Southampton, United Kingdom, Jun 22 – India struggled to 224 for eight in their 50 overs against World Cup whipping boys Afghanistan, failing to get out of second gear in Saturday’s group match in Southampton.

In-form opener Rohit Sharma, who has scored two hundreds so far in the tournament, was dismissed for just one by off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman as unbeaten India made a sluggish start after opting to bat under sunny skies on England’s south coast.

The rest of India’s powerful top order all got established, with skipper Virat Kohli making 67 from 63 balls.

But none went on to play a decisive innings for the two-time champions in front of thousands of their fanatical supporters.

They hit just 16 boundaries — including only one six — against an Afghanistan side who have lost all five of the matches in the tournament so far and at times have looked out of their depth.

Off-spinner Mujeeb was particularly impressive, conceding just 26 runs in his 10 overs, while leg-spinner Rashid Khan bounced back from the most expensive spell in World Cup history against England to take 1-38.

Sharma’s dismissal in the fifth over set the tone for the disappointing Indian display.

It brought star man Kohli to the wicket but India remained subdued and limped to 41-1 after 10 overs.

India lost KL Rahul for 30 with the score on 64 when he top-edged a reverse-sweep into the hands of Hazratullah Zazai at short third man off the bowling of Mohammad Nabi.

Kohli, who scored half-centuries against Australia and Pakistan, reached his fifty off 48 balls, with four fours.

Vijay Shankar was next to go, lbw to leg-spinner Rahmat Shah for 29, leaving India 122-3.

Nabi then claimed the prized wicket of Kohli, who was caught by Shah off the bowling of Nabi to leave India 135-4 in the 31st over.

MS Dhoni struggled to find any fluency, hitting 28 off 52 balls before he was stumped by Ikram Alikhil off the bowling of Rashid.

Hardik Pandya went cheaply and although Kedar Jadhav reached his fifty off 66 balls, Afghanistan will fancy their chances of a major shock.

India had made just one change to their line-up after their win against arch rivals Pakistan, with seam bowler Mohammed Shami replacing the injured Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Afghanistan, bottom of the 10-team World Cup table, made two changes, bringing in Zazai and Aftab Alam for Noor Ali Zadran and Dawlat Zadran.

%thecontent%%avatar%

%author%

%authornetworks%

%authordescription%

%authornetworks%

Comments

%sidebar%","opedarticle":"","sidead1":"ff","sidead2":"dd","sidead3":"","homestory":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More--","taxonomyitem":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More------","fixtureitem":"%name1%%score1%VS%score2%%name2%%time%","home":"rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn 1rn 2rn 3rn 4rn 5rn rn rn rn

Wanyama and Kenya out to impress at AFCON

rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn Saturday, 22nd Jun 2019rn rn rn rn Read Articlern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrnrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

More Headlines

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Bottas outpaces Hamilton, Mercedes rule in final practicern

rn rn Motorsrn rn rn rn 1 hour ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Nigeria’s Kalu ‘stable’ after collapsing in trainingrn

rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn 3 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn People power fuels Pacquiao for Thurman battlern

rn rn Boxingrn rn rn rn 1 hour ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Sanchez sends Chile into Copa America quarter-finalsrn

rn rn Motorsrn rn rn rn 1 hour ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Zimbabwe deny boycott threat for AFCON openerrn

rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn 1 day ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Ex-England star urges Tottenham to keep Wanyamarn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 1 day ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrn rn rn

Most Popular

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn rn I leave Gor Mahia on a high, says Kahatarn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn rn Dapper Stars jet into Cairo, ready for AFCONrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Inside Starsu2019 Paris camp- the medical roomrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn rn Mane suspended for Senegal's AFCON openerrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Kenya ready for the World Cup, says Odingarn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Rugbyrn rn rn rn rn Wokarach out of Uganda Elgon Cup squadrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Man arrested on suspicion of manslaughter over Emiliano Sala death: policern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Ex-England star urges Tottenham to keep Wanyamarn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Wanyama, from Nairobi streets to UCL finalistrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

