Cricket Commentary

IND VS AFG

3rd T20I, 17-Sep-2026

221/7 20.0 oversRun Rate: 11.05
VS
94/10 14.1 overs Run Rate: 6.67
India beat Afghanistan by 127 runs
India First Innings
Axar Patel(5 | 4)*
Ravi Bishnoi(0 | 0)
F Farooqi|4|0|39|0
119.619.6: Fazalhaq Farooqi to Axar Patel, Decision upheld! Full and shaping in and around middle, Axar goes for the heave across the line, but gets an inside edge onto the pad, and is struck on the back leg before the ball rolls away to the off side. The LBW appeal goes up, but the umpire's finger stays down. Zadran sends it upstairs for a review. UltraEdge picks up a spike as the ball brushes the bat on its way through, backing the not-out call. They cross and India finish on 221/7, with just 6 runs coming from the last over.
6 Over | Run: 221/7 | Run Rate: 11.05
219.519.5: Fazalhaq Farooqi to Axar Patel, Cannoned in full on middle, Axar backs away and carves it over cover-point and they charge back for the second run. Azmatullah Omarzai runs to his left and gets rid of the ball quickly, throwing it on the bounce to the keeper. But Axar scrambles back in before Gurbaz whips the bails off. Two runs taken.
019.419.4: Fazalhaq Farooqi to Shreyas Iyer, OUT! SHREYAS IYER IS RUN OUT! Superb fielding display by the Afghans as this is the third run out of the evening. Geez, they have darted some straight on the stumps. Very full and outside the off stump. Iyer smashes it to the left of the cover fielder and dashes off for a single, but the fielder, Ibrahim Zadran picks the ball quickly and nails the direct hit to the bowling end, catching Iyer short by a country-mile.
219.319.3: Fazalhaq Farooqi to Shreyas Iyer, Buzzers! Another well-executed yorker from Farooqi, on middle, Shreyas Iyer shovels it to the short third region and calls Axar through for a single. The fielder there has a shy at the batting end, but misses and it rolls wide of mid off. The batters attempt the second run, and although there is a direct hit, Axar is comfortably in.
019.219.2: Fazalhaq Farooqi to Shreyas Iyer, Excellent delivery! Uses a wider angle from around the stump and nails the yorker, around off. Shreyas Iyer tries to pierce the backward point and short third gap, but his bat comes down a millisecond late after the ball zips through to the keeper.
119.119.1: Fazalhaq Farooqi to Axar Patel, Full and speared straight on off, Axar powers it down to the left of long off for a run.
618.618.6: Abdollah Ahmadzai to Shreyas Iyer, SIX! After a while and Iyer finally gets one away. Slightly errs in both line and length, does Abdollah. It is a half-volley, outside off. Shreyas Iyer uses the depth of the crease by going back, frees his arms and swings it over wide long off for a cracking six.
6 Over | Run: 215/6 | Run Rate: 11.32
218.518.5: Abdollah Ahmadzai to Shreyas Iyer, Full and outside off, Iyer powerfully carves it to the left of long off and they amble through for a couple of runs.
118.418.4: Abdollah Ahmadzai to Axar Patel, Full toss, outside off, Axar mistimes the shot and slices it to deep cover for a single.
018.318.3: Abdollah Ahmadzai to Nitish Kumar Reddy, OUT! CAUGHT IN THE DEEP! Maiden T20I wicket for Abdollah Ahmadzai as he has his arms aloft. It's a special moment for any bowler to get the first wicket representing his nation. Bowls it full and on the leg stump line. Nitish Kumar Reddy clears the front leg and tries to smoke it over deep mid-wicket, but he does not get the required timing or elevation and offers a straightforward catch to Mujeeb Ur Rahman patrolling the fence there. India slip down to 206/6 with 9 balls left.
018.218.2: Abdollah Ahmadzai to Nitish Kumar Reddy, Swing and a miss! Wide yorker from Abdollah, at pace. Nitish Kumar Reddy swings for the hills, but fails to get any sort of a connection.
018.118.1: Abdollah Ahmadzai to Nitish Kumar Reddy, Well-bowled! Hammers the yorker in, around off, Reddy jams the bat down, opens the face to squeeze it away, but the ball sneaks below his bat and rolls back to the keeper.
117.617.6: Fazalhaq Farooqi to Nitish Kumar Reddy, Wide full toss, outside off, Reddy smashes it to long off for a single.
6 Over | Run: 206/5 | Run Rate: 11.44
017.517.5: Fazalhaq Farooqi to Shreyas Iyer, OUT! ISHAN KISHAN IS RUN OUT! Superb effort from Gurbaz to send Kishan packing. Bowled from around the stumps, and it is a wide yorker, outside off, slanted across the batter. Shreyas throws kitchen-sink at it to loft it over covers, but the ball gets squeezed off the underedge and rolls to the right of the keeper. Rahmanullah Gurbaz dives to his right and makes a half-stop with the ball getting deflected to his right. Looking at that, the batters try to pinch in a single, but Gurbaz does well to remove his gloves first, collect the ball and score a direct hit at the batting end with Kishan out by a fair bit. India are 205/5, with 13 balls remaining.
117.417.4: Fazalhaq Farooqi to Ishan Kishan, The last boundary was hit on 15.4. So this has been an excellent little phase for Afghanistan. Farooqi nails the yorker in, on off, Ishan is quick to jam the bat down and carves it to widish point for a single.
117.317.3: Fazalhaq Farooqi to Shreyas Iyer, Back to around the stump to the right-hander. Overpitched on off, Shreyas lofts it on the bounce to Nabi at long on for just a single.
117.217.2: Fazalhaq Farooqi to Ishan Kishan, Nearly a yorker on the leg stump, at 132 kph, from over the stump. Ishan backs away to make room and drags it to widish long on for a single.
117.117.1: Fazalhaq Farooqi to Shreyas Iyer, Very full from around the stump. Angled in from off, Shreyas tries to whip it across, but gets a bit of an inside edge onto the pad. The ball deflects through mid-wicket for a single. Iyer is struggling to get his timing right.
316.816.6: Abdollah Ahmadzai to Shreyas Iyer, Full toss on middle, Shreyas gets behind the line and whips it to the right of long on. Rashid covers a lot of ground to his right from long on, puts in a dive but parries it to the converging Omarzai from deep mid-wicket. By the time the ball is thrown to the bowling end, the batters dash through for the third run and with that, the 200 comes up for India! Just 10 runs from the over.
