OTD | Mohammed Shami comes to India’s rescue with last-over hat-trick against Afghanistan at Southampton

On June 22, 2019, India overcame a major threat owing to Mohammed Shami’s last-over hat-trick as they defeated Afghanistan by 11 runs in the ICC World Cup 2019. Afghanistan players with the likes of Aftab Alam, Mohammed Nabi, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman all got struck out sequentially by Shami (9.5-1-40-4). This remarkable success was accomplished while efficiently defending 16 runs off his last over.

The blistering fast bowler struck a hat-trick in the final over to take India over the line after it looked like Afghanistan’s game to lose at one point. Shami also became the second-ever Indian to take a World Cup hat-trick after Chetan Sharma. Mohammad Nabi, who was already batting at 48*, smashed a boundary off the first delivery in the long-on region to get to his half-century.

After producing a dot ball, Shami threw Nabi a yorker, which he blasted right onto the long-on for a catch in Hardik Pandya’s hands. The seamer finished off his hat-trick by removing Aftab Alam and Mujeeb Ur Rahman in the next two deliveries with successive yorkers.

Earlier that day, India fought magnificently after Virat Kohli made the decision to bat first after winning the toss. India anticipated racking up a massive score against the tournament’s most frail squad, considering its strength in the line-up. But it was not meant to be.

Earlier in the game, Virat Kohli’s 67 and Kedar Jadhav’s 52 assisted India to post 224 for 8 off their 50 overs, and the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Hardik Pandya each captured two scalps. Afghanistan gave India a serious fright; their batters fought valiantly till the end. Later, Afghanistan was bundled out for 213 while seeking an achievable 225-run mark after the Indian middle-order faltered in their 2019 World Cup.