The MS factor: Mohammad Shahzad and MS Dhoni

Sep 25, 2018

Asghar Afghan opted to bat against MS Dhoni's India in their final Super Four game, and Mohammad Shahzad was targeted early with the short ball•Associated Press

Shahzad reached his fifty in 37 balls but powered on after getting to the landmark•Associated Press

But Shahzad couldn't be stopped. He got to his 5th ODI hundred off 88 deliveries with the team's score at 131 for 5•Associated Press

Ambati Rayudu and KL Rahul put up India's 100th century stand for the opening wicket in ODIs to start off the chase•Associated Press

...But he was one of a few victims of poor umpiring decisions and his wicket began building pressure on India•AFP

But Shahzad soon found his groove, smacking boundaries at will despite losing partners at the other end•Getty Images

India continued to take the middle-order wickets but Shahzad stayed firm at the other end•Associated Press

Ravindra Jadeja was the best India bowler, taking three wickets for 46 runs•Getty Images

Mohammad Nabi celebrated with his team-mates after breaking that partnership, probably unaware it would lead to the slide it eventually did•Associated Press

And after a couple of nights of heartbreak, Afghanistan finally got a moment to celebrate when they sealed a tie•Associated Press

Dhoni, captaining India for the first time since October 2016, effected two stumpings•Associated Press

Mohammad Nabi carried on from Shahzad's 124 to smack 64 off 56 delveries and lifted Afghanistan to 252 for 8 at the break•Associated Press

Dinesh Karthik was the only batsman other than the openers to make more than 25 in the innings...•Getty Images