8 Over | Run: 201/4 | Run Rate: 11.82
116.716.5: Abdollah Ahmadzai to Ishan Kishan, Full and on middle, angling in. Ishan couldn't really get his bat under the ball and muscles it over the bowler's head. Nabi, from long on, sprints to his right and stops it on the bounce. One run taken.
016.616.5: Abdollah Ahmadzai to Ishan Kishan, WIDE! Reload! Slants it far down the leg side, on a full-ish length. Ishan misses to whip it over square leg. Despite two wides so far, this has been a quiet over from Abdollah.
116.516.4: Abdollah Ahmadzai to Shreyas Iyer, Another full toss on off, Iyer shuffles a touch to the off side and whisks it to the right of long for a run.
116.416.3: Abdollah Ahmadzai to Ishan Kishan, Looks to go for a yorker, but it comes out as a low full toss, Kishan mows it to long on for a single.
016.316.3: Abdollah Ahmadzai to Ishan Kishan, WIDE! Misses the radar completely. Full and miles down leg. Ishan misses to play the pick-up shot and Gurbaz dives full-stretch to his right to grab it.
116.216.2: Abdollah Ahmadzai to Shreyas Iyer, Full toss on middle, Iyer runs it to long on for a single.
116.116.1: Abdollah Ahmadzai to Ishan Kishan, Overpitched on off, Ishan blasts it down to the right of long on for a single.
115.615.6: Azmatullah Omarzai to Ishan Kishan, Short of a length, angled in, Ishan, with quick hands, pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.
6 Over | Run: 191/4 | Run Rate: 11.94
015.515.5: Azmatullah Omarzai to Ishan Kishan, Full and outside off, and it holds its line. Kishan reaches for the drive away from his body but is beaten on the outside edge.
415.415.4: Azmatullah Omarzai to Ishan Kishan, FOUR! Shuffled down the order, but it makes no difference to Kishan. Back of a length, outside off, Ishan hops on the toes and gloriously nails the square cut to deep backward point, beating the sweeper's slide to his right for a boundary. Kishan is off the mark with a four.
015.315.3: Azmatullah Omarzai to Shivam Dube, OUT! FANTASTIC CATCH! Another Superman effort by Rashid in the field. He has been involved in almost every wicket so far in some way or the other. The reason he is called a genuine match-winner who gives everything to the game. Full and drifting in from middle stump. Dube clears his front leg and chips it to the left of long on but gets no timing on it. Rashid covers the ground rapidly to his left, eyes glued to the ball, and comes up with a fine, tumbling grab. However, the third umpire is brought in to check the legality of the catch. He checks a couple of reviews before deeming it a fair catch. India are 186/4.
115.215.2: Azmatullah Omarzai to Shreyas Iyer, Afghanistan lose the review! Omarzai slips in a full toss on the leg stump. Shreyas gets across and tries to heave it to the leg side, but it looks like he has got an inside edge as the ball hits the back pad. A long appeal for LBW, but nothing from the umpire. It is given as run off the bat, in fact. And Afghanistan have gone for a review. UltraEdge shows a slight spike when the ball is next to the inside edge. The on-field decision is upheld and Shreyas gets a single as the ball rolls to the leg side. He hobbles a bit as he completes the run but nothing serious.
115.115.1: Azmatullah Omarzai to Shivam Dube, Comes from around the stump and bowls a full ball, angling in on middle and leg. Shivam Dube turns it to deep backward square leg for a single.
614.614.6: Rashid Khan to Shreyas Iyer, SIX! Shreyas Iyer's turn now! Rashid Khan bowls this flatter, short and just around off. Iyer backs away early to create room. extends his arms and slaps it over the deep extra cover fence for half a dozen more.
6 Over | Run: 184/3 | Run Rate: 12.27
114.514.5: Rashid Khan to Shivam Dube, Quicker, short again and outside off, Shivam Dube punches it through cover-point for a single.
014.414.4: Rashid Khan to Shivam Dube, Slows it up, shortish and around off, Shivam Dube pats it back to the bowler.
414.314.3: Rashid Khan to Shivam Dube, FOUR! Sheer power! Rashid Khan drags his length back, just on off. Shivam Dube picks up the length early. Hangs back and muscles it to the long on fence for a one-bounce four.
614.214.2: Rashid Khan to Shivam Dube, SIX! Up, up and away! Floated, full and on middle and leg. Shivam Dube opens up his stance, brings his bottom hand into play and slogs it powerfully over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie.
014.114.1: Rashid Khan to Shivam Dube, A googly, short and around off, turns away, Shivam Dube cuts it away to point.
113.613.6: Azmatullah Omarzai to Shivam Dube, Pace off, pulls his length back and around off. Shivam Dube hangs his bat away and knocks it wide of short cover. A bit of a mix-up but he sets off for the run. The fielder slides to his left to make a half-stop, but by that time, Iyer is safe.
6 Over | Run: 167/3 | Run Rate: 11.93
113.513.5: Azmatullah Omarzai to Shreyas Iyer, Goes fuller and on off, shaping in, Shreyas Iyer drills it down to long on for one.
013.413.4: Azmatullah Omarzai to Shreyas Iyer, Hard length and on off, nips back in, Shreyas Iyer hops up and pats it towards mid off.
113.313.3: Azmatullah Omarzai to Shivam Dube, Pitched up and on off, Shivam Dube pushes it through covers for a single.
013.213.2: Azmatullah Omarzai to Shivam Dube, Comes around the wicket, serves this full and around off, holds its line. Shivam Dube looks to drive it away but gets beaten on the outside edge.
013.113.1: Azmatullah Omarzai to Sanju Samson, OUT! TAKEN! The new pair of gloves only lasts one ball. Azmatullah Omarzai serves this fuller and on off, Sanju Samson backs away a bit and tries to mow it down the ground. He gets it from the bottom half of the bat and fails to get the elevation. It flies flat and hard towards long off, where Rashid Khan judges it well as he leaps a bit and takes a fine catch with both hands stretched above his left shoulder. So, fifty and out for Sanju Samson.
012.612.6: Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Shreyas Iyer, Slows it up, full and on middle, Shreyas Iyer knocks it down the pitch.
6 Over | Run: 164/2 | Run Rate: 12.62
212.512.5: Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Shreyas Iyer, Quicker, full and around leg, Shreyas Iyer clips it wide of deep square leg and comes back for the second run.
112.412.4: Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sanju Samson, FIFTY FOR SANJU SAMSON! From just 34 balls. This is his 8th half-century in T20Is and back-to-back in this series. Darted in full and on leg, Samson jams it out to long on for a run. He raises his bat and acknowledges his teammates and the crowd.
