...RUN CHASE...
Right then, Afghanistan have posted a good defendable total of 172 on the board and they will look forward to picking early wickets in the Powerplay and leveling the series. Whereas India on the other end will be batting an eye to seal the series with another win. And with Virat Kohli back in the pack, the hosts' batting lineup has some real firepower. The run chase is just a few minutes away. Stay tuned.
As for India, the spin was brought early and that trick worked pretty much for the hosts. Ravi Bishnoi and Axar Patel struck one wicket each inside the powerplay and dismantled the opening stand of Afghanistan. But the pacers bowled some poor lines and lengths and kept serving gifts to Gulbadin Naib. Rohit Sharma was pretty brilliant with his bowling changes and Axar Patel was brought back to the attack, he didn't disappoint at all as he got rid of Gulbadin Naib who was looking pretty dangerous. He was clinical with his economy and picked two wickets. Shivam Dube too chipped in with a scalp of Omarzai and it was Ravi Bishnoi who dismissed Nabi. Shivam Dube went for plenty at the back end of the innings as he conceded 20 off the penultimate over. Arshdeep Singh finished off with a fantastic economical spell and a phenomenal final over of the innings and ended up with 3 wickets.
So this brings us to the end of the first half of the play and what a riveting contest we have witnessed. Afghanistan lost their openers quite early inside the powerplay itself and was taken aback. But Gulbadin Naib looked as if he entered the crease with clear intentions to just smack the ball out of the park and he did so quite well by taking the pacers to the cleaners scoring a brilliant and quick half-century and helping the run rate to fly. But he perished sooner and was followed by Omarzai. Mohammad Nabi did try to stitch a partnership with Naib but he too, departed after a sluggish start. Karim Janat and Mujeeb did hit a few crucial boundaries to breach the 150 mark for the tourists. Mujeeb ur Rahman played a scintillating cameo and accumulated 21 important runs for his team in just 9 deliveries.
19.6 overs (1 Run) OUT! RUN OUT! A foot-race to end the innings! Arshdeep Singh nails the yorker, on middle, Naveen-ul-Haq gets his bat down in time and digs it out behind, the batters set off for the run, Jitesh Sharma picks up but misses his shy at the batter's end. Naveen tries to steal the overthrow, but Farooqi is a bit late to react, Yashasvi Jaiswal collects the ball and initially thinks about throwing it. However, he then decides to race the batter and run to the bowler's end and breaks the stumps with his hand with Farooqi short of his crease. Afghanistan have been bowled out for 172!
19.6 overs (1 Run) OUT! RUN OUT! Lack of communication cost Afghanistan another wicket. This is back of a length and well outside off, Naveen-ul-Haq tries to reach for it but misses as it goes to the keeper. Mujeeb Ur Rahman sets off for the run, but Naveen stays in his crease and sends his partner back, Jitesh Sharma throws it to the bowler and Arshdeep Singh takes the bails off with Mujeeb miles out. It is also called a wide, so we still have another ball to go here.
Naveen-ul-Haq is out to the middle.
19.5 overs (0 Run) OUT! TAKEN! Arshdeep Singh has three now! He changes his angle and serves this full, on middle, angling in, Noor Ahmad stays back to play the helicopter just like his teammate Rashid Khan does, but he fails to get under the ball and hits it miles up in the air wide of long on, Virat Kohli runs to his right, keeps his eyes on it and and takes it nicely. Afghanistan eight down now!
19.4 overs (1 Run) Arshdeep Singh bangs this short and on middle, Mujeeb Ur Rahman pulls it towards deep mid-wicket for a run.
19.3 overs (4 Runs) FOUR! Gets it through! Mujeeb Ur Rahman is playing a blinder here! This is a low full toss around off, Mujeeb Ur Rahman drills it hard and gets it past Rohit Sharma at extra covers for a boundary.
19.2 overs (1 Run) Full and on middle, Noor Ahmad slogs it towards deep mid-wicket for a single.
Noor Ahmad walks out to the middle.
19.1 overs (0 Run) OUT! TAKEN! Arshdeep Singh gets another! He bowls this full, outside off, keeping it away from the batter, slower too, Karim Janat back away to loft it away, but has to reach for it and fails to get enough power on it. As a result, it goes high in the air towards long off where Axar Patel settles under it and pouches it safely. Afghanistan seven down now!
18.6 overs (6 Runs) SIX! MASSIVE! 20 runs off the over! Shivam Dube goes for the slower again, but serves this full and on off, Mujeeb Ur Rahman this time waits for it, clears his front leg away and absolutely smokes it over the deep mid-wicket fence into the second tier for a biggie.
18.5 overs (0 Run) Another fine slower delivery, back of a length this time, Mujeeb Ur Rahman goes through his pull way early and misses it.
