Afghanistan’s impressive Cricket World Cup journey continued as they secured their second major upset, defeating Pakistan by eight wickets. Their top three batsmen all scored half-centuries, led by captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, who remained unbeaten at No. 4. This victory marked Afghanistan’s first ODI win against Pakistan in eight attempts, causing defending champions England to find themselves at the bottom of the points table.

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In a clinical chase reminiscent of their earlier triumph against England in the tournament, Afghanistan achieved the 283-run target set by Pakistan with an over to spare. Pakistan, after opting to bat, posted a total of 282 for seven, thanks to impressive half-centuries in CWC from their captain Babar Azam, and opener Abdullah Shafique.

Babar Azam won the toss and chose to bat against Afghanistan’s spin-heavy attack, which maintained pressure during the initial powerplay match of the Cricket World Cup. Afghanistan fielded four spinners in their XI, but it was pacer Azmatullah Omarzai who made the initial breakthrough by dismissing Imam-ul-Haq for 17.

In a remarkable Cricket World Cup debut, teenage spinner Noor Ahmad (three for 49) dismissed both Shafique (58) and Mohammad Rizwan (eight) in successive overs. Azam’s valiant effort of 74 runs also came to an end, falling to Ahmad. Iftikhar Ahmed and Shadab Khan added some late fireworks, with Ahmed smashing four sixes on his way to 40 runs. Afghanistan’s aggressive batting took them to the 100-run mark in just the 16th over of, as Rahmanullah Gurbaz (65) and Ibrahim Zadran (87) combined for a rapid opening partnership of 130 runs.

Shaheen Afridi’s Comeback and Afghanistan’s Victory in the CWC

In the Cricket World Cup clash, Shaheen Afridi made a crucial comeback, breaking the blossoming partnership by dismissing Gurbaz. However, Zadran and Rahmat Shah, who remained unbeaten at 77, sustained the momentum. Hasan Ali ended Zadran’s resilient innings, but Shah and Shahidi brilliantly guided Afghanistan to victory with an unbroken 96-run partnership, marking a memorable win against their neighbors.

Babar Azam, disappointed after Pakistan’s third defeat in five Cricket World Cup matches, expressed that their semi-final aspirations were now in jeopardy. He emphasized the need for a well-rounded performance across all three departments – batting, bowling, and fielding – in World Cup matches.

It’s challenging to pinpoint the exact moment when the tide turned against Pakistan. Perhaps it was when Afghanistan capitalized on two overthrows, converting a single into three runs early in their chase. Alternatively, it might have been when Shaheen Afridi conceded a boundary off the first ball, or when Rahmanullah Gurbaz played exquisite shots, including back-to-back cuts for four, further dimming Pakistan’s hopes ongoing for the Cricket World Cup.

Whenever it happened, it was evident to those witnessing the Afghanistan opening duo’s outstanding performance. Fueled by the energy of a 21,500-strong crowd at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium during the ICC ODI Cricket World Cup match in Chennai on October 23, Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran thrilled the audience. They reached their respective half-centuries in just 38 and 54 balls, steering Afghanistan towards their highest successful run chase in ODI cricket, securing a historic eight-wicket victory over Pakistan in the format.

Bowling Brilliance at Altitude: Cricket World Cup’s Dharamsala Encounter

In the context of the Cricket World Cup, the Gurbaz and Zadran partnership shone once more, marking their second-century stand in the tournament. Their success was partly due to the ball not offering as much grip and turn under the evening lights, which was less favorable for bowlers like Shadab Khan and Usama Mir.

Gurbaz and Zadran kickstarted their innings with an unbroken 130-run opening partnership. Shaheen Afridi, in his second spell, dismissed Gurbaz after a chanceless 65 off 53 balls. While boundaries became scarce after Gurbaz’s exit, Zadran and Rahmat Shah efficiently rotated the strike, preventing the required run rate from surging. Their second-wicket partnership contributed 60 runs before Zadran was caught behind, scoring 87, off Hasan Ali in CWC.

The Dharamsala stadium, known for its picturesque snow-capped Dhauladhar mountains, also offers an advantage in terms of altitude. This elevation aids fast bowlers, making Dharamsala, alongside Lucknow, one of the venues that provides the most swing for pacers in the initial ten overs of each innings in the Cricket World Cup.

Indian bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj play a pivotal role in their attack, though they miss Hardik Pandya. If Mohammed Shami joins the lineup, his ability to extract early movement with an upright seam will add to India’s bowling strength. While India’s bowling attack appears well-rounded, New Zealand’s unit is equally formidable. The 2019 Cricket World Cup stars, including Matt Henry, Trent Boult, and Lockie Ferguson, have shown their worth early in the tournament.

Spin Sensation Santner Tops Wicket-Taking Charts in Cricket World Cup

In the spin department, Mitchell Santner leads the wicket-taking charts with 11 dismissals at an average of 15.09. In the context of the Cricket World Cup, both teams’ batsmen have displayed exceptional form, with Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Devon Conway ranking second, third, and fourth in the run charts.

Mohammed Siraj’s World Cup performance has been below par. In four matches, he’s managed only five wickets at an average of 42.40, leaking runs at 6.32 per over. However, Dharamsala could be the venue where he turns the tide. Known for his ability to make the ball move both ways, Siraj’s wobble-seam deliveries may trouble New Zealand batsmen the most, providing him an opportunity to improve his Cricket World Cup stats.

While Boult and Southee often grab the spotlight, it’s Matt Henry who has been New Zealand’s standout fast bowler in the last two years. Since 2022, he has led all New Zealand bowlers with 41 wickets in 24 ODIs. In the Cricket World Cup, Henry has taken center stage, overshadowing Boult and Ferguson while maintaining an impressive economy rate of 4.83. He currently sits fourth on the wicket-takers list with nine wickets in four games at an average of 18.00.

Kohli’s Brilliance Leads India to Victory in Cricket World Cup Showdown

Unfortunately, Hardik Pandya won’t be available for the Dharamsala match due to an ankle injury sustained against Bangladesh. The replacement remains uncertain, with options such as Suryakumar Yadav or Ishan Kishan potentially stepping in for Hardik. Additionally, Shardul Thakur and Mohammed Shami might contend for the No. 8 spot, adding intrigue to India’s selection decisions in the Cricket World Cup.

In the context of the Cricket World Cup, the pitch initially appeared lush green, but a significant portion of the grass will likely be removed before the match. Nevertheless, fast bowlers can still anticipate pace and bounce. While the eve of the game was sunny, Sunday’s forecast suggests cooler and cloudier conditions, with temperatures hovering around 18 degrees Celsius at the game’s outset.

New Zealand faced an early scare during their batting innings but recovered, coming close to achieving a 300-plus total. India’s bowlers, however, made a strong comeback to limit them to a manageable target. India began their innings strongly, but New Zealand gradually tightened the screws. Thanks to composed batting, particularly Kohli’s 95, India successfully navigated the chase in the Cricket World Cup. India is set to face England on October 29, while New Zealand will take on rivals Australia on October 28.

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