112.312.3: Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Shreyas Iyer, Fires this one, full and on the pads, Shreyas Iyer flicks it to deep square leg for a run.
112.212.2: Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sanju Samson, Flatter, full and on leg, Sanju Samson tucks it through mid-wicket for a single.
412.112.1: Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sanju Samson, FOUR! Gets it away! Floated, full and on middle, Sanju Samson backs away and lofts it but from the bottom half of the bat. It flies down the ground and to the left of long on for a boundary.
111.611.6: Rashid Khan to Sanju Samson, On a lower trajectory, outside off on a length, Sanju cuts it to deep point for a single. A rare boundary-less over as just 3 runs come from it, including Tilak's wicket.
6 Over | Run: 155/2 | Run Rate: 12.92
011.511.5: Rashid Khan to Sanju Samson, Another shortish delivery, on off, Sanju Samson stabs it out to the off side.
111.411.4: Rashid Khan to Shreyas Iyer, Dragged back, around off, Shreyas Iyer swats it to long off for a run.
011.311.3: Rashid Khan to Shreyas Iyer, Tossed up, full and on middle, Shreyas Iyer works it to short mid-wicket.
111.211.2: Rashid Khan to Sanju Samson, Short again, on leg, Sanju Samson clips it through mid-wicket for a single.
011.111.1: Rashid Khan to Tilak Varma, OUT! TILAK VARMA IS RUN OUT! A moment of brilliance in the field from Rashid Khan brings in another wicket for Afghanistan. He drops it short, on middle and leg, Tilak stays back and tucks it to the vacant short mid-wicket region and calls for the run. He stops for a millisecond in between, which proves to be his downfall. Rashid quickly runs to his left, picks up the ball and hits a bullseye on the turn at the bowler's end. He is already celebrating, but the third umpire is called in. Well, Tilak is already walking back and the replay shows that he is short of his crease. 142/0 becomes 152/2 for India!
110.610.6: Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Tilak Varma, Quicker, short and on middle and leg, Tilak Varma flicks it off the back foot to deep mid-wicket for one.
6 Over | Run: 152/1 | Run Rate: 13.82
010.510.5: Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Tilak Varma, Slows it up, full and on middle, Tilak Varma uses his feet and knocks it back to the bowler.
110.410.4: Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sanju Samson, Dragged back, around off, Sanju Samson punches it to sweeper cover for another run.
110.310.3: Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Tilak Varma, Floated, full and on leg, Tilak Varma clips it through mid-wicket for a run. 150 up for India!
110.210.2: Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sanju Samson, Flatter, short and around leg, Sanju Samson backs away to pull but gets cramped for room. Gets an inside edge onto his pads as the ball rolls towards short fine. They cross.
610.110.1: Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sanju Samson, SIX! Well, Abhishek Sharma's departure has not affected Sanju Samson one bit. This is tossed up, full and around off, Samson goes inside out and lofts it beautifully over extra covers for a biggie.
09.69.6: Rashid Khan to Tilak Varma, A huge appeal for LBW, but the umpire just walks away. Gurbaz is the one who is pleading, but Rashid turns back and Afghanistan do not review. Pitched slightly outside leg on a fuller length, Tilak tries to whip it to the leg side but plays the wrong line and the ball beats his inside edge to click the pad before rolling away. At halfway, India are 142/1.
6 Over | Run: 142/1 | Run Rate: 14.20
09.59.5: Rashid Khan to Abhishek Sharma, OUT! CAUGHT! At long last, a wicket for Afghanistan. Rashid ends Abhishek's fun. He dishes out the googly, on a length and just outside off. Abhishek goes deep inside the crease to punch it away to the off side, but seems to have got an outside edge. An appeal for caught behind, and up goes the finger. But hang on! Abhishek has opted for a review here. But the UltraEdge detects a massive spike when the ball is next to Abhishek's bat. The on-field decision is upheld and Abhishek walks off to a huge round of applause. A bit of a surprising review, though. India are 142/1 in 9.5 overs.
19.49.4: Rashid Khan to Sanju Samson, Floated, full and on middle, Sanju Samson tucks it through mid-wicket for a run.
09.39.3: Rashid Khan to Sanju Samson, Dragged back, around off, Sanju Samson steers it towards point.
19.29.2: Rashid Khan to Abhishek Sharma, Flatter, full and on leg, Abhishek Sharma uses his feet and drills it to long on for a single.
69.19.1: Rashid Khan to Abhishek Sharma, SIX! Short and punished! Rashid Khan bowls a half-tracker, on middle. Abhishek Sharma has all the time in the world to rock back and whacks it high in the night sky and over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie.
08.68.6: Abdollah Ahmadzai to Sanju Samson, Nails the yorker in, on middle, Samson is quick to jam the bat down and carves it to short third.
6 Over | Run: 134/0 | Run Rate: 14.89
18.58.5: Abdollah Ahmadzai to Abhishek Sharma, Full and at the pads, Abhishek miscues the flick shot off the toe end and it rolls to deep mid-wicket for a single.
18.48.4: Abdollah Ahmadzai to Sanju Samson, Low full toss, on leg, Samson clips it to widish long on for a single.
18.38.3: Abdollah Ahmadzai to Abhishek Sharma, HUNDRED FOR ABHISHEK SHARMA! From just 30 balls and Murali Kartik on air informs that this is the fastest T20I century by anyone among Test-playing nations. Pitched up, full and around off. Sharma plays with a straight bat face and drives it down to long off for a single to bring up the milestone. He gets rid of his helmet and raises both arms to soak in the applause. Then comes the celebration, down on his haunches in what looks like a yoga pose, eyes closed, pointing to the sky. Absolute scenes as everyone at the Arun Jaitley Stadium is up on their feet to appreciate this ridiculously flawless ball-striking from this man. He has made batting look like a stroll in the park to get to his third T20I century. Absolutely incredible.
68.28.2: Abdollah Ahmadzai to Abhishek Sharma, SIX! Destroyed into the stands! Number 10 for Abhishek and that's one of the best of the lot tonight. Short-pitched delivery, on middle, angling in. Abhishek goes deep inside the crease and handsomely pulls it over deep mid-wicket for a mammoth six. He is on 99 off just 29!
18.18.1: Abdollah Ahmadzai to Sanju Samson, Low full toss, on the pads, Samson drills it to long on's right for a single.
67.67.6: Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Abhishek Sharma, SIX! Carted down the ground! Into the wheelhouse, a half-volley on middle. Abhishek clears the front leg and with no intention of keeping it down, he clubs it gun-barrel straight for a six. 15 runs off the over. Sharma is into his 90s now and we are not even halfway into the first innings.
