“Full Suthli Bomb”- Afghanistan falter as Sam Curran stars to become 1st Englishman to scalp a fifer
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Sam Curran
Afghanistan are playing in their first-ever T20 World Cup match, however, they didn’t have fine innings when they stumbled in front of England’s Sam Curran‘s five-wicket haul. All the Afghan batters could score was 112 all out on Saturday [October 22] at the Optus Stadium in Perth.
English skipper Jos Buttler won the toss and decided to field first. Afghanistan lost their wicket in the third over when Mark Wood drew the first blood on his very first ball by dismissing Rahmanullah Gurbaz (10 runs off nine balls with a six).
Hazratullah Zalai was the next to walk back to the pavilion in the seventh over, courtesy of Liam Livingstone‘s unreal screamer. Hazratullah slapped it away aerially as he looked to clear the point fence; the connection wasn’t good and Livingstone stretched and dived at the deep cover point to grab it.
Ibrahim Zadran tried to steady the innings but could contribute only 32 runs off 32 balls (with three fours and a six at a strike rate of 100). But Curran took care of him in the 12th over.
Curran also got rid of Usman Ghani in the penultimate over; it was also his fourth wicket. Curran threw a length ball outside off, and Ghani went after it; looked to go up and over the point fence. But he ended up cutting it; the simple and flat ball was caught by Livingstone.
Najibullah Zadran added 13 runs off 11 balls, while skipper Mohammad Nabi could score only three runs off five balls. Curran then dismissed Rashid Khan on a golden duck, while Mujeeb Ur Rahman also departed on a golden duck off Chris Woakes’ over.
Curran also dismissed Fazalhaq Farooqi on duck. In the end, Curran ended up scalping five wickets, while conceding just 10 runs in 3.4 overs at a brilliant economy of 2.73. Curran also became the first-ever bowler to scalp five wickets in T20Is.
Now it’ll be interesting to watch how English batters will face Afghan spinners, especially Rashid. If the spinners could at least keep restricting the batters in the middle overs, the match sure won’t be an on-sided one.
Check how Twitter reacted to Sam Curran’s 5-fer
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Gouri Das
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