World Cup 2019: Twitter lauds Mohammad Shami for his incredible hat-trick as India win a thriller against Afghanistan

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India v Afghanistan - ICC Cricket World Cup 2019

India managed to pull off a thrilling 11-run win over Afghanistan in their World Cup encounter at Southampton. The match between one of the heavyweights and the lowest ranked team in the tournament was expected to be a one-sided affair and the Men in Blue went into the tie as overwhelming favorites.

However, India escaped a scare as they successfully saw off a valiant challenge from the underdogs to maintain their unbeaten run in the tournament. With this win, India are third on the table with four wins from their five matches whereas Afghanistan stay at the bottom, losing all six of their matches so far in the tournament.

Despite the pitch favoring the bowlers, Virat Kohli won the toss and decided to bat first. The Men in Blue got off to a terrible start as Rohit Sharma, who has been in a tremendous form in the tournament, was dismissed in the fifth over. KL Rahul and Virat Kohli put the Indian innings on track with a steady partnership but India kept losing wickets at a regular intervals. Kohli was the highest scorer with 67 off 63 balls but despite his efforts, India were restricted to 224 in the first innings.

Chasing a paltry target of 225, Afghanistan started well as they were going about their task steadily. They were 106/2 at one stage but Jasprit Bumrah's superb spell brought India back in the game as he picked up two wickets in three balls. Mohammad Nabi played a fantastic innings under pressure but the Indian bowlers kept piling the pressure on their opponents which saw the required run rate rise steadily.

Afghanistan needed 16 off the last over but Mohammad Shami bowled brilliantly to take a hat-trick to win the match in style for his team. After a great penultimate over from Bumrah where he bowled numerous yorkers, Afghanistan needed 16 in the last over to win the match. Shami rendered the opponents speechless as he bowled some spectacular deliveries with immense precision to seal the game.

Here's how twitter reacted to Shami's heroics:

We won but an outstanding effort from Afghanistan. They can be very proud. Bumrah and Shami saved it for India in the end. Congratulations to @MdShami11 on the Hat-trick. #INDvAFG

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) June 22, 2019

Shami's Facebook password might be weak but his will to fight back is very very strong. #INDvAFG

— Sagar (@sagarcasm) June 22, 2019

Top quality bowling by all the 5 bowlers under pressure to win the game for 🇮🇳 Special hattrick by #shami 👏👏 but team India is lucky to have #bumrah specially at the death overs

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) June 22, 2019

After 47th Over: AFG were 201/7, needing 24 from 18.

▪ 48th Over: SHAMI conceded just 3 runs
▪ 49th Over: BUMRAH conceded just 5 runs
▪ 50th Over: SHAMI conceded just 4 runs & took a Hat-trick

Thanks to the duo of SHAMI & BUMRAH, 🇮🇳 emerged victorious.#INDvAFG #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/lwJ8DzoIbv

— Brutal Batsman (@BrutalBatsman) June 22, 2019

Hat-trick for Mohammad Shami. First ever for an Indian in a World Cup. 👏🙏🇮🇳 #INDvAFG #INDvsAFG #AFGvIND pic.twitter.com/ysmNo3Qf4X

— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) June 22, 2019

From Virat and Bumrah one expects consistent brilliance. Biggest influencers in India’s win today were Kedar Jadhav and Mohd Shami, both under scrutiny and pressure in tight situations

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) June 22, 2019

Mohammed Shami joins an elite club as he becomes the ninth player to take a hat-trick in men's World Cups! 👏#CWC19 | #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/X3wWKCa90B

— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 22, 2019

Hat-trick-Shami to finish it off. How many teams would have finished the game so clinically. Well done India.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 22, 2019

Muhammad Shami gets a hat-trick as India beats Afghanistan in a nail biter at the World Cup of Cricket.

A hat-trick and that too on the last ball and at a World Cup match. What a historic performance. This is cricket. And an incredible challenge by Afghanistan. #INDvAFG pic.twitter.com/oaUjTtxT9L

— Tarek Fatah (@TarekFatah) June 22, 2019

In the last over: #INDvAFG

*Nabi hits Shami for 4 runs on first ball*
Sanjay Manjrekar: That's the difference between Bumrah and Shami.

*Shami replies with a hatrick*

Sanjay Manjrekar: pic.twitter.com/eBNdZUrxkJ

— Vaibhav Salgaonkar (@TheSalgaonkar) June 22, 2019

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