Lucknow: India clinched the three-match ODI series with an unassailable 2-0 lead after defeating Afghanistan by 170 runs in the second match at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. The hosts combined a batting masterclass led by captain Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan with a disciplined bowling display to overpower Afghanistan despite a spirited fight from Rahmat Shah.
Chasing 403, Afghanistan needed a flying start but never truly threatened the target. India's pace attack struck regularly, preventing the visitors from building meaningful partnerships. Arshdeep Singh led the charge with three wickets, while debutant Prince Yadav claimed his maiden ODI wicket and Gurnoor Brar impressed with three wickets of his own.
Amid the collapse around him, Rahmat Shah stood tall with a determined innings of 79 from 89 deliveries. Displaying excellent technique and resilience, he battled through cramps and found regular boundaries to keep Afghanistan's hopes alive, albeit faintly. Rashid Khan provided some entertainment with a quickfire cameo, but the required rate continued to climb beyond reach.
The end came in the 45th over when Brar and Prince Yadav cleaned up the tail. Rahmat's valiant resistance was finally ended when he pulled Prince Yadav to fine leg, where Brar completed an excellent catch. Afghanistan were bowled out for 232 in 44.3 overs, handing India a comprehensive 170-run victory.
The result underlined India's dominance throughout the contest. Gill's captain's knock and Kishan's explosive century laid the platform for a massive total, while the bowlers completed the job clinically to secure the series with a game to spare.
Women’s T20 WC: India thrash Pakistan by 64 runsBirmingham: Deepti Sharma produced a career-best spell of 5-10 as India thrashed Pakistan by 64 runs to begin their Women’s T20 World Cup campaign in emphatic fashion at Edgbaston. Deepti, the off-spin bowling all-rounder, was the star in weaving a vicious spin web as Pakistan collapsed from 75 for 3 to 106 all out in 17 overs. Smriti Mandhana’s 68 runs and Richa Ghosh’s late assault of 34 had earlier carried India to 170/6 in 20 overs. Apart from Deepti, left-arm spinner N Sree Charani also stood out with 3-21 as India pocketed two points and a healthy net run rate to assert their dominance against Pakistan yet again. Pakistan began their chase with intent by racing to 52/1 in the powerplay – their highest score in the six-over phase against India in T20 World Cups. Muneeba Ali, dropped twice in the first four overs, made India pay by hitting four fluent boundaries. Gull Feroza added two boundaries against a shoddy Indian bowling line-up, before reverse-sweeping to backward point off Deepti. |
