Afghanistan were shown no mercy by world No1 team India as Test cricket’s latest entrants lost their inaugural match by an innings and 262 runs inside two days in Bengaluru on Friday.
The Indians made 474 in the first innings at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium and the Afghans were then bowled out for 109 in 28 overs with India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin picking up 4-27. In the second innings, the Afghans managed only 103 after Ravindra Jadeja picked up four scalps and pacer Umesh Yadav three.
There were quite a few firsts in the Bengaluru Test, and they don’t make for good reading if you are a fan of Afghanistan or Test cricket:
- Afghanistan became the fourth team in the 21st century to lose a Test inside two days. Zimbabwe have lost three Tests in two days since 2000 – twice against South Africa (2005 and 2017) and once against New Zealand (2005). Pakistan lost the 2002 Sharjah Test to Australia in two days while the Windies surrendered to England with three days left in the 2000 Leeds Test.
- Overall, it was 21st instance of a Test finishing inside two days and the fourth of a team being bowled out twice in one day.
- Afghanistan’s defeat was the worst by any team making their Test debut. The previous record was Pakistan’s loss by an innings and 70 runs in their debut Test against India in 1952.
- India became the first Asian team to win a Test inside two days.
- India also secured their biggest win in Test history. Their previous biggest win was by an innings and 239 runs against Bangladesh in 2007.
