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- IND vs AFG Live Score, One-Off Test Match Day 2: India declare at 564/8 after Washington Sundar's fifty
IND vs AFG Live Score, One-Off Test Match Day 2: India declare at 564/8 after Washington Sundar's fifty
The hosts had earlier declared after Washington Sundar hit a composed 52 not out, his sixth Test fifty, and Mohammed Siraj produced an entertaining cameo of 22 off 12 balls. Captain Shubman Gill declared soon after Sundar reached his fifty, giving his bowlers two full sessions to put Afghanistan under the pump.
Afghanistan’s reply faltered almost immediately. Abdul Malik attempted to counterattack but was undone by Suthar’s sharp turn – on a sweep, he gave a top-edge to backward square leg. After the tea break was over, Prasidh Krishna produced a lovely nip-backer to uproot Sediqullah Atal’s stumps.
Suthar, operating with remarkable control and brisk pace, bowled maiden after maiden to keep the batters on a lid. His accuracy was rewarded again when Rahmanullah Gurbaz nicked to slip, where a sharp catch was taken.
Rahmat Shah provided the only semblance of stability for Afghanistan, reaching 43 not out by stumps and becoming the first Afghanistan player to cross 1000 Test runs. Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav also kept the pressure on, ensuring Afghanistan never found rhythm.
His 36-run partnership with Hashmatullah Shahidi briefly steadied the innings. But Prasidh struck again to trap Shahidi lbw, leaving the visitors in deeper trouble. Afsar Zazai’s resistance ended in dramatic fashion as he closed the bat face too early and offered a simple return catch to Suthar, who ended his first day of bowling in Test cricket on a high. Afghanistan, meanwhile, now face a daunting task to avoid follow-on
Azmatullah Omarzai to KL Rahul, The previous ball carried nicely, but this does not. Moving away in the air, on a length, KL lets it pass. A quizzical look at the surface by Rahul as the ball dies down and goes on the bounce to the keeper.
Azmatullah Omarzai to KL Rahul, Much better! Floated up there by Omarzai and he finds a hint of away shape. This is just outside the off pole and Rahul tucks the bat behind the front pad to make the leave.
Azmatullah Omarzai to KL Rahul, Starts on a good length, and the ball gathers pace after pitching. It is angled down leg and Rahul misses out on the tickle.
Azmatullah Omarzai will be bowling from the other end.
- Yashasvi Jaiswal 6 (6)
- KL Rahul 0 (0)
Ziaur Rahman to Yashasvi Jaiswal, At 131.6 kph, on a good length, on middle. Jaiswal covers the line and is solid in defence.
Ziaur Rahman to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Bowled on a length, swinging down leg. Jaiswal walks inside the line for the tickle but fails to lay any bat on it.
Ziaur Rahman to Yashasvi Jaiswal, FOUR! A good ball but equally well played. Very full by Rahman, tailing back in late, on middle. Jaiswal brings his bat out in front and presents the full face of the blade. Drives it to the left of mid off and it races away for the first four of the game.
Ziaur Rahman to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Lack of bounce! A bit fuller, across the off stump. Yashasvi shoulders arms. The ball does not rise much and it is gathered on the bounce by the keeper.
Ziaur Rahman to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Pushes it across the left-hander, on a nagging length. Jaiswal makes the leave.
Ziaur Rahman to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jaiswal and India are off the mark! A hint of inward shape back into the pads, on a good length. Jaiswal watchfully nurdles it behind square leg to the right of deep fine leg for a couple of runs.
Done with the national anthems, and we are all set to get going. It is a sparse crowd at the moment, but expect more spectators to filter in as the day progresses. The bell has been rung to signify the imminent start of play. A few final words from the Afghanistan captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, in the team huddle as he gathers his players before they take the field. It will be the left-hand, right-hand combination of Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul to open the innings for India. It will be the right-arm quick, Ziaur Rahman to deliver the first over of the game. Jaiswal will take strike. Two slips and a gully await. Let's go...
Before we get underway, the match officials and the two teams will line up for the national anthems. It will be Afghanistan's national anthem first, followed by that of India.
Afghanistan (Playing XI) - Sediqullah Atal, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Abdul Malik, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Afsar Zazai (WK), Azmatullah Omarzai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Nangeyalia Kharote (On debut), Ziaur Rahman and Mohammad Saleem.
India (Playing XI) - KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Manav Suthar (On debut), Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.
The skipper of Afghanistan - Hashmatullah Shahidi says that they would have batted first as well. Adds that the toss is not in their hands, so the focus now is on playing good cricket and starting the match well. Shahidi acknowledges that his side does not get enough opportunities to play Test cricket, but insists they are ready for the challenge. He says the team is well prepared after a productive training camp back home and is looking forward to the contest. Hashmatullah says former coach Jonathan Trott played a huge role in Afghanistan's growth in Test cricket, but now it is time for Richard Pybus, and the team is excited about the new chapter. He describes the new coach as a positive influence and hopes the players can continue to learn and improve under his guidance. On team combination, Shahidi informs that Afghanistan have gone in with three seamers and two spinners, and there is a debut for Nangeyalia Kharote.
The captain of India - Shubman Gill opts to bat first, citing the hot, humid conditions, which will make the surface slow and low as the game goes on. Gill shares that it is a special feeling for him to captain India on home soil. Shubman reckons the preparations have been really good, they've had a good couple of days' rest, and the players are ready to go. Adds that they have got a few Test matches at home and they'll be looking to get the combinations right. Gill informs that Manav Suthar is making his debut.
Pant, who resumed his innings alongside skipper Shubman Gill, mixed his trademark aggression with unusual restraint during a 121-ball stay that included six fours and three sixes. Rather than attacking every delivery, the wicketkeeper-batter picked his moments carefully and looked set for a century before debutant left-arm spinner Nangeyalia Kharote outfoxed him with a slower delivery. Pant charged down the track but failed to get to the pitch of the ball, offering a simple catch.
Earlier, Gill added 23 runs to his overnight score before Mohammad Saleem produced a fine delivery that moved away just enough to induce an edge and end the Indian captain's innings at 126. The dismissal broke a 169-run partnership.
Saleem struck again when Dhruv Jurel misjudged one that reversed sharply to crash into his off-stump. The Afghanistan pacer emerged as the visitors' standout performer with figures of 4 for 109.
Azmatullah Omarzai impressed with the second new ball and repeatedly beat the bat without reward. At the interval, Washington Sundar and debutant Manav Suthar were unbeaten on 14 and 9 respectively as India remained firmly on course for a mammoth first-innings total.
