Afghanistan v India LIVE: Afghanistan take two quick wickets with game still in balance

Sport360 staff 23:00 25/09/2018
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  • Ambati Rayudu was out for 57

    While it might be a dead rubber for both teams on paper, there will still be plenty to play for when Afghanistan and India meet for their final Super Four fixture at Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

    Dominant India have already booked their passage to the Asia Cup final on September 28 and will be tempted to try out untested combinations in Tuesday’s clash against the Afghans.

    Afghanistan, on the other hand, will be looking for another notable prize scalp before they exit the competition. The clash will be only the second ODI in history between the two sides with India triumphing by eight wickets in the 2014 Asia Cup meeting at Dhaka.

    MS Dhoni is donning the captaincy hat for India once again in the clash after a gap of nearly two years with India ringing in the changes. Rohit Sharma is among five players to be rested with Deepak Chahar being handed his ODI debut for India.

    Afghanistan are batting first after skipper Asghar Afghan won the toss. Afghanistan’s openers have added  63 runs in just 10 overs with Mohammad Shahzad racing away to a 37-ball half-century. Ravindra Jadeja picked up the wickets of Javed Ahmadi and Rahmat Shah on his introduction into the bowling attack but Shahzad is still going strong for the Afghans. The wicketkeeper batsman brought up a 88-ball hundred with a boundary off Yuzvendra Chahal. While Shahzad continues to march on, Afghanistan have lost a fifth wicket in the form of Gulbadin Naib.

    Kuldeep Yadav also struck twice in no time upon his introduction with Asghar Afghan and Hashmatullah Shahidi becoming his victims. Afghanistan were reduced to 82-4 after the introduction of India’s spinners. Shahzad’s valiant innings of 124 was brought to an end by Kedar Jadhav with Afghanistan being reduced to 18-6  at the end of the 38th over. Since then, Mohammad Nabi and Najibullah Zadran have carried on Afghanistan’s excellent work with the bat with a blossoming partnership.

    Nabi was finally dismissed after a 56-ball 64 as Afghanistan went past the 250-run mark.

    India began their chase strongly with KL Rahul and Ambati Rayudu looking comfortable at the crease as they brought up the 50-mark with the loss of no wicket.

    The pair brought up the 100-run mark before Rayudu became Afghanistan’s first victim when he fell for 57 by Mohammad Nabi. Later, KL Rahul was trapped lbw by Rashid Khan as the batsmen departed for 60. But the defending champions are still in the driving seat for victory.

    Afghanistan took another two wickets with MS Dhoni and Manish Pandey out for 8 but with 17 over remaining, India are still in control. Afghanistan then claimed two quick wickets with Kedar Jadhav run-out before Dinesh Karthik was out for 44.

    Will Afghanistan script a maiden win across any format over India or will MS Dhoni and his men continue their impressive unbeaten march? Do not miss any of the action by following the ball-by-ball updates in the link below.

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