Afghanistan pulled off a stunning 69-run win over defending champions England at the World Cup on Sunday, their second ever win in the tournament lifting them off the bottom of the group standings.

India captain Rohit Sharma heaped praise on his bowling unit after the team’s comprehensive seven-wicket win over arch-rivals Pakistan in a mouthwatering World Cup clash.

India steamrollered Pakistan by seven wickets in a lopsided blockbuster match at a heaving Narendra Modi Stadium to maintain their unblemished 50-overs World Cup record against their arch-rivals.

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson made a successful return at the World Cup following his injury layoff with a half-century as the 2019 runners-up beat Bangladesh by eight wickets in Chennai on Friday for their third successive victory.

India opener Shubman Gill is in the frame to return for Saturday’s World Cup blockbuster against Pakistan and the hosts are also open to playing three spinners at the Narendra Modi Stadium, skipper Rohit Sharma said on Friday.

South Africa crushed Australia by 134 runs to cruise to their second victory at the World Cup, as Quinton de Kock struck back-to-back tons and Aiden Markram made a half-century before the bowlers ripped through the five-times champions.

Afghanistan lost their second successive World Cup game on Wednesday after an eight-wicket defeat by India but coach Jonathan Trott says they are making progress and have got to grips with conditions in Delhi where they play England next.

England all-rounder Sam Curran said they were thankful to have come through Tuesday’s World Cup win over Bangladesh without picking up injuries after players struggled to keep their feet due to the state of the Dharamsala outfield.

Pakistan made it two wins from two World Cup matches as batsmen Mohammad Rizwan and Abdullah Shafique hit centuries in a record run-chase to set up a six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in Hyderabad.

India launched their home World Cup campaign with a six-wicket victory over Australia after Virat Kohli and KL Rahul guided them through a jittery run chase.

India captain Rohit Sharma is aware of Australia’s awe-inspiring record in global events and warned his team mates not to lower their guard against them in their first match of the 50-overs World Cup.

Aiden Markram smashed a 49-ball hundred, the fastest ever the men’s 50-overs World Cup, as South Africa’s rampaging top order helped them thrash Sri Lanka by 102 runs in their tournament opener on Saturday.