Mohali, Jan 11 (UNI) Afghanistan posted 158/5 against India in the first of the three-match T20I series at IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali on Thursday.
Sent into bat, Afghanistan openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran sewed up a fifty-run partnership, but in 8 overs.
Both perished in the span of three balls, and debutant Rahmat Shah was cleaned up by Axar Patel for 3 in 6 balls. Afghanistan soon were reduced to 57/3 at the end of the 10th over.
Mohammad Nabi walked in and provided some momentum to the innings along with Azmatullah Omarzai. They punished Ravi Bishnoi who gave away 35 runs in his first three overs.
The duo forged a vital 68-run partnership for the fourth wicket, before pacer Mukesh Kumar cleaned up Azmatullah for 29 off 22 balls with 2 boundaries and a six. And then had Nabi caught by Rinku Singh for 42 off 27 balls with 2 boundaries and 3 sixes, in the 18th over.
However, Najibullah and Karim Janat hammered 5 boundaries in the last five overs to push the score near to 160.
For India Mukesh and Axar picked two wickets and Shivam Dube one.
In reply, India are 28/2 4 overs with the loss of Rohit Sharma who was runout due to a complete misunderstanding. He left the scene fuming at his partner Shubman Gill who stayed rooted to the crease showing his back to his captain at the non-strikers end.
Gill was stummped for 23 off Mujeeb ur Rahman’s bowling.
