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Ind vs Afg: India beat Afghanistan to register their first win of 2015

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DC Correspondent
10 Feb 2015 8:24 AM GMT
Rohit Sharma and co. secure India’s 153-run win
Ind vs Afg: India beat Afghanistan to register their first win of 2015
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After a shaky start to the innings, Rohit Sharma's 150 demolished Afghanistan attack and powered India to 364. (Photo: AFP)

Adelaide: India finally managed to break their winless streak in Australia as they defeated Afghanistan by 153 runs in their second and final warm-up game ahead of World Cup on Tuesday in Adelaide.

Here is how the action unfolded.

After a shaky start to their innings, India were powered to 364 runs on the back of Rohit Sharma's 150 and half-centuries from Suresh Raina and Ajinkya Rahane.

Needing 365 rusn to beat India, Afghanistan openers made good use of Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami's poor bowling in the first four overs to help their team secure a bright start. However, Yadav struck in the fifth over to end Ahmadi's stay in the middle.

(Photo: AFP)

Ghani was then joined Mangal as the duo did not allow Indian bowlers to take some cheap wickets. The 18-year-old was not afraid to attack the pacers as he moved closer to a well-deserved fifty.

While Mohammed Shami did raise his hopes by dropping a dolly of catch, Shikhar Dhawan and Umesh Yadav displayed presence of mind to end Ghani's hope to dismiss him off Jadeja's bowling.

(Photo: AFP)

Mangal and Stanikzai then showed no hurry but batted with very little discomfort. Indian bowlers meanwhile had a period of time where they did not leak runs. However, the patience of the Afghan batsmen ran out soon as they lost Stanikzai and Najibullah Zadran in quick succession.

Skipper Nabi too did not trouble the scorers as he was bowled by Ravindra Jadeja to give India their sixth wicket.

Shami, who earlier dropped a dolly, took a fine catch to end Stanikzai's stay in the middle while Zadran idea to smash Indian bowlers ended with him getting stumped off Ashwin's bowling. Then was Mangal, Afghanistan's leading run scorer, got out off Mohit Sharma's bowling when Dhoni took a smart catch.

While India could not dismiss all the Afghan batsmen, they eventually managed to seal a 153-run win.

Earlier, bowling first, Afghanistan were off to a bright start as they dismissed Shikhar Dhawan in the third over. The left-hander tried to direct the ball towards the third-man but only managed to drag it onto his stumps as India lost their first wicket.

The first-timers in World Cup did not waste too much time to land the second blow as Dawlat Zadran removed Virat Kohli in the fourth over of the game to give Afghanistan their second wicket of the match.

Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina then tried to stop Afghanistan's wicket march as the duo played some risky yet scoring shots to bring up India's fifty in the 9th over. Rohit was tasted with extra pace but he managed to do well. Raina, who was promoted at number, did not disappoint much as well.

The pair took India's tally past hundred. Although a warm-up game, Rohit brought up his fifty. While the right-hander had his share of good luck, he, unlike in the past, did not throw it away.

Raina, who gave Rohit a good company, also brought up his fifty. The duo was involved in a hundred-plus partnership were smart enough to put Afghanistan attack under pressure with hitting ball cross the boundary rope often and without much trouble.

(Photo: AFP)

Raina though squandered a golden opportunity to score a hundred and ran himself out after scoring 73. Rohit, though, did not do that and went on to fetch another century smashing Zadran for a six though the leg side.

Afghanistan then had two easy chances to seal two more wickets. But first they dropped a dolly of catch to prolong Rohit's innings and then helped Rahane to stay in the middle as wicketkeeper Afsar Zazai made a mess of an easy run-out chance.

While Rahane did not get going even after a life, Rohit continued to make merry as he toyed with the Afghanistan attack thrashing them for big sixes at will. He managed to notch up a 150. But departed soon after as Afghanistan finally caught him in the deep.

Dhoni, who failed to get going in the previous game, could not do much in this game as well and scored 10 from 20 balls. Rahane, meanwhile continued his good show and scored an unbeaten 85 to power India to 364 for the loss of five wickets after electing to bat first.

( Source : dc )
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