IND vs AFG | Twitter reacts as Shahidiās street-smarts bail Afghanistan out of trouble with two free hits
When a well-oiled machine such as India is on song, even the best teams often choke in the stranglehold. However, Hashmatullah Shahidi displayed exemplary game awareness on Wednesday to find an unusual chink in Indiaās armour involving flouting of the rules that helped Afghanistan regain momentum.
India were well on top of their Asian counterparts Afghanistan in the World Cup encounter at Arun Jaitley Stadium after three early wickets had the visitors reeling at 63/3. While the incumbent batter Rahmat Shah seemed to stabilize the ship alongside the incoming skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi, the duo struggled to score consistently against the lethal spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav. However, just as the pressure was coming to a boil, a rare act of carelessness from Rohit Sharma and co. in the 22nd over allowed the team their first boundary in 53 balls.Ā
Jadeja started the over by flighting a delivery full and outside off-stump to Shahidi who was batting on 16 off 27 deliveries at the time, having failed to send the ball to the ropes a single time during his stay at the crease. He finally broke the shackles by going down on his knees and sweeping a hard thus managing to find a thick top-edge that ran away from over. The shot was uncharacteristic for an orthodox batter such as Shahidi but his reaction instantly after explained the logic behind it.
Shahidi rushed to the umpire to indicate that the Men in Blue had just four fielders inside the circle as opposed to the minimum requirement of five between overs 10 and 40. The umpire obliged by declaring the delivery a no-ball, a result the Afghan skipper was already confident of prior to the delivery, thereby effectively earning his time two free hits. Twitterati was all praise for the cricketing IQ displayed by Shahidi and heaped praise on him on social media.
That was clever from the batsman!
ā Vivek Pant (@ManasSingh45) October 11, 2023
That was not Jaddu's fault tho!
@Rivaba4BJPĀ @imjadejaĀ Mr jadeja is going to make world record of balling maximum no ball in international cricket being a spinner. All the Best.
ā Arpit Shah (@acshah6090)Ā October 11, 2023
Hahaha!
Please some1 tell Sunny G.. that No ball was because of 4 fielders inside the Ring..
ā Huzi (@Huzi23043545)Ā October 11, 2023
Guy bashed Jadeja for no reasonš¤£š¤£š¤£šš#INDvsAFG
That was really not expected from India!
What a rookie mistake to make,giving a field restriction no ball.
ā Noone (@UdtaS)Ā October 11, 2023
He's doing good out there!
Azmatullah Omarzai dealing with Singles and Sixers
ā Don Cricket š (@doncricket_)Ā October 11, 2023
He hits 2 sixes against Kuldeep
Hits a six against Ravindra Jadeja#INDvsAFGĀ |Ā #INDvAFGĀ |Ā #CWC23
Jaddu!
Ravindra jadeja
ā Irfan.ethšš (@MOHDIRF36995268)Ā October 11, 2023
That was good hit!
Azmatullah opening up, hits Jadeja for Six. š®š³š¦š«#INDvAFGĀ #CWC23Ā pic.twitter.com/Bu07KNQi7r
ā $ (@samirsynthesis)Ā October 11, 2023
Haiii haiii!
Cemera man naughty ho rahe hoš„±š„±š¤£š¤£š¤£Ā @DisneyPlusHS@StarSportsIndia#INDvsAFGĀ #AFGvsIND
ā cricket live (@kahanicricketke)Ā October 11, 2023
Isss kaam keliyee toh waqt hii wat haii!š¤£š¤£
cameraman uske kaam pe lag gyaĀ #INDvsAFGĀ #WorldCup2023Ā pic.twitter.com/ehdhTYq3Km
ā Abhinav Singh (@Abhinav13347031)Ā October 11, 2023
LOL! Struggling.
Ek wicket to nikal SirajĀ #INDvsAFG
ā Kashinath 2.0 (@TheDeolsFC)Ā October 11, 2023
Something is fishy!
Crazy scenes in DelhiĀ #INDvsAFGĀ Now
ā Prakash šæš¬ (@JeyVamos)Ā October 11, 2023
Next Match :Ā #INDvsPAKĀ pic.twitter.com/qa6mVqFU4W