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In the World Cup 2023 face-off against England in Delhi on October 15, Rahmanullah Gurbaz of Afghanistan dazzled the crowd, achieving his half-century in a mere 33 balls. This feat established his fifty as the fourth fastest in this World Cup edition. Yet, the prospect of recording his maiden World Cup ton was thwarted when he found himself run out at 80, following a communication breakdown with captain Hashmatullah Shahidi.
The costly mistake transpired in the game's 29th over. Shahidi tentatively played a ball just wide of off-stump, attempting a risky run. Alertly, David Willey from mid-wicket secured the ball, landing a direct hit on the stumps. Gurbaz's desperate attempt to dive into his crease was unsuccessful, handing England a significant advantage.
As Gurbaz made his way back to the pavilion, his disappointment was palpable. In a show of visible frustration, he struck the boundary hoarding and a chair situated off the field. Such overt displays of discontent could potentially lead to a portion of his match fees being forfeited.
Even though Gurbaz fell short of what would've been a historic century for an Afghan player in the ODI World Cup, his explosive innings won admiration from many. Echoes of the prowess akin to cricket legends like MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli could be heard. Numerous tweets poured in from fans and enthusiasts, showering praise on the talented batter for his memorable performance.
Despite a slow lull in the middle overs, Afghanistan clawed its way back into the game against England as they chased a historic victory. After Gurbaz was sent back to the pavilion, Ikram Alikhil was the main aggressor with his 58 runs in 66 balls. He was ably supported by Rashid Khan's 22-ball 23 and Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman's 28 runs in 16 balls as the side set a target of 285 for the defending champions.
For England, Adil Rashid took 3 wickets for 42 runs.
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