All Sports

rn trn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Bottas outpaces Hamilton, Mercedes rule in final practice

rn rn rn Motorsrn rn Saturday, 22nd Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Nigeria’s Kalu ‘stable’ after collapsing in training

rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn Saturday, 22nd Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

India struggle against Afghanistan in World Cup

rn rn rn Cricketrn rn Saturday, 22nd Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

People power fuels Pacquiao for Thurman battle

rn rn rn Boxingrn rn Saturday, 22nd Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Sanchez sends Chile into Copa America quarter-finals

rn rn rn Motorsrn rn Saturday, 22nd Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Poll Question

rn rn ntnttnttntt

WILL EGYPT WIN 2019 AFCON AT HOME?

ntt
• YES
ntt
• NO
ntt

View Results

ntnn Loading ...n rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Zimbabwe deny boycott threat for AFCON opener

rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn Friday, 21st Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Nigeria coach Rohr wants Arsenal forward Iwobi to score more

rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn Friday, 21st Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Salah, Egypt set for AFCON bow in stifling heat

rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn Friday, 21st Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Cech makes Chelsea return as technical advisor

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Friday, 21st Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Folau asks fans to pay legal bills over anti-gay comments

rn rn rn Rugbyrn rn Friday, 21st Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Load More Storiesrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Sponsored

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Featured

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Bottas outpaces Hamilton, Mercedes rule in final practicern rn rn Viewrn rn Saturday, 22nd Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Wanyama and Kenya out to impress at AFCONrn rn rn Viewrn rn Saturday, 22nd Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Nigeria’s Kalu ‘stable’ after collapsing in trainingrn rn rn Viewrn rn Saturday, 22nd Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Kohli leads India recovery after shock Sharma dismissalrn rn rn Viewrn rn Saturday, 22nd Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Juventus seeking Ajax star De Ligt: reportrn rn rn Viewrn rn Saturday, 22nd Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnttt","sidebar":"rn rn rntrn rn t

Most Popular

rn rn t rn t

rn tI leave Gor Mahia on a high, says Kahatarn

rn AFCON 2019rn rn Tuesday, 18th Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tDapper Stars jet into Cairo, ready for AFCONrn

rn AFCON 2019rn rn Wednesday, 19th Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tInside Starsu2019 Paris camp- the medical roomrn

rn Footballrn rn Tuesday, 18th Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tMane suspended for Senegal's AFCON openerrn

rn AFCON 2019rn rn Saturday, 15th Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tKenya ready for the World Cup, says Odingarn

rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 20th Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tWokarach out of Uganda Elgon Cup squadrn

rn Rugbyrn rn Tuesday, 18th Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tMan arrested on suspicion of manslaughter over Emiliano Sala death: policern

rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 19th Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tEx-England star urges Tottenham to keep Wanyamarn

rn Footballrn rn Friday, 21st Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tWanyama, from Nairobi streets to UCL finalistrn

rn Footballrn rn Friday, 21st Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rnrn rn rn rn t

Featured

rn rn trn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Bottas outpaces Hamilton, Mercedes rule in final practicern rn rn Viewrn rn Saturday, 22nd Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Wanyama and Kenya out to impress at AFCONrn rn rn Viewrn rn Saturday, 22nd Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Nigeria’s Kalu ‘stable’ after collapsing in trainingrn rn rn Viewrn rn Saturday, 22nd Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Kohli leads India recovery after shock Sharma dismissalrn rn rn Viewrn rn Saturday, 22nd Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Juventus seeking Ajax star De Ligt: reportrn rn rn Viewrn rn Saturday, 22nd Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rn rn","articleerror":"

Oops...Something broke on our end

"},"messages":{"accessdenied":"Access to the account has been denied ","httperror":"Oops, something went wrong...please try again","contactgoogle":"Contacting Google","firsttime":"Seems this is your first time with this signin system. Please wait as we get your name","signinsuccess":"Cool. You're now signed in. This signin will close automatically now","pendingrequest":"Still communicating with the server","signedout":"Seems you were signed out. Try submitting again after you've been signed in","trackingerror":"Couldn't track Analytics","xhrnotconfigured":"To webmaster: Please confirm the xhr/ajax receptor is configured on the server","loadmore":"Load more stories"}}; /* ]]> */