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- IND vs AFG Live Score, One-Off Test Match Day 3: Rahmat Shah hits fifty as Afghanistan grind against India
IND vs AFG Live Score, One-Off Test Match Day 3: Rahmat Shah hits fifty as Afghanistan grind against India
Suthar's performance was notable not just for the wickets but for the manner in which he claimed them. Relying on flight, loop and subtle variations rather than defensive lines, the Rajasthan spinner troubled the Afghanistan batters throughout his spell. Skipper Shubman Gill trusted the youngster with a long spell from one end, and Suthar rewarded that faith with the wickets of Abdul Malik, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Afsar Zazai.
India's dominance was built on another strong batting effort. Rishabh Pant answered his critics with a fluent 81, blending restraint with aggression, while Gill's 126 and Washington Sundar's unbeaten fifty helped India post an imposing total. Suthar also contributed a useful 28 during a 54-run stand with Washington. For Afghanistan, Mohammad Saleem battled admirably in scorching conditions to claim 6 for 140, but the visitors struggled against India's disciplined bowling attack. With a lead of 451 runs and half the opposition side already back in the pavilion, India have one hand firmly on the match heading into the third day.
Washington Sundar to Rahmat Shah, No run.
Washington Sundar to Rahmat Shah, Floated around off, Rahmat Shah rocks back and blocks this out.
DRINKS BREAK! Just the solitary wicket for India in the first hour or so of play, with Rahmat Shah continuing to lead Afghanistan's resistance. A word as well for Sharafuddin Ashraf, who is clearly struggling with that groin injury but continues to battle on for his side. There has not been quite as much turn on offer so far on Day 3 as there was yesterday, and you could sense a touch of frustration creeping into the Indian camp. Afghanistan are still 229 runs away from avoiding the follow-on. Washington Sundar to bowl after the break.
- Sharafuddin Ashraf 10 (29)
- Rahmat Shah 55 (128)
Kuldeep Yadav to Sharafuddin Ashraf, Slider around off, Sharafuddin Ashraf looks to block this off his back foot but gets beaten on the outside edge. Pant gathers this behind the stumps and appeals for caught behind, but the umpire shrugs it away.
Kuldeep Yadav to Sharafuddin Ashraf, Quicker one, on the pads, Sharafuddin Ashraf flicks this to long on but denies the single on offer again as he is not feeling the best while running between the wickets.
Kuldeep Yadav to Rahmat Shah, Short of a length, around off, Rahmat Shah tucks this to deep square leg and takes a run. Ashraf continues to struggle big time while running.
Kuldeep Yadav to Rahmat Shah, Much slower, flighted, wide of off, turning a long way back into the batter. Rahmat Shah looks to cut this late and square on off but misses out. The ball wasn't far from the off stump here.
Kuldeep Yadav to Rahmat Shah, Fuller on middle and leg, Rahmat presses onto his front foot and keeps it out.
Kuldeep Yadav to Sharafuddin Ashraf, Tossed up, around off, Sharafuddin Ashraf dabs this through the short third region for a single.
- Rahmat Shah 54 (125)
- Sharafuddin Ashraf 9 (26)
Mohammed Siraj to Rahmat Shah, A bit of nip back, on the off stump, on a good length. Shah chops it down to point.
Mohammed Siraj to Rahmat Shah, A play and a miss! Siraj goes fuller now, outside off. Shah pushes away from his body and is lucky not to nick this one behind.
Mohammed Siraj to Rahmat Shah, At 131.5 kph, on a back of a length, on off. Rahmat angles it to backward point. Siraj walks up and chirps at the batter. Shah responds with a smile.
Mohammed Siraj to Rahmat Shah, Hurls it on a good length, on off and middle. Rahmat gets forward to play it back to the bowler. Siraj picks the ball up and fires in a throw at the batting end, knocking down the stumps.
Mohammed Siraj to Rahmat Shah, Siraj goes searching for the yorker but ends up serving a low full toss, on middle. Rahmat punches it to long off, where the fielder is in off the ropes. Shah is keen for a single but Ashraf sends him back.
Mohammed Siraj to Rahmat Shah, Banged in short, on off. Shah swivels and pulls it to deep square leg but they do not run.
- Sharafuddin Ashraf 9 (26)
- Rahmat Shah 54 (119)
Kuldeep Yadav to Sharafuddin Ashraf, Flighted up, full and on middle. Ashraf brings his bat out in front and dead bats it.
Kuldeep Yadav to Sharafuddin Ashraf, Shorter and it is the googly, on the off stump. Ashraf reads the spin well and steers it on the bounce to KL Rahul at first slip.
Kuldeep Yadav to Sharafuddin Ashraf, Slower and fuller, on off. Sharafuddin Ashraf lunges to defend.
Kuldeep Yadav to Sharafuddin Ashraf, From around the wicket now, on a nagging length, on middle. Ashraf stays back for the block.
Kuldeep Yadav to Sharafuddin Ashraf, No ball! Serves the googly, full and landing outside the line of the leg stump. Sharafuddin Ashraf keeps it out off the front foot. Oh, Kuldeep has overstepped.
Kuldeep Yadav to Sharafuddin Ashraf, Across off, on the fuller side. Ashraf extends his hands to smother the spin. Gets an inside edge onto the pads.
The Afghanistan team physio has rushed out in the middle as Sharafuddin Ashraf is feeling discomfort in the area he had earlier injured.
Kuldeep Yadav to Sharafuddin Ashraf, Googly, full and on the off pole. Sharafuddin Ashraf lunges and drops it with soft hands in front of cover. Just as he sets off for the quick single, he pulls up and aborts the run before limping behind the wicket.