6 Over | Run: 124/0 | Run Rate: 15.50
17.57.5: Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sanju Samson, Short and on off, Samson stands tall and punches it crisply to long off for one more.
17.47.4: Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Abhishek Sharma, Quicker through the air, full and around off, Sharma drills it down to long off for a single.
67.37.3: Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Abhishek Sharma, SIX! Goes the distance! Dropped a bit full and sliding on the leg stump. Abhishek transfers the weight on the back foot and smokes it over the long on fielder for half a dozen more.
17.27.2: Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sanju Samson, Outside off, on a length, Samson punches it down to long off for a single.
07.17.1: Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sanju Samson, Slightly short and outside off, kicking up a bit. Samson cuts it on the bounce to backward point.
46.66.6: Abdollah Ahmadzai to Abhishek Sharma, FOUR! PUNISHED! A slower one, but short and on the stumps, 118 kph. Enough time for Abhishek to swivel and pull it mercilessly through square leg for a boundary. Abhishek's strike rate is an insane 320 right now as he moves to 80 from just 25 balls.
6 Over | Run: 109/0 | Run Rate: 15.57
06.56.5: Abdollah Ahmadzai to Abhishek Sharma, Bends his back and bangs it hard into the pitch. Short on top of off, Abhishek sways away from the firing line. Good heat on this one by Abdollah.
06.46.4: Abdollah Ahmadzai to Abhishek Sharma, From around the stump. Short of a length, on off, Sharma rides the bounce, opens the bat face and guides it straight to the short third fielder.
16.36.3: Abdollah Ahmadzai to Sanju Samson, Slows it up, does Abdollah, on a length, on middle. Samson drags it to the right of long on for a single. Abhishek wants the second, but he is sent back in time.
06.26.2: Abdollah Ahmadzai to Sanju Samson, Good length, nipping back into the batter, Samson leans back and glides it to short third.
46.16.1: Abdollah Ahmadzai to Sanju Samson, FOUR! Sumptuous! Back of a length, outside off, Samson hops on the back foot and nails the square cut through backward point, beating the sweeper to his left for a boundary. Samson moves to 28 (15).
65.65.6: Rashid Khan to Abhishek Sharma, SIX! 100 UP FOR INDIA! In just 6 overs. This is now India's highest Powerplay score in T20I history. Rashid serves it up there, full on the stumps. Abhishek Sharma moves a bit to the leg side to create room and marvellously launches it inside out over wide long off for a massive six. 15 runs off Rashid's first over.
6 Over | Run: 100/0 | Run Rate: 16.67
45.55.5: Rashid Khan to Abhishek Sharma, FOUR! Effortless batting! Rashid comes from around the stump and dishes out a full ball, on middle, Abhishek makes room for himself, opens the off side and gloriously lofts it over extra cover for a boundary.
45.45.4: Rashid Khan to Abhishek Sharma, FOUR! Blasted away! Too full on the off stump, Sharma gets on the front foot and absolutely hammers it over wide off for a cracking boundary.
05.35.3: Rashid Khan to Abhishek Sharma, Slower through the air, fullish on the leg stump, spinning a bit into the batter. Sharma comes forward and tries to whip it across, but plays over the line and is hit on the front thigh pad.
15.25.2: Rashid Khan to Sanju Samson, Pitched full and on off, Sanju creams it to the left of mid off. Ibrahim Zadran moves and dives to his left to cut it off. One run taken.
05.15.1: Rashid Khan to Sanju Samson, Starts with a length ball, quicker through the air, on off. Sanju hops back and bunts it to covers.
64.64.6: Mohammad Nabi to Abhishek Sharma, SIX! That's six number 4 in the over! Mohammad Nabi gives this one some more air, full and on middle and leg. Abhishek Sharma clears his front leg away and smokes it over the long on fence for yet another biggie. 29 runs off Nabi's first over.
6 Over | Run: 85/0 | Run Rate: 17.00
44.54.5: Mohammad Nabi to Abhishek Sharma, FOUR! Finds the gap! Flatter, short and outside off, Abhishek Sharma uses the width on offer this time and cuts it past point for a boundary.
64.44.4: Mohammad Nabi to Abhishek Sharma, SIX! FIFTY FOR ABHISHEK SHARMA! Off just 16 balls. He gets to it in some style as well. Tossed up, full and on middle. Sharma hangs deep inside his crease, uses his bottom hand and pumps it over the bowler once again as the ball goes sailing over for a six.
14.34.3: Mohammad Nabi to Sanju Samson, DROPPED! The skipper is at fault here! Flighted, full and on middle, Sanju Samson backs away and drills it hard. It flies flat and wide of mid off, where Ibrahim Zadran dives to his right but the ball hits his right wrist and goes down. They cross. Tough chance, but you have to take those against this Indian side.
64.24.2: Mohammad Nabi to Sanju Samson, SIX MORE! Easy as you like! Nabi comes around the wicket, floats it up, full and on middle. Sanju Samson once again hits it through the line and dispatches it over the bowler's head for half a dozen more.
64.14.1: Mohammad Nabi to Sanju Samson, SIX! Gets greeted with a boom! Mohammad Nabi drops it a bit short, on middle. Sanju Samson gets enough time to rock back and flat-bats it over the sight screen for a biggie. Ridiculous shot to play, but he made it look easy.
43.63.6: Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Abhishek Sharma, FOUR! Up and over! Mujeeb Ur Rahman gives this one some more air, full and just outside off. Abhishek Sharma backs away to make some room and throws his hands at it, slicing it over point for a boundary.
6 Over | Run: 56/0 | Run Rate: 14.00
03.53.5: Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Abhishek Sharma, Flighted, full and on middle, Abhishek Sharma drills it but straight to mid on.
13.43.4: Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sanju Samson, Dragged back, on middle and leg, Sanju Samson punches it down to long on for a single.
63.33.3: Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sanju Samson, SIX! Sanju Samson joins the party! Tossed up, full and around middle. Samson clears his front leg away, hits it through the line, launching it over the long on fence for his first biggie. 50 up for India in just 3.3 overs.
03.23.2: Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sanju Samson, Flatter, full and around off, Sanju Samson drills it wide of point, but the fielder dives to his left to stop it.
03.13.1: Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sanju Samson, Floated, short and on middle, angling in a bit. Sanju Samson has a swipe across the line but misses and gets hit on the pads.
