Mohammed Shami's hat-trick in the last over of the match helped India maintain their winning streak as they defeated Afghanistan by 11 runs at the Rose Bowl Cricket Ground on Saturday. Chasing a modest target of 225 runs, Afghanistan had a poor start as opener Hazratullah Zazai (10) got out in the seventh over bowled by Shami. Gulbadin Naib and Rahmat Shah then stitched a 44-run partnership. After Naib's dismissal, Hashmatullah Shahidi and Gulbadin added another 42 runs before Jasprit Bumrah sent both the set batsmen, Rahmat Shah (36) and Hashmatullah (21), back to the pavilion in the 29th over. Asgar Afghan and Mohammad Nabi then took the charge but only managed to form a 24-run partnership as Afghan (8) became a victim of Yuzvendra Chahal. Najibullah Zadran came out to bat along with Nabi but their 36-run partnership was halted by Pandya as he took the wicket of Najibullah Zadran (21).
Rashid Khan took the field when they needed 59 runs from 48 balls. Nabi and Rashid Khan played brilliantly. However, at a very crucial time, Yuzvendra Chahal bowled Rashid Khan. Nabi still kept Afghanistan's hope alive. The match was then brought to a point where Afghanistan needed 16 runs in the last over of the inning. Mohammed Shami bowled the final over and Nabi hit a boundary on the first delivery of the over. But Nabi gave away an easy catch to Hardik Pandya on the third delivery which ended his 52-run inning. Shami then took another two wickets to complete his hat-trick as he bowled both Aftab Alam and Mujeeb Ur Rahman. Earlier, Afghanistan displayed a spirited bowling performance to restrict India to 224 runs for the loss of eight wickets in 50 overs after being asked to bowl first.
Shakib keeps Bangladesh afloat
Mushfiqur Rahim (83 off 87 balls) and Shakib (51 off 69) helped Bangladesh post a competitive 262/7 after Afghanistan opted to field at the Hampshire Bowl. Shakib was also exceptional with the ball. The leftarm spinner ended with figures of 5/29 in 10 overs, his best in ODI cricket. Chasing 263 was tough for Afghanistan batting line-up but 48 for no loss in 10 overs raised hopes that the Gulbadin Naib-led side might just get its first win of the tournament after six losses in a row. However, the batting fell apart after Shakib removed Rahmat Shah (24) and from 49 for no loss, Afghanistan were reeling at 132 for six. The seventh wicket stand for 56 runs between Samiullah Shinwari (49 not out) and Najibullah Zadran (23) saved them the blushes. Afghanistan were eventually all out for 200 in 47 overs. Bangladesh’s third win in seven games took them to seven points and if they win their remaining fixtures against India and Pakistan, the Mashrafe Mortaza-led team will end the league stage with 11 points.
Pakistan end SA’s Cup dream
Haris Sohail smashed a 59-ball 89 to help Pakistan to script a 50-run win over South Africa on Sunday at Lord's. With just their second win from six games, Pakistan managed to stay alive in the tournament. The defeat, their fifth in this tournament, on the other hand sent South Africa crashing out. On Sunday, Pakistan dropped at least five catches, but then produced a moment of brilliance as pacer Wahab Riaz sent Chris Morris back with a curving yorker that crashed into the bottom of the leg stump. Wahab took two more scalps with his deadly fuller deliveries. Apart from Sohail, Babar Azam (69), leggie Shadab Khan (3-50) and Mohammad Aamir (2-49) contributed handsomely to Pakistan’s morale-boosting win. With 15 wickets under his belt, Amir, now the leading wicket-taker in this World Cup along with Jofra Archer and Mitchell Starc, sizzled again. He could’ve had a third, but dropped David Miller of his own bowling. Pakistan scored 308 runs for 7 while batting first. In reply South Africa 259 runs all out in their reply.
Sri Lanka upset England
Top-ranked England lost for the second time when Sri Lanka secured a stunning 20-run victory at Headingley. England had been aiming to retake the lead in the World Cup standings with a win and appeared to be on track after restricting Sri Lanka to 232-9. But Lasith Malinga took four top-order wickets and Dhananjaya de Silva snared three in nine balls as England were bowled out for 212. Ben Stokes went on the attack late, with nine wickets down, stroking two sixes and two boundaries after he was dropped in the outfield, but was stranded on 82 when No. 11 bastman Mark Wood was caught behind at the end of the 47th over. Angelo Mathew's slow unbeaten 85 in Lanka's 232-9 finished as the highest score of the match.
Everything appeared to be going England's way at the innings break but when Malinga removed Jonny Bairstow on the second ball and dismissed opener James Vince (14) in the seventh over, the hosts were wobbling at 26-2. The paceman returned to take 2-12 in his second spell, claiming his 50th World Cup wicket when he had Joe Root (57) caught behind edging down the leg side. He made it No. 51 when he trapped Jos Buttler (10) lbw with a full ball that crashed into the batsman's boot.
Williamson ton leads Kiwis to thrilling finish
Kane Willliamson's brilliant 106 not out under pressure helped New Zealand to a four-wicket victory over South Africa at Edgbaston. Colin de Grandhomme (60) played a valuable knock coming in at No.7 as he built a 91-run partnership with his captain to help New Zealand chase down 242 on a tricky pitch. Earlier, Hashim Amla (55 off 83 balls) and Rassie van der Dussen (67 not out off 64 balls) took South Africa over the 200-run mark as the Proteas kept losing wickets at regular intervals. The Black Caps were also not at their best as they dropped multiple catches. Lockie Ferguson was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 59 while Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme and Mitchell Santner picked one wicket apiece. The defeat puts Faf du Plessis and his men on the brink of elimination from the World Cup. An attempted yorker from Phehlukwayo and the New Zealand captains gets on his knee smacks it over the mid-wicket boundary for a huge six. He dissects the field between gully and short third man to take New Zealand to victory.
