In a tournament featuring the ten best teams in the world it is a moot point whether any result can be a ‘shock’ or an ‘upset’ but that was the way Afghanistan’s convincing 69-run victory against defending champions England was viewed by the majority of cricket watchers – if not supporters of the Afghans.
It was a brilliant performance from start to finish with opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz smashing 80 from just 57 balls before England stumbled to 215 all out against Afghanistan’s brilliant trio of spinners who claimed the eight wickets between them. Mujeeb-ur-Rahman’s 3-51 earned him the player-of-the-match award but Rashid Khan (3-37) and Mohammad Nabi (2-16) were no less influential.
The second week of the tournament began with New Zealand underlining their class during a 99-run victory against the Netherlands. Half centuries from opener Will Young (70), Rachin Ravindra (51) and captain Tom Latham helped the Black Caps post a total of 322-7 to which the Dutch could muster just 223 in reply.
South African born Colin Ackermann (69) top-scored for the lowest ranked team in India but left-arm spinner Mitch Santner (5-59) made certain of victory with the best bowling analysis of the tournament so far.
England had appeared to put the defence of the cup back on track with a thumping 137-run victory against Bangladesh during which opener Dawid Malan (140) made the highest score so far and left armer Reece Topley claimed 4-43 but it was a false dawn.
England’s total of 364-9 included 82 from Joe Root and an unusually subdued 52 from 59 balls from Jonny Bairstow but it was far too many for Bangladesh who crashed to 49-4 before Liton Das (76) and Mushfiqur Rahim (51) made sure the run-chase was respectable.
Pakistan produced a record run-chase to overcome a daunting Sri Lankan total of 344-9 which included stunning centuries from Kusal Mendis (122 from 77 balls) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (108 from 89 balls).
Despite slipping to 37-2 including the loss of influential captain Babar Azam for 10, Pakistan rallied with a third-wicket partnership of 176 between opener Abdullah Shafique (113) and the experienced Mohammad Rizwan (131*) who remained until the close to ensure victory by six-wickets despite suffering debilitating cramps.
Afghanistan had shown glimpses of their form before the England match by posting a potentially tricky total of 272-8 against hosts India before Rohit Sharma (131 from 84 balls) swatted the target away like a mildly irritating fly to conclude an eight-wicket victory with a remarkable 15 overs to spare.
South Africa’s second match, against Australia, was almost as anticlimactic – although not for Proteas fans who revelled in the Aussies misery as they crashed to an embarrassing 134-run defeat after Quinton de Kock’s silky 109 had laid the platform for a total of 311-7. Aiden Markram continued his superb start to the tournament with 56 from 44 balls.
Australia crumbled to 70-6 in the face of incisive fast bowling from Kagiso Rabada (3-33) and Marco Jansen (2-54) although the real star of the bowling show was Lungi Ngidi who bowled a five-over spell through the Power Play at a cost of just nine runs before finishing with figures of 8-2-18-1. Australia were finally dismissed for just 177 after some damage control measures from Marnus Labuschagne (46 from 74 balls) and Mitchell Starc (27 from 51).
New Zealand maintained their 100 per cent record with a resounding eight-wicket win against Bangladesh who were restricted to 245-9 before Devon Conway (45), Kane Williamson (78) and Daryl Mitchell (89*) cruised to victory with 7.1 overs to spare. Williamson, however, suffered a fractured thumb and was forced to retire hurt. He will remain a part of the squad with the hope he can play again in around two weeks’ time.
India/Pakistan contests generate some of the largest television audiences in all of sport, not just cricket, but this keenly anticipated version was an anticlimax with Pakistan collapsing from a promising 155-2 to 191 all out with Jasprit Bumrah confirming a return to his best with 7-1-19-2. Rohit Sharma (86 from 63 balls) was again dominant in the run-chase to conclude a simple win with 19.3 overs to spare.
The first game of week three finally offered some respite to Australia who overcame winless Sri Lanka by five-wickets but not without an early scare. Sri Lanka reached 125-0 before legspinner Adam Zampa (4-47) prompted a submission to 209 all out. Mitch Marsh (52), Josh Inglis (58) and Labuschagne (40) concluded victory with 14.4 overs to spare to earn Australia’s first points.