22.62.6: Fazalhaq Farooqi to Abhishek Sharma, A low full toss, around off, Abhishek Sharma drills it towards sweeper cover for a brace. 23 runs off the over!
6 Over | Run: 45/0 | Run Rate: 15.00
42.52.5: Fazalhaq Farooqi to Abhishek Sharma, FOUR! A bit streaky this time! Dug into the surface, around off, takes off a bit. Abhishek Sharma tries to withdraw from his pull shot but gets a bit late. It takes the top edge and flies over the keeper's head for four more runs.
42.42.4: Fazalhaq Farooqi to Abhishek Sharma, FOUR! Put away! This is just brutal batting. Short of a length and on middle. Abhishek Sharma picks up the length early, rolls his wrists and pulls it with disdain to the deep mid-wicket fence for a boundary.
62.32.3: Fazalhaq Farooqi to Abhishek Sharma, SIX! Number 4 already for Abhishek Sharma! Fazalhaq Farooqi bangs this into the pitch, around leg. Sharma steps across to get inside the line of the ball and hooks it over the fine leg fence for half a dozen more.
62.22.2: Fazalhaq Farooqi to Abhishek Sharma, SIX! Best of the lot so far! Fazalhaq Farooqi goes fuller and on middle, angling in a bit. Abhishek Sharma stays deep inside his crease, presents the full face of the bat and tonks it gloriously over the bowler's head for another biggie. Holds the pose for a few seconds as well. He moves to 26 off just 9 balls.
12.12.1: Fazalhaq Farooqi to Sanju Samson, Back of a length and around leg, Sanju Samson heaves it away to deep square legh for a single.
61.61.6: Azmatullah Omarzai to Abhishek Sharma, SIX! That is a shot and a half! Azmatullah Omarzai comes around the wicket and digs it into the surface, outside off. Abhishek Sharma uses his feet but stays leg side of the ball. He extends his arms and carves it over the deep point fence for half a dozen more.
6 Over | Run: 22/0 | Run Rate: 11.00
01.51.5: Azmatullah Omarzai to Abhishek Sharma, Pitched up, on middle and leg, Abhishek Sharma drills it towards mid on.
41.41.4: Azmatullah Omarzai to Abhishek Sharma, FOUR! Not from the middle, but gets the result! Azmatullah Omarzai hits the length hard, on middle. Abhishek Sharma stands tall and tries to flat-bat it but the ball just gets a bit big on him. He hits it from the upper half of the bat but gets enough to get it over the bowler's head for another boundary.
01.31.3: Azmatullah Omarzai to Abhishek Sharma, Swing and a miss! Short of a length and around off, angling away. Abhishek Sharma backs away and tries to swat it over mid off but misses.
61.21.2: Azmatullah Omarzai to Abhishek Sharma, SIX! BANG! The Abhishek Sharma show has started. Just back of a length but down the leg side. Abhishek stays inside the line of it and just helps it on its way over the fine leg fence for a biggie.
11.11.1: Azmatullah Omarzai to Sanju Samson, Azmatullah Omarzai begins with a hard-length delivery, outside off. Sanju Samson reaches out and stabs it out through covers for a single.
00.60.6: Fazalhaq Farooqi to Abhishek Sharma, Pitched up again, on off, swinging away, Abhishek Sharma drives it towards extra cover. 5 runs off the first over!
6 Over | Run: 5/0 | Run Rate: 5.00
40.50.5: Fazalhaq Farooqi to Abhishek Sharma, FOUR! Gets off the mark in style! Fazalhaq Farooqi goes full again and just outside off. Abhishek Sharma gets the chance to free his arms and slams it over extra covers for the first boundary of the game.
00.40.4: Fazalhaq Farooqi to Abhishek Sharma, Much fuller and on off, shaping away, Abhishek Sharma knocks it with a straight bat as the ball rolls towards mid off.
10.30.3: Fazalhaq Farooqi to Sanju Samson, Sanju Samson and India are underway! On a length and around off, Samson opens the bat face and steers it to deep third for a single.
00.20.2: Fazalhaq Farooqi to Sanju Samson, Back of a length and on middle and off, Sanju Samson gets on top of the bounce and pats it towards mid off.
00.10.1: Fazalhaq Farooqi to Sanju Samson, Fazalhaq Farooqi starts with a good-length delivery, on middle, shaping in a bit. Sanju Samson stays back and looks to clip it to the leg side but gets an inside edge onto his pads.
Afghanistan Second Innings
Abdollah Ahmadzai
Fazalhaq Farooqi
R Bishnoi|3.1|0|26|3
014.114.1: Ravi Bishnoi to Abdollah Ahmadzai, OUT! IN THE AIR...GONE! Ravi Bishnoi wraps things up here with a three-fer. INDIA WIN BY 127 RUNS AND TAKE THE SERIES 3-0! This is tossed up, full and around middle. Abdollah Ahmadzai tries to slog it over mid-wicket but gets no timing at all. It goes high in the air towards deep mid-wicket, where Axar Patel circles under the high ball and pouches it safely. All smiles in the Indian camp, while a bit of a reality check for Afghanistan.
013.613.6: Nitish Kumar Reddy to Fazalhaq Farooqi, Another fine yorker, on off, Fazalhaq Farooqi keeps it out to the off side.
6 Over | Run: 94/9 | Run Rate: 6.71
113.513.5: Nitish Kumar Reddy to Abdollah Ahmadzai, Right in the blockhole, on middle, Abdollah Ahmadzai digs it out off the inner half of the bat through square leg for a run.
013.413.4: Nitish Kumar Reddy to Abdollah Ahmadzai, Swing and a miss! A slower one, full and on leg, Abdollah Ahmadzai goes through the slog across the line early and misses. Sanju Samson fails to collect it cleanly but it does not cost anything.
413.313.3: Nitish Kumar Reddy to Abdollah Ahmadzai, FOUR! Connects well this time! Fuller delivery, on off, Abdollah Ahmadzai stays deep inside the crease and pumps it down the ground to the right of long off for a boundary.
013.213.2: Nitish Kumar Reddy to Abdollah Ahmadzai, A low full toss, on off, Abdollah Ahmadzai jams it out towards long off and once again does not take the run.
013.113.1: Nitish Kumar Reddy to Abdollah Ahmadzai, Hard length and around off, Abdollah Ahmadzai swats it off the bottom half of the bat towards long on. Surprisingly, he denies the single.
012.712.6: Ravi Bishnoi to Fazalhaq Farooqi, Nearly another one! Wrong'un, full and on off, turns in a bit. Fazalhaq Farooqi has a big slog across the line but misses as the ball misses the off pole by a whisker.
