In a high-voltage encounter at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, tempers flared between Australian and Afghanistan players. Early in Australia’s run chase of 292, former Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) teammates David Warner and Rashid Khan were involved in a heated exchange. Rashid was playing mind games with Warner as Naveen-ul-Haq was bowling well with the new ball. Warner did not seem happy about it and had a lengthy conversation with Rashid between overs.
The incident took place after the fourth over of Australia’s innings. Warner could score only two runs off the five deliveries he faced from Naveen. He was also beaten by a delivery swinging away from the bat.
The trick worked for Afghanistan as Warner threw his wicket away in the ninth over. Warner went for a slop sweep against Azmatullah Omarzai. He played across the line and got bowled by the in-swinger from around the stumps. He could score 18 runs from 29 balls. His wicket also led to Josh Inglis getting out for a golden duck next ball.
Later, Rashid had some trouble with Marnus Labuschagne as well. Labuschagne complained to the on-field umpires that Rashid was moving sideways while Naveen was running in to bowl.
Hashmatullah Shahidi introduced Rashid in the 15th over of the innings. On the first ball he faced, Glenn Maxwell hit the ball straight to the fielder but Labuschagne hesitated in taking a single and a direct hit caught him short of the crease.
In his next over, he got the wicket of Marcus Stoinis who was hit on the pad trying to play a reverse sweep. He followed it up with the wicket of Mitchell Starc as Ikram Alikhil took a brilliant catch.
Earlier, Rashid was impressive with the bat as well. He walked in to bat at no.7 in the 46th over. He hit three sixes and two fours in his unbeaten 18-ball 35 to help Afghanistan post 291/5 after opting to bat first. He hit Starc for two maximums and one four in the final over and refused to give centurion Ibrahim Zadran the strike.
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