ISLAMABAD: A watchful but brilliant hundred while facing 131 balls by Ibrahim Zadran guided Afghanistan to a decent total of 291-run against Australia in the crucial ICC World Cup match being played at Wankhede Stadium, India on Tuesday. After completing his century, Zadran further accelerated his inning, which was later assisted by quick, crucial runs from Muhammad Nabi and Rashid Khan.
Earlier, after winning the toss, Afghanistan decided to bat first. Both the openers, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, took a steady start and tried to save the wicket in the first 6 overs. However, in the 8th over, while accelerating the innings, Gurbaz was dismissed on 21. He was replaced by the in-form Rahmat Shah, who smashed three consecutive half-centuries in the last 3 matches.
Both Rehmat and Zadran took the score to cross the first hundred in the first 20 overs with an average of 5 runs per over. Meanwhile, Zadran also completed his fine half-century. In the 25th over, Rehmat Shah was dismissed by Maxwell on 30, when the total reached 121.
After Rehmat Shah, the skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi pushed the scoreboard with Ibrahim Zadran. In the 38th over, Starc got rid of Shahidi on 26. The next was Azmatullah Omarzai, who was dismissed by Zampa after adding a quick 18 runs to the total. Omarzai was replaced by Nabi who was sent on a mission to accelerate the innings further. Meanwhile, Ibrahim Zadran completed his terrific century on 131 balls, including 7 boundaries.
In the next over, Hazlewood bowled out Nabi on 12. At the stage, Afghanistan were 233 for 5 in 45.3 overs. Nabi was replaced by Rashid, who also contributed quick runs to the total. He scored 35 runs on 18 balls. Ibrahim Zadran scored 129 on 143 balls as unbeaten and remained on the crease from the start till the last over of the game. Afghanistan managed to score 291 for 5 in 50 overs.
From Australia, Josh Hazlewood took 2 wickets each, while Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, and Glenn Maxwell grabbed one wicket each.
Afghanistan Team
Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad and Naveen-ul-Haq
Australia Team
Travis Head, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa and Josh Hazlewood