7 Over | Run: 89/9 | Run Rate: 6.85
012.612.5: Ravi Bishnoi to Rashid Khan, OUT! OUTFOXED! Wicket number two for Bishnoi as Rashid falls. Pushed through, drifting in full and around off. Rashid gets low, opens his stance, and goes for a full-blooded slog sweep, but reads the turn wrong. He anticipates it to be a googly but it is a leg break that spins away from him. His bat comes down at an angle, letting the ball sneak underneath and crash into middle stump. Afghanistan are 89/9, staring at an enormous defeat.
112.512.4: Ravi Bishnoi to Abdollah Ahmadzai, A slip in place now. Googly at 91 kph, full and around off, Abdollah Ahmadzai goes deep inside the crease and taps it wide of backward point for a single.
112.412.3: Ravi Bishnoi to Rashid Khan, An in-drifter, on a good length, Khan is rushed n the back foot and cuts it to deep point for a single.
012.312.3: Ravi Bishnoi to Rashid Khan, WIDE! Miles outside off, on a length. Let through by Rashid.
412.212.2: Ravi Bishnoi to Rashid Khan, FOUR! Gets it through. A bit of a misfield there. Quicker and shorter, outside off, Khan cuts it off the back foot and Nitish is a touch late to dive to his right at backward point. The ball seeps through for a boundary.
012.112.1: Ravi Bishnoi to Rashid Khan, Full, flat, outside off, Khan drills it down to long off and denies the run.
011.611.6: Nitish Kumar Reddy to Abdollah Ahmadzai, Gets the yorker in, on middle, Abdollah manages to somehow drop the bat down and squeeze it out on the pitch. What an over from Nitish. Three wickets and just a run from it.
6 Over | Run: 82/8 | Run Rate: 6.83
011.511.5: Nitish Kumar Reddy to Mujeeb Ur Rahman, OUT! KNOCKED HIM OVER! A triple whammy for Reddy. He is absolutely delighted and why not! A pinpoint yorker, at the base of the middle and leg stumps. Mujeeb Ur Rahman tries to jam the bat down and shovel it out, but in the process, his bat gets stuck on his back pad and the ball crashes into the stumps behind. Mujeeb cannot believe it and trudges off. Afghanistan slip further down to 82/8. India need just 2 wickets to win.
011.411.4: Nitish Kumar Reddy to Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fuller and on the pads, Mujeeb closes the bat face early to flick and gets a leading edge to backward point.
011.311.3: Nitish Kumar Reddy to Azmatullah Omarzai, OUT! CAUGHT! There goes another and Reddy has his second wicket. Bowls it slightly fuller than a length, outside the off stump. Azmatullah Omarzai looks to carve it over deep cover, but the ball gets spooned off the toe end and Ravi Bishnoi makes no mistake with a simple catch at deep point. Afghanistan spiral down to 82/7 now.
111.211.2: Nitish Kumar Reddy to Rashid Khan, Hits the length hard, outside off, Rashid stays leg side and flays it to deep point for a single.
011.111.1: Nitish Kumar Reddy to Mohammad Nabi, OUT! BOWLED! You miss, I hit, says Nitish. He keeps it plain and simple. Bowls it in line with the stumps and on a good length. Mohammad Nabi looks to pull by swinging hard across the line, but the ball stays a touch low on the bounce and zips below his angled bat to clatter the stumps behind. Nabi is fuming at himself as he trudges off. Afghanistan are 81/6, in the chase of 222 runs.
010.610.6: Axar Patel to Azmatullah Omarzai, Pulls the length a bit, outside off, Omarzai creates room to cut it away but gets a bit of an outside edge and the ball rolls to short third.
6 Over | Run: 81/5 | Run Rate: 7.36
110.510.5: Axar Patel to Mohammad Nabi, Around leg, on a fuller length, this is steered off the front foot to widish mid-wicket for a single.
110.410.4: Axar Patel to Azmatullah Omarzai, Length ball, sliding in and around leg. Azmatullah Omarzai backs away and steers it to deep square leg for a single.
010.310.3: Axar Patel to Azmatullah Omarzai, A slight appeal for LBW, but it is going down leg. Turned down by the umpire too. Sliding into the batter, full on leg, Omarzai looks to work it across into the leg side but gets an inside edge onto the front pad.
110.210.2: Axar Patel to Mohammad Nabi, Slows it up, full and outside off, spinning away. Nabi drags it off the inner half of the bat towards mid-wicket for a single.
010.110.1: Axar Patel to Mohammad Nabi, Nice and full, around off, Nabi leans on and pushes it back to the bowler.
19.69.6: Nitish Kumar Reddy to Mohammad Nabi, On a length and on middle, Mohammad Nabi knocks it towards mid on for one more.
6 Over | Run: 78/5 | Run Rate: 7.80
09.59.5: Nitish Kumar Reddy to Mohammad Nabi, Full again and on off, Mohammad Nabi pushes it away and finds short cover again.
09.49.4: Nitish Kumar Reddy to Mohammad Nabi, Fuller and on off, Mohammad Nabi drives it to the left of short cover.
19.39.3: Nitish Kumar Reddy to Azmatullah Omarzai, Back of a length and around off, Azmatullah Omarzai punches it towards long off for another run.
19.29.2: Nitish Kumar Reddy to Mohammad Nabi, Short of a length and on off, takes pace off. Mohammad Nabi hops up to pull it away but gets a bottom edge as the ball drops on the off side just beside the cut-strip on off. The batters sneak in a run.
19.19.1: Nitish Kumar Reddy to Azmatullah Omarzai, Good length and around off, Azmatullah Omarzai opens the bat face and pushes it through cover-point for a single.
48.68.6: Ravi Bishnoi to Mohammad Nabi, FOUR! Gets off the mark in fine fashion! Quicker delivery, short and outside off. Mohammad Nabi gets the chance to free his arms and crunches it through point for a boundary.
6 Over | Run: 74/5 | Run Rate: 8.22
08.58.5: Ravi Bishnoi to Noor ul Rahman, OUT! STRAIGHT TO THE FIELDER! Ravi Bishnoi strikes. He tosses it up, full and just outside off. Noor ul Rahman tries to go big down the ground but fails to get fully underneath it and his bat turns in his hands as well. He does not get the elevation and hits it much flatter. It flies straight to long off, where Nitish Kumar Reddy does not have to move an inch and takes a good catch. Afghanistan lose half their side now with 70 runs on the board.
