Virat’s 67, Shami’s Hat-trick & Other Big Moments from India v AFG

India vs Afghanistan – The pre-tournament favourites were up against the lowest-ranked team in the ICC World Cup. A match which was expected to be a one-sided affair ended up being one of the most thrilling games of the tournament so far, on Saturday, 22 June.

After restricting India to 224/8 in their 50 overs, Afghanistan fought tooth and nail and took the match to the final over. However, the Gulbadin Naib-led team eventually fell just 11 runs short as they were bowled out for 213 in 49.5 overs courtesy a Mohammed Shami hat-trick at Southampton.

Here's a recap of that nail-biting match and the top moments from it.

1. Virat’s Half-Century

After India won the toss and opted to bat, both the openers failed to fire. And so for the first time this World Cup, the Men in Blue did not get the kind of start they’ve been getting so far. However, captain Virat Kohli and KL Rahul put the innings back on track with a 57-run stand. Virat went on to score his 51st ODI half-century and eventually top-scored for India with 67 off 63 balls before getting caught off Nabi in the 31st over.

2. Rashid Khan Ends Dhoni-Jadhav Stand

But put Virat’s knock aside, and India never really got the momentum going in their innings. And credit for that goes to the Afghan spinners who accounted for 5 wickets on the day. Rashid Khan, who had conceded a World Cup-record 0-110 against England, finished with figures of 1/38 from 10 overs. And the one wicket he picked up was that of none other than MS Dhoni. As the star wicketkeeper-batsman was stumped for the first time since 2011, Rashid brought to an end to the crucial 57-run stand between him and Kedar Jadhav. Hardik Pandya was then removed for just 7 and India restricted to their lowest total this World Cup.

3. Bumrah Picks 2 Wickets in 29th Over

Afghanistan were then going steady in their run-chase. Gulbadin Naib and Rahmat shah had stitched a 44-run stand, the Indian bowlers were struggle to get wickets, when Jasprit Bumrah picked up 2 wickets in the 29th over to tilt the game in India’s favour. The Man of the Match ended a 42-run partnership, removing Rahmat Shah for 36 and Hashmatullah Shahidi for 21 as the Men in Blue finally heaved a sigh of relief.

4. Nabi Carries Afghanistan Innings

Afghanistan may have been been down but they were definitely not out. The new batsman in Mohammad Nabi carried the innings forward. Even as wickets fell around him, he scored a 53-ball half-century that gave the Afghans that big hope of pulling off a massive upset.

5. Shami Takes Last-Over Hat-trick

The match reached its 100th over. And to get their first win at this World Cup, Afghanistan needed 16 runs off the last 6 balls with 3 wickets in hand. injured Bhuvneshwar kumar’s replacement Mohammed Shami was handed the ball. First delivery of the over, and Nabi smashed the ball down the ground for a boundary. And this is when everyone was really sitting on the edge. Nabi refused a single on the second ball, kept strike and then got caught at long on trying to hit big. And to wrap things up in style as they say, Mohammed Shami dismissed two more batsmen on the next two deliveries to become only the second Indian to take a World Cup hat-trick, also handing Afghanistan their sixth straight loss.