The Indian cricket team started its Super 8 campaign of the T20 World Cup 2024 with a 47-run win over Afghanistan at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Thursday.
Suryakumar Yadav top-scored in the match with 53 off just 28 balls to push India to 181/8 in their batting essay. His knock was laden with three sixes and five fours. Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya made 32 off 24 balls as Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan and Fazalhaq Farooqi finished with figures of 3/26 and 3/33, respectively.
Jasprit Bumrah was once again the pick among Indian bowlers with impressive figures of 3/7 as the Afghanistan cricket team managed only 134. Azmatullah Omarzai scored 26 off 20 as Arshdeep Singh picked up three wickets and Kuldeep Yadav ended with two.
The Indian cricket team wore black armbands in honour of former fast bowler David Johnson who passed away earlier in the day.
In the match, opting to bat first, India started slowly but Rishabh Pant brought a sense of urgency to the proceedings hitting three fours in the last over of powerplay to take the team to 47/1.
But Rashid struck thrice in his first three overs to have India in a spot of bother. However, Suryakumar held one end firm, getting runs at a fast clip, as India crossed the 100-run mark in the 13th over.
Player of the Match Suryakumar reached his fifty in just 27 balls and added 60 runs with Hardik for the fifth wicket to put India in a firm position to go big in the last three overs.
Hardik also played his part hitting three fours and two sixes during his knock. Axar Patel’s late cameo took India past the 180 mark as Rashid and Farooqi picked up three wickets each.
In return, Jasprit Bumrah sent back both Afghan openers, as Axar also struck in between to have Afghanistan reeling at 35/3 after the first six overs.
Gulbadin Naib and Omarzai showed some resistance with a 44-run partnership for the fourth wicket. But, both the set batters departed in the space of four balls with half the side back in the pavilion with the score reading just 71.
Bumrah and Kuldeep struck again in quick succession to end any hopes of an Afghanistan comeback. Arshdeep finished with 3/36 off four overs while Kuldeep picked up 2/32.
India will play Bangladesh in their next T20 World Cup Super 8 match at Antigua on Saturday.
IND vs AFG T20 World Cup 2024 brief scores: India 181/8 in 20 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 53, Hardik Pandya 32, Rashid Khan 3/26, Fazalhaq Farooqi 3/33) beat Afghanistan 134/10 in 20 overs (Azmatullah Omarzai 26, Jasprit Bumrah 3/7, Arshdeep Singh 3/36) by 47 runs.