- Rahmat Shah 54 (119)
- Sharafuddin Ashraf 9 (19)
Mohammed Siraj to Rahmat Shah, Delivers it on a short of a length, on middle. Rahmat turns it to mid-wicket.
Mohammed Siraj to Rahmat Shah, Honing in on the off stump, on a good length. Shah covers the line and pats it down on the off side.
Mohammed Siraj to Rahmat Shah, Dishes out the yorker, on middle. It tails back in towards the front boot. Shah jams it out.
Mohammed Siraj to Rahmat Shah, Pitches it up at pace, on off. Shah firms the drive back to the bowler. Siraj makes a half-stop low to his right.
Mohammed Siraj to Rahmat Shah, Pace taken off now, fuller and on middle. Shah taps it to the right of the bowler with a straight bat.
Mohammed Siraj to Sharafuddin Ashraf, A little too straight, on a nagging length, on the pads. Ashraf glances it down to deep fine leg and hobbles to the other end. 232 more needed to avoid the follow-on.
- Rahmat Shah 54 (114)
- Sharafuddin Ashraf 8 (18)
Kuldeep Yadav to Rahmat Shah, A bit of turn back into the right-hander, on a length, on middle. Rahmat Shah is solid in defence.
Kuldeep Yadav to Rahmat Shah, Gives the ball a bit of air, on off. Rahmat strokes it to mid off.
Kuldeep Yadav to Rahmat Shah, Across the right-hander, full in length. Shah reaches out to defend.
Kuldeep Yadav to Rahmat Shah, Offers flight, full and on off. Shah attempts the drive but miscues it off the inner half back to the bowler.
Kuldeep Yadav to Rahmat Shah, Tossed up again, on the off stump. Shah drives it to mid off.
Kuldeep Yadav to Rahmat Shah, Flighted delivery, full and on off. Rahmat leans forward to defend.
Another bowling change as Kuldeep Yadav comes into the attack.
- Sharafuddin Ashraf 8 (18)
- Rahmat Shah 54 (108)
Mohammed Siraj to Sharafuddin Ashraf, Stays at the stumps, on the fuller side, Ashraf pushes it to mid on.
Well, remember 45.1 over, Rahmat Shah blocks a delivery close to his pads, and a wild throw from Dhruv Jurel allows him to get off strike. However, the replays reveal that the ball struck Shah's pads first and on Ball Tracking, it would have gone to hit the middle stump. Gill and the Indian side see the funny side of it now, but it could have been 4 for Manav Suthar and would have put India in a further commanding position.
Mohammed Siraj to Sharafuddin Ashraf, A loud shout for LBW, but turned down. Shubman Gill checks with the bowler and the men around the bat before going for the review. Tailing back into the right-hander by Siraj, attacking the front pad, on a length. Ashraf presents a straight bat for the block and his bat stays beside the pads. Ekes out an inside edge onto the front pad, confirmed by the replays, and the third umpire feels no need to go to UltraEdge. India lose their 2nd review.
Mohammed Siraj to Sharafuddin Ashraf, At 129.8 kph, on a short of a length, on middle. Ashraf pats it to the right of the bowler.
Mohammed Siraj to Sharafuddin Ashraf, Better line, on middle, on a good length. Sharafuddin stabs it down from the crease.
Mohammed Siraj to Sharafuddin Ashraf, FOUR! Easy pickings! Sprayed on the pads, on a length. Sharafuddin Ashraf just tickles it off the pads down to deep fine leg for a four.
Mohammed Siraj to Sharafuddin Ashraf, Targets the top of off first up, does Siraj. Sharafuddin Ashraf steers it from the crease to point.
- Rahmat Shah 54 (108)
- Sharafuddin Ashraf 4 (12)
Manav Suthar to Rahmat Shah, Back to around the wicket, pushed through at 87.3 kph, full and on middle. Rahmat uses his feet and gets to the pitch of the ball to dab it down.
Manav Suthar to Rahmat Shah, From over the wicket now, turning away a touch, fractionally short, on off. Shah taps it to cover.
Manav Suthar to Rahmat Shah, Darted in, full and on middle. Shah stabs it down off the front foot.
Manav Suthar to Rahmat Shah, Flatter and shorter, outside off, Rahmat leaves it all alone.
Manav Suthar to Rahmat Shah, Around the off stump, on a length, blocked out watchfully.
Manav Suthar to Rahmat Shah, Floated up, on off. Rahmat smothers the spin by pressing forward.
- Sharafuddin Ashraf 4 (12)
- Rahmat Shah 54 (102)
Prasidh Krishna to Sharafuddin Ashraf, Just outside the off stump, on a nagging length, Ashraf shoulders arms.
The 23-year-old from Rajasthan made an instant impact in his maiden Test appearance, showcasing old-school virtues of flight, drift and turn. Suthar dismissed Abdul Malik, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Afsar Zazai during a spell that underlined why Indian cricket can look forward to life after Ravindra Jadeja. His ability to repeatedly hit the same area while extracting different kinds of movement stood out on a surface offering assistance.
Earlier, India resumed in a strong position and batted deep. Washington Sundar remained unbeaten on 52 and added 54 runs with Suthar (28) before captain Shubman Gill declared. Rishabh Pant played a measured innings of 81 but fell while trying to accelerate, missing out on a hundred. Mohammad Saleem was Afghanistan's standout performer with a six-wicket haul, removing Gill for 126 and finishing with figures of 6 for 140. However, with Afghanistan already five down, India are firmly placed to push for an innings victory on Day Three.
Match Statistics
Venue
Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur
