Hardik Pandya, who is celebrating his 30th birthday today on October 11, 2023, was at the forefront of action in the ongoing ICC World Cup match between India and Afghanistan. This encounter is being played in Delhi.
Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss and chose to bat first. Afghanistan played the same XI that featured in the Bangladesh game. For India, R Ashwin was benched to bring in Shardul Thakur.
Afghanistan made a cautious start with Ibrahim Zadran doing more scoring in the opening wicket partnership of 32 runs. But he was also the first wicket to fall, as he was dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah for 22 runs with four fours. The other dangerous opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored 21 runs with 3 fours and 1 six.
Then Shardul Thakur accounted for Rahmat Shah for 16 runs. At 63/3 in 13 overs, captain Hashmatullah Shahidi and Azmatullah Omarzai came together and added 121 runs for the fourth wicket in 128 balls. This was the first-century partnership by Afghanistan in ODIs against India.
However, the partnership came to an end when Hardik Pandya clean-bowled Omarzai, who made 62 runs with 4 sixes and 2 fours. After picking his wicket, Hardik Pandya was over the moon and celebrated animatedly.
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