18.48.4: Ravi Bishnoi to Azmatullah Omarzai, Flatter, short and on middle, Azmatullah Omarzai stays back and swats it down to long on for another run.
18.38.3: Ravi Bishnoi to Noor ul Rahman, Googly, on a length, on middle, Noor ul Rahman drags it off the inner half of the bat through mid-wicket and square leg for a single.
18.28.2: Ravi Bishnoi to Azmatullah Omarzai, Drags the length back a bit, outside off, Omarzai steers it to deep cover-point for a single.
68.18.1: Ravi Bishnoi to Azmatullah Omarzai, SIX! Goes all the way! Drops a full ball, does Ravi. On a lower trajectory, on the stumps. Azmatullah Omarzai gets low on his knee and smokes it gun-barrel straight down the ground for a massive six.
07.67.6: Axar Patel to Noor ul Rahman, Arm ball, shortish and on off, Noor ul Rahman backs away and steers it to point.
6 Over | Run: 61/4 | Run Rate: 7.63
07.57.5: Axar Patel to Noor ul Rahman, Flighted, full and on middle, Noor ul Rahman blocks it out.
47.47.4: Axar Patel to Noor ul Rahman, FOUR! Nicely done! Dragged back, outside off, Noor ul Rahman uses the width on offer and cuts it through point for a boundary.
07.37.3: Axar Patel to Noor ul Rahman, MISSED STUMPING! Noor ul Rahman is living a charmed life here. Axar Patel slows it up, full and on off. Noor skips down the track to go big over covers but gets beaten on the flight. However, Sanju Samson fails to collect the ball and breaks the stumps with his gloves after the ball pops out and drops down. Noor once again starts to walk back, but he has been asked to wait. The third umpire checks the replay and sees that it is not a clean stumping.
07.27.2: Axar Patel to Noor ul Rahman, Short and on middle, Noor ul Rahman pats it back to the bowler.
07.17.1: Axar Patel to Noor ul Rahman, DROPPED! That should have been taken Tossed up, full and on off, Noor ul Rahman goes for the lofted shot but mistimes it high in the air. It goes towards long off, where Tilak Varma comes forward, settles under it and tries to take it too close to his chest and spills it. Noor already started walking back and the batters don't get any run.
16.86.6: Ravi Bishnoi to Noor ul Rahman, Goes back to the shorter length, on off, Noor ul Rahman backs away and cuts it wide of backward point. Jasprit Bumrah dives to his left to make the stop. They cross.
8 Over | Run: 57/4 | Run Rate: 8.14
06.76.5: Ravi Bishnoi to Noor ul Rahman, Slows it up, full and on middle, Noor ul Rahman strides out to block but the ball hits him high on the bat and pops out to the right of the bowler.
06.66.5: Ravi Bishnoi to Noor ul Rahman, WIDE! Wrong'un, short and turning down the leg side. Noor ul Rahman tries to clip it to the leg side but misses. Sanju Samson grabs it by moving to his left and appeals for caught behind. Gets nothing from the umpire, who signals a wide.
16.56.4: Ravi Bishnoi to Azmatullah Omarzai, Drops it short, just outside off, Azmatullah Omarzai stabs it out towards extra cover for another run.
06.46.3: Ravi Bishnoi to Azmatullah Omarzai, A googly, full and on middle, turns in, Azmatullah Omarzai misses his flick and gets hit on the pads.
16.36.2: Ravi Bishnoi to Noor ul Rahman, Floated, full and on off, Noor ul Rahman taps it towards cover for a single.
06.26.2: Ravi Bishnoi to Noor ul Rahman, WIDE! Quicker, short but down the leg side, Noor ul Rahman fails to glance it away. Wided.
16.16.1: Ravi Bishnoi to Azmatullah Omarzai, Flatter, short and around leg, Azmatullah Omarzai swings it away towards deep square leg for a single.
45.65.6: Yash Thakur to Noor ul Rahman, FOUR! Gets it away! Hits the deck hard, on middle, takes pace off again. Noor ul Rahman stays back and flicks it, using his wrists past mid-wicket as the ball races to the fence for a boundary. Afghanistan finish the Powerplay on 51/4.
6 Over | Run: 51/4 | Run Rate: 8.50
05.55.5: Yash Thakur to Noor ul Rahman, Pace off, hard length and on middle, Noor ul Rahman pats it down the pitch.
05.45.4: Yash Thakur to Noor ul Rahman, Pitched up, on middle, Noor ul Rahman knocks it towards mid on.
05.35.3: Yash Thakur to Noor ul Rahman, Good length and on off, Noor ul Rahman takes a couple of steps out and blocks it out to short cover.
05.25.2: Yash Thakur to Ibrahim Zadran, OUT! TAKEN IN THE DEEP! Yash Thakur gets among the wickets. He goes much fuller and on the pads. Ibrahim Zadran picks it off and whips it away, timing it well but he hits it towards the longer side. It flies towards deep square leg, where Ishan Kishan moves a bit to his left and takes a good catch. Zadran was looking good, but also has to depart after getting to a good start.
45.15.1: Yash Thakur to Ibrahim Zadran, FOUR! Put away! Short of a length and just outside off. Ibrahim Zadran picks up the length early, gets on top of the bounce and pulls it away to the deep mid-wicket fence for a boundary.
44.74.6: Jasprit Bumrah to Azmatullah Omarzai, FOUR! Off the mark with a glorious boundary. Good-length delivery, on top of off, Azmatullah Omarzai plays it on the up and marvellously drives it through the cover and mid off gap for a boundary.
7 Over | Run: 43/3 | Run Rate: 8.60
04.64.5: Jasprit Bumrah to Darwish Rasooli, OUT! KNOCKED HIM OVER! A Jasprit Bumrah special. A sizzling yorker that consumes Rasooli. Bumrah lasers in a pinpoint yorker at the base of the middle and leg stumps. Rasooli is a fraction late to bring his bat down to squeeze it out, and that is enough for the ball to sneak below his willow and make an absolute mess of the stumps behind. A golden duck for Darwish Rasooli. Afghanistan are falling apart here as they slip down to 39/3, chasing 222 runs.
14.54.4: Jasprit Bumrah to Ibrahim Zadran, Bowled slightly fuller and on the leg stump. Ibrahim flicks it through mid-wicket for a single.
04.44.3: Jasprit Bumrah to Ibrahim Zadran, Good length, around off, Zadran stands tall and punches it to cover.
04.34.3: Jasprit Bumrah to Ibrahim Zadran, WIDE! Banged short but down leg. Ibrahim misses the tickle, and Samson does well to dive to his left and make a half-stop with his left glove.
