T20 International after more than five years – registered brilliant figures of 2/14 in 4 overs.
India’s slim chances of making the semifinals are not in their hands. Even if they win their last two games by big margins against Scotland and Namibia, India will need New Zealand to lose either to Afghanistan or Namibia.
The net run rate will, in that scenario, come into play as India, New Zealand and Afghanistan could end up finishing on 6 points each.
Pakistan have already qualified for the last-four stage, having won all their 4 games so far.
Scores: India 210/2 in 20 overs. Afghanistan 144/7 in 20 overs.
Result: India won by 66 runs.
