ODI World Cup digest: Afghanistan humble Pakistan; South Africa prepare for Bangladesh،
The Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 takes place in India from October 5 to November 19. Every morning, we’ll round up the latest action and news from the event and bring you the perspectives of our journalists on the ground.
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Featured: Gurbaz, Ibrahim and Rahmat boss 283 chase each other in Afghanistan’s maiden ODI win against Pakistan
Afghanistan 286 for 2 (Ibrahim 87, Rahmat 77*, Gurbaz 65, Shahidi 48*, Hasan 1-41) beaten Pakistan 282 for 7 (Babar 74, Shafique 58, Noor 3-49, Naveen 2-52) by eight wickets
8-0 or 7-1? No, we’re not talking about that one. Heading into their fifth match of the 2023 World Cup, Afghanistan had not beaten Pakistan in an ODI in seven attempts. They had brought them together on at least two occasions, but had to endure one heartbreak after another. But on probably the biggest stage of all, Afghanistan finally managed to break the hoodoo. And they did it, in Chennai, by eight wickets chasing 283 with six balls to spare, creating their most successful chase in ODIs. A “W” against Pakistan finally, and 1-7 too. It was also the most successful chase against Pakistan in a World Cup match.
Should this be considered a surprise? Perhaps not after what Afghanistan did to England, not after the clinical manner in which they chased down the target on Monday to move up to sixth on the table.
Click here for the full report
Match Analysis: Young stars Noor and Ibrahim light the way on a famous night for Afghanistan
When Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi hits Shaheen Shah Afridi to the square leg boundary and lets out a primal roar, Chepauk roars with him. Around the same time, fireworks erupted in Kabul and fans filled the streets to celebrate Afghanistan’s first-ever victory over rival Pakistan.
Cut to Chennai: Rashid Khan, wearing an Afghan flag around his neck, rushes to hug his captain. Mohammad Nabi also bursts onto the field and cannot hide his emotions. Gulbadin Naib, captain of Afghanistan during the last World Cup, is relieved by Riaz Hassan. Chants of “Rashid! Rashid! Rashid” echo around Chepauk when he breaks into a jig with Irfan Pathan.
Rashid dons his dancing shoes again during the post-match celebrations in the dressing room, but this historic victory was shaped by less star-studded names: Noor Ahmad and Ibrahim Zadran.
Read the full analysis of Deivarayan Muthu in Chennai
One to watch: Urooj Mumtaz on Pakistan’s problems that have been plaguing them for quite some time
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Mumtaz: Panic should have set in in Pakistan during Asia Cup
Urooj Mumtaz on Pakistan’s problems that have been plaguing them for some time
News headlines
Match Preview
Bangladesh vs South Africa, Mumbai (2 p.m. IST; 8:30 a.m. GMT; 7:30 p.m. AEDT
Who wants to face the team that smashed 399 in their previous match? And there, they did it too. Bangladesh have that privilege, as they face a new South African unit – or will they, given the scorching Mumbai heat? – of their dismantling of England, reigning champions, on Saturday.
With three wins from four matches, South Africa are comfortably in third place on the points table. And their huge victories – 102 runs against Sri Lanka, 134 against Australia and 229 against England – gave them the best net runs rate in the tournament.
Full overview
Team News
South Africa (probable): 1 Quinton de Kock (week), 2 Temba Bavuma (captain)/Reeza Hendricks, 3 Rassie van der Dussen, 4 Aiden Markram, 5 Heinrich Klaasen, 6 David Miller, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Gerald Coetzee, 9 Keshav Maharaj, 10 years old Kagiso Rabada, 11 years old Lungi Ngidi
Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tanzid Hasan, 2 Litton Das, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 4 Shakib Al Hasan (captain), 5 Towhid Hridoy, 6 Mushfiqur Rahim (week), 7 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 8 Mahmudullah, 9 Hasan Mahmud, 10 Shoriful Islam, 11 Mustafizur Rahman
Analysis: South Africa has another ‘C’ word to deal with
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Markram: South Africa tries to approach prosecutions as if setting a target
He said the players were also closely following their compatriots at the Rugby World Cup.
Eight scores over 300 this year. Six totals over 300 in their last seven games, and two of them over 400. Three scores over 300 already this World Cup, including a 229-run drubbing of defending champions England. All this with the most explosive bat of the tournament so far.
So what’s the catch?
This, dear reader, lies in the fact that all but one of these feats were achieved first.
If you leave aside their successful chase of 343 against England at home in January, all their blazing batting performances came in the first batting. And all three of their wins in this World Cup have also come at the leadoff hitter.
Read Vishal Dikshit’s full analysis
