The Kabul Tribune (KT) — T20 World Cup champion India defeated Afghanistan by seven wickets on Tuesday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in their three-match Twenty20 series.
Afghanistan posted 159-8 after being sent in, but India
reached 160-3 in the 15th over to secure a comfortable victory at the same
venue.
Nitish Kumar Reddy was India’s leading bowler with a
career-best 3-24, while Arshdeep Singh took 2-35. Jasprit Bumrah, Ravi Bishnoi
and Axar Patel claimed one wicket each.
Bumrah opened the bowling with a maiden over before Arshdeep
struck in the following over, dismissing Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a duck with
Afghanistan yet to score.
India continued to take wickets at regular intervals.
Ibrahim Zadran made 37 and Darwish Rasooli added 26, but Afghanistan was 105-6
after 15 overs.
Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi then tried to rebuild the
innings. Nabi hit a four and a six against Bishnoi, while Rashid contributed
28. Bumrah returned in the 17th over and Afghanistan managed 10 runs, but he
dismissed one of the set batters in the 19th over. Nitish Kumar Reddy took
another wicket in the final over.
Noor Ahmad helped Afghanistan reach 159-8, leaving India a
target of 160.
India's chase was led by Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson.
Abhishek, who scored 82 from 32 balls in the first match of the series, again
attacked the Afghanistan bowlers.
India reached 35-0 after four overs and accelerated to 82-0
by the end of the powerplay.
Rashid Khan finally broke the opening partnership in his
first over. Abhishek hit him for a six before being caught while attempting
another big shot.
Samson continued aggressively and reached his half-century
from 20 balls before hitting another six off Rashid. He was then caught by Nabi
off the final ball of the over.
India had already passed 100 by the eighth over, leaving the
required rate below five runs per over.
Ishan Kishan then completed the chase, scoring an unbeaten
38 from 21 balls with three fours and two sixes. Shreyas Iyer made 11 and Tilak
Varma finished unbeaten on 15.
The teams will meet again in New Delhi on Sept. 17 for the
final match of the series.
