India vs Afghanistan, ICC Cricket World Cup 2019: 'If any match deserved to finish with a hat trick it was that one', Twitter celebrates last-over thriller

Mohammed Shami took a dramatic hat-trick to finally clinch a thrilling 11-run win over Afghanistan after the minnows threatened one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history in Southampton on Saturday.

Afghanistan, appearing at only their second World Cup, lost the toss but restricted India to 224 for eight in their 50 overs, giving themselves a genuine chance for a huge upset.

They were well set at 106-2 in the 29th over, even though the run-rate was starting to edge up, but two wickets in one over from paceman Jasprit Bumrah removed Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi.

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Mohammad Nabi and Najibullah Zadran batted sensibly to keep their side in the hunt, but when Zadran was caught by Yuzvendra Chahal off Hardik Pandya, Afghanistan were 166-6 in the 42nd over.

Nabi was still there in the final over, with 16 required and drilled Shami's first ball down the ground for four.

With an incredible triumph within touching distance, Nabi was caught by Pandya at long on two balls later.

Shami then clean-bowled Aftab Alam and Mujeeb Ur Rahman to seal a nerve-jangling win with a hat-trick.

Here's how Twitter reacted to India's thrilling win:

India rode on captain Virat Kohli and Kedar Jadhav's half-centuries

Afghanistan always had a chance to chase down 225 on a sluggish pitch

India lost a review early on with the slimmest of margins, eliciting this meme-worthy reaction from Kohli

The stubborn pair of Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi was sent back in the same over by Jasprit Bumrah

But Afghanistan still had pinch-hitters in the form of the SRH duo of Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi

And Nabi didn't disappoint by hitting a battling 50

However, Mohammed Shami came up trumps in the last over to get a hat-trick and the win for India

India have a team choc-a-block with match-winners

Sums up the match perfectly

Even though they lost, Afghanistan and Nabi won many hearts for their gritty showing

With inputs from AFP

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