04.24.2: Jasprit Bumrah to Ibrahim Zadran, A bit of an appeal for LBW, but turned down. Bumrah turns back to his bowling mark and India do not review it. Good length, angling in, and it beats the inside edge to thud into Ibrahim's front pad before rolling away. Seems to be a bit of an inside edge on this one.
44.14.1: Jasprit Bumrah to Ibrahim Zadran, FOUR! Up and over! Full and on the pads, Ibrahim Zadran picks it up and lofts it over mid-wicket for a boundary.
03.63.6: Axar Patel to Sediqullah Atal, OUT! TOP EDGE AND GONE! Axar with a double whammy and India are in ascendancy. Axar stays around the stumps and drifts the ball across the batter, on a fuller length. Sediqullah Atal goes for a pre-meditated slog sweep, across the line, but gets a massive top edge. The ball gets sliced up in the night sky and sails over deep mid-wicket. Abhishek Sharma runs in off the ropes, calls for the catch and takes it nicely. Afghanistan are 33/2, needing 189 runs from 96 balls.
6 Over | Run: 33/2 | Run Rate: 8.25
13.53.5: Axar Patel to Ibrahim Zadran, Just in! Gives more flight and pitches it up on a length, Ibrahim goes for the sweep, gets a bit of an inside edge and is struck on the front pad, and the ball dribbles away towards cover. The batters shoot across for a single. But there's a direct hit at the bowler's end. However, the replay shows that Ibrahim just planted his bat in time before the stumps were hit.
03.43.4: Axar Patel to Ibrahim Zadran, Dropped a bit short, on off, this is hacked away to mid on.
13.33.3: Axar Patel to Sediqullah Atal, Drag-downer, on middle and off, Sediqullah Atal miscues the pull shot off the back foot. Abhishek Sharma sprints to his right from deep square leg and collects it on a couple of bounces. One run taken.
03.23.2: Axar Patel to Sediqullah Atal, Full on middle, Atal taps it to the left of the bowler.
03.13.1: Axar Patel to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, OUT! BOWLED! Axar breaks the opening stand in style. He dishes out a full-length delivery by giving it a good bit of rip, on the leg stump line. Gurbaz gets low on his knee and has an ugly swipe across the line to sweep, but plays the wrong line. The ball sneaks past the bat and uproots the leg stump. Afghanistan are 31/1, chasing 222 runs.
02.62.6: Yash Thakur to Ibrahim Zadran, Full toss outside off, Zadran drives it straight to Ishan Kishan at cover-point and seeing Gurbaz charge and retreat at the bowling end, he throws it but misses his shy by a long way. However, the ball is backed up by the fielder at mid on.
6 Over | Run: 31/0 | Run Rate: 10.33
02.52.5: Yash Thakur to Ibrahim Zadran, Pulls the length a little bit, 128 kph, outside off. Zadran stands tall and knocks it to Kishan at cover-point.
42.42.4: Yash Thakur to Ibrahim Zadran, FOUR! Straight as an arrow! Thakur overcooks this one, full and around off, Ibrahim lets his hands flow through the line and cracks it over mid off for a boundary.
12.32.3: Yash Thakur to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, A smidge fuller than a length, outside off, Gurbaz flays it uppishly and on the bounce to deep backward point for a single.
02.22.2: Yash Thakur to Ibrahim Zadran, Takes pace off, on a good length, jagging back in off the pitch. Zadran looks to whip it across to the leg side, but misses and the ball deflects away to cover-point. They cross for a leg bye.
42.12.1: Yash Thakur to Ibrahim Zadran, FOUR! Picked up and over! Thakur starts with a length ball, on off. There is not much venom on it and Zadran stands tall and swings it over mid-wicket for a boundary.
01.61.6: Jasprit Bumrah to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Hits the deck hard, on off, Gurbaz knocks it to the backward point region and seeing Gurbaz taking a few steps out of the crease to sneak a run, Reddy has a shy at the batting end, but misses. Had the throw hit, that would definitely have been close.
6 Over | Run: 21/0 | Run Rate: 10.50
41.51.5: Jasprit Bumrah to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, FOUR! Excellent timing and placement! Short of a good length, wide on off. Gurbaz waits back and just guides it behind backward point as the ball rifles away to the fence.
11.41.4: Jasprit Bumrah to Ibrahim Zadran, Bends his back and bowls it short on top of middle, Zadran swivels and pulls it to long leg. Yash Thakur gets across to his right and collects it on the bounce. One run taken.
11.31.3: Jasprit Bumrah to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Cannons in a yorker, on middle, Rahmanullah Gurbaz backs away and has a wild swing at it, but gets a fat inside edge and the ball is squirted behind to short fine leg for a single.
01.21.2: Jasprit Bumrah to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Slants it into the batter by hammering it on a length. Rahmanullah Gurbaz looks to pull it uppishly, but gets beaten on the inside edge, getting hit around the midriff.
01.11.1: Jasprit Bumrah to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Bumrah begins with a good-length delivery that shapes away late. Gurbaz just about aborts to poke at it and withdraws his bat inside the line.
00.60.6: Nitish Kumar Reddy to Ibrahim Zadran, Full-ish, on off, Zadran strokes it to the left of mid off. An expensive start for NKR. He goes for 15 runs off the opening over.
6 Over | Run: 15/0 | Run Rate: 15.00
60.50.5: Nitish Kumar Reddy to Ibrahim Zadran, SIX! Helped on its way really! Angled on the pads on a good length. Ibrahim Zadran uses his wrists and whips it aerially over deep backward square leg for a six.
10.40.4: Nitish Kumar Reddy to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Slightly fuller than the previous ball, outside off, Gurbaz plays off the back foot and knocks it wide of cover-point for a single.
40.30.3: Nitish Kumar Reddy to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, FOUR! Finds the gap once again! Back of a length, outside the off stump. Gurbaz hangs back and cuts it between cover and point for a cracking boundary. Very good shot.
40.20.2: Nitish Kumar Reddy to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, FOUR! Finally, after a couple of consecutive ducks, Gurbaz is off the mark in this series and so are Afghanistan, in a mammoth run chase. Reddy offers room outside off, on a length. Gurbaz lets the ball nip away and then cuts it behind backward point, finding the gap nicely for a boundary.
00.10.1: Nitish Kumar Reddy to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Bangs it short on top of off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz hops off the toes and taps it to cover-point. He is off for a single, but is immediately sent back by Ibrahim as the fielder is quick to attack the ball to his left.