Opener Mohammad Shahzad’s brilliant century and Mohammad Nabi’s important 64-run knock helped Afghanistan to manage a good fighting total of 252/8 (50 overs) on the board against India at Dubai International Cricket Stadium (Dubai) in the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup 2018.
At the beginning of the day, the Indian camp surprised the cricket world as MS Dhoni returns to the international captaincy. However, Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan won the toss and decided to bat first.
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The Afghan opener and the wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Shahzad started the innings very well as he put a 65-run opening partnership along with another opener Javed Ahmadi, who only managed to score 5 runs before getting stumped out. During that opening partnership, Shahzad completed his half-century in just 37 balls.
When next few wickets were falling quickly from the other side as they went down from 65/0 to 82/4, Shahzad continued his dominant batting. Then, Shahzad put another important 50-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Gulbadin Naib. During that partnership, Shahzad completed his brilliant deserving fifth ODI century in just 88 balls.
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After Naib lost his wicket on 15 runs, Shahzad provided another crucial 48-run partnership along with Mohammad Nabi for the sixth wicket. Finally, Shahzad was dismissed by Kedar Jadhav after scoring 124 runs 116 balls (11 fours and 7 sixes).
Another 46-run partnership was built by Nabi and Najibullah Zadran for the seventh wicket as Zadran scored 20 runs before getting out. Nabi completed his half-century in 45 balls and scored 64 runs off 56 balls (3 fours and 4 sixes) before Khaleel Ahmed dismissed him. At the end of 50 overs, Afghanistan scored 252/8.
Among the Indian bowlers, the left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja (3/46) picked up three wickets and the left-arm chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav (2/38) got two wickets. Also, the left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed (1/45), the debutant pacer Deepak Chahar (1/37) and the off-spinner Kedar Jadhav (1/27) took one wicket each.
Some key stats of the innings:
- MS Dhoni came back to the leadership role in international cricket after 696 days.
- At the age of 37 years and 80 days, MS Dhoni becomes India’s oldest ODI captain. The previous record holder was Mohammad Azharuddin who had led the Indian cricket team last time in ODI cricket at the age of 36 years and 124 days.
- When Afghanistan was on 131/4, Mohammad Shahzad completed his century. It was the joint lowest team total in ODI history when a player completed his century. Earlier, Pakistan batsman Shahid Afridi completed his ODI century against India when Pakistan’s total was 131/0 (at Kanpur on April 15, 2005).
- Afghanistan batsman Mohammad Shahzad scored 124 runs in this match. It is the third highest ODI knock by an Afghanistan batsman. The top two in this list are 131* by Mohammad Shahzad (against Zimbabwe at Sharjah on 29 December 2015) and 129 by Nawroz Mangal (against UAE at ICCA Dubai on 30 November 2014).
- Afghanistan batsman Mohammad Shahzad (2,508 ODI runs) completed 2,500 runs in his ODI career. He becomes the first Afghanistan batsman to achieve this feat.
Here are some Twitter reactions:
Brilliant 100 from Mohammad Shahzad. Seems to be batting on a different wicket.
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) September 25, 2018
Size doesn't matter, but the size of score matters! 😜 Someone who backed his game, more than worrying about his size! Way to go! Brilliant hundred @MShahzad077! 💯 #INDvAFG #AsiaCup2018
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) September 25, 2018
Spinners are shining!! Great work by @imkuldeep18 and @imjadeja along with @msdhoni's incredible stumping! 🇮🇳💪🏻.. Waiting to see who can take down the dangerous @MShahzad077! #INDvAFG #AsiaCup2018
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) September 25, 2018
It’s still a game of skills above all. #MohdShahzad
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) September 25, 2018
Dhoni leading India after a loooooong time….Chahar making his debut. Here’s today’s #HindiCommentary roster for #IndvAfg pic.twitter.com/XWuRtSFsZs
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) September 25, 2018
Must be an incredible game. Shahzad 103 out of 132 (89) . The other batsmen have strike rates of 26, 75 and 35. Only one boundary struck by another player!!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 25, 2018
This has been an incredible innings from Mohammad Shahzad. A century when the team score is 133/5 . Will need support from others to take Afghanistan to a respectable score #INDvAFG
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) September 25, 2018
Kedar Jadhav's bowling action is as low as my confidence around women. #IndvAfg pic.twitter.com/PZVnkeblYV
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) September 25, 2018
Who cares about fitness when you can do this……..#INDvAFG pic.twitter.com/vTW3sp5Roe
— Krishna (@Atheist_Krishna) September 25, 2018
She:-Dhoni will be the Captain of India for today's match
Me:- #INDvAFG pic.twitter.com/W3AntO7bTB— भाई साहब (@Bhai_saheb) September 25, 2018
😍 Dhoni as a captain #INDvAFG pic.twitter.com/6VZoXaFB5M
— Mask 🎭 (@Mr_LoLwa) September 25, 2018
No.1 to No.200. Come a long way MS. #IndvAfg #Dhoni200 pic.twitter.com/lhMIA1WI3v
— Nav (@ImNsamy) September 25, 2018
Long Live The Brotherhood. Spirit Of Cricket. 👏🙏 #INDvAFG #INDvsAFG #AFGvIND pic.twitter.com/AlaQQj2IJR
— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) September 25, 2018
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