18.4 overs (1 Run) Change of pace now, full and on leg, Karim Janat waits for it but heaves it straight towards deep square leg for just one.
18.3 overs (2 Runs) Goes for the yorker, but bowls a low full toss, on middle, Karim Janat flicks it wide of deep square leg for a brace.
18.2 overs (6 Runs) SIX! Into the stands! Shivam Dube bowls a half-volley now, on off, in the slot as well, Karim Janat clears his front leg away and tonks it over the long on fence for a biggie.
18.1 overs (4 Runs) FOUR! Karim Janat gets into the act now! Shivam Dube lands this on a hard length and on middle, Karim Janat backs away a bit and smacks it wide of deep square leg for a boundary.
18.1 overs (1 Run) Slower delivery, full but down the leg side, Karim Janat leaves it alone. Wided.
Shivam Dube is brought back into the attack.
17.6 overs (4 Runs) FOUR! Just wide! Arshdeep Singh goes full and around off, Mujeeb Ur Rahman backs and tries to go over extra covers, but gets an outside edge which flies to the left of short third man, Shivam Dube is a bit lazy to move to that side and the ball goes through to the fence for a boundary.
17.5 overs (0 Run) Takes pace off now, on a length and on off, Mujeeb Ur Rahman steers it towards cover-point.
17.4 overs (6 Runs) SIX! BOOM! Mujeeb Ur Rahman connects this time alright! Arshdeep Singh continues with his short ball plan, this is on middle again, Mujeeb Ur Rahman sways away and swings his bat hard at it trying to pull it away, he gets it from the middle as the ball sails over the deep square leg fence for a biggie.
17.3 overs (0 Run) Another short ball, on middle, Mujeeb Ur Rahman goes for the pull but fails to connect.
17.2 overs (0 Run) Arshdeep Singh bangs this one short, angling away from the batter, Mujeeb Ur Rahman leaves it alone.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman is the next man in at number 8.
17.1 overs (0 Run) OUT! DRAGGED ON! Arshdeep Singh gets a wicket now! Another big wicket for India as Najibullah Zadran was starting to look threatening here. This is a slower delivery, back of a length and on off, Najibullah Zadran moves back to heave it across the line, but goes through his shot early and gets an inside edge back onto the stumps. Zadran goes back after a nice little cameo!
16.6 overs (0 Run) A googly, short and on middle, turns in, Karim Janat backs away to pull it but misses and gets hit on the pads. 17 runs off the over!
16.5 overs (1 Run) Darts this one full, on off, Najibullah Zadran goes for the heave but mistimes it towards deep mid-wicket for one.
16.4 overs (6 Runs) SIX! Clears the fence again! Ravi Bishnoi flights this one up, full and on middle, Najibullah Zadran once again goes down and smashes it towards the deep mid-wicket fence, he gets enough power on this to take it over the fielder there for another maximum.
16.3 overs (0 Run) Quicker, short and outiside, Najibullah Zadran tries to cut but gets an outside edge on the bounce to short third man.
16.2 overs (4 Runs) FOUR! 10 off the first two balls! This is the googly, short and on off, turns away, Najibullah Zadran moves to the leg side to make room, and slices it over covers, deep point runs to his right and dives but fails to stop it from going to the fence for a boundary.
16.1 overs (6 Runs) SIX! Up, up and away! This is tossed up, full and on off, in the slot as well, Najibullah Zadran goes down on one knee and nails his slog-sweep over the wide long on fence for a biggie.
15.6 overs (4 Runs) FOUR! Nicely played! Washington Sundar bowls this flatter, full and on leg, Karim Janat shuffles across a bit, goes down and whips it over square leg for a boundary.
15.5 overs (1 Run) Slower through the air this time, full and on middle, Najibullah Zadran backs away and goes down to loft it, but miscues it towards long on for one.
15.4 overs (0 Run) Pushed through very quicker, short and outside off, Najibullah Zadran cus it hard but straight to point.
15.3 overs (1 Run) Shorter in length once more on middle, Karim Janat forces it towards long on for another run.
15.2 overs (1 Run) Short again and outside off, Najibullah Zadran slashes hard but straight towards deep point for a run.
15.1 overs (1 Run) Quicker, short and on middle, Karim Janat moves back and punches it towards long on for a single.
Match Reports
- India vs Afghanistan: India vs Afghanistan, 2024 Live Cricket Score, Live Score Of Today's Match on NDTV Sports
- India vs Afghanistan Live Score Ball by Ball, India vs Afghanistan, 2024 Live Cricket Score Of Today's Match on NDTV Sports
- India vs Afghanistan Live Score Ball by Ball, India vs Afghanistan, 2024 Live Cricket Score Of Today's Match on NDTV Sports
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