Prasidh Krishna's 5-Wicket Haul Limits Afghanistan to 218 in ODI
In the third ODI, Prasidh Krishna's career-best 5-wicket haul restricted Afghanistan to 218 runs in Chennai. Despite a disciplined bowling effort from India, Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi anchored the innings with a hard-fought maiden century to reach the final total.
Highlights
- •Prasidh Krishna recorded a career-best 5/23, decimating Afghanistan's top-order early in the match.
- •Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi scored a valiant maiden ODI century of 102 runs.
- •Crucial partnerships with Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi helped Afghanistan reach a total of 218.
- •The tourists were handed a five-run penalty due to Shahidi running on the pitch's danger zone.
In a dominant bowling performance during the third and final ODI held in Chennai, Indian pacer Prasidh Krishna delivered a career-best performance, claiming 5 wickets for just 23 runs. His lethal opening spell left the Afghanistan top-order in disarray, with the visitors struggling significantly at 36 for four early in the match.
Prasidh Krishna's Elite Bowling Spell
Prasidh Krishna showcased exceptional control on the Chepauk pitch, consistently hitting the ideal length that forced the Afghanistan batters into risky shots. The effectiveness of his bowling was evident as Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, and Rahmat Shah all fell while attempting drives outside the off-stump, offering comfortable catches to Rohit Sharma at first slip. Darwish Rasooli also departed after an unsuccessful pull shot, with Shreyas Iyer completing a sharp catch at mid-off. With this remarkable achievement, Prasidh Krishna has now joined an elite group of Indian fast bowlers, including Jasprit Bumrah, Javagal Srinath, and Mohammed Siraj.
Despite the early collapse, Afghanistan managed a recovery thanks to their captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi. Playing a resilient anchor role, Shahidi battled through cramps to score a valiant 102, his maiden ODI century. He established a crucial 105-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Azmatullah Omarzai, who contributed a quick 50. A further 57-run stand with Mohammad Nabi helped stabilize the innings, although wickets began to tumble once Nabi was dismissed.
Impact of the Batting Recovery and Penalty
The middle-order resistance was essential in carrying Afghanistan past the 200-run mark. However, their innings faced an additional setback due to a five-run penalty imposed after Hashmatullah Shahidi was penalized for running on the danger zone of the pitch during the 39th over. Despite the physical discomfort and the pressure from the Indian bowling attack, Shahidi continued his effort until the team was eventually bowled out for 218. The match highlights the ongoing competitiveness in international cricket and the significant impact of individual brilliance in swinging the momentum of the game.
