India as expected were too good for Afghanistan. Game by Game they are growing, been impressed by their bowlers. Indian batting used to be their main weapon in the past but bowling has stepped up in recent past. Good to see.

Yes, this pitch seems to be batter friendly. I thought it was going to be close between West Indies and England when I saw WI put up 180 but England chased it down fairly easily.

India have had a great outing. They not only have won but have won handsomely. A big win by 47 runs. In Super 8s you get three games, any dent to the NRR will be massive dent to the chances of qualification. Afghanistan barring the first over of the chase, when Gurbaz scored a four and a sixer, never looked threatening.

Impossible?

Afghanistan have surely surrendered against India...

16.3

Kuldeep Yadav to Nabi, out Caught by Jadeja!! And taken at deep mid. Jadeja won't miss those. That went very high but not long enough. Was a tossed up delivery, Nabi went for the slog to the bigger part of the ground. It looked like a sixer but not to be. Nabi c Jadeja b Kuldeep Yadav 14(14) [6s-1]

11.1

Jadeja to Azmatullah, out Caught by Axar!! Now Jadeja removes the set batter. That was a flatter one, Azmatullah looked to slog it and cue-ended it,. That was turning away and Azmatullah just couldn't infuse enough power. He had to go for it but has perished now. Afghanistan have half their side back in the hut now. Jadeja now has a wicket as well. That should help his confidence. India all over their opponents. Azmatullah c Axar b Jadeja 26(20) [4s-2 6s-1]

10.2

Gulbadin has to go. He was going nowhere with his knock and has to walk back. Pant called for it and took it easily. That was a googly, Gulbadin looked to launch it and got it too high up. Pant did well to go for it and gobble it easily. Kuldeep now will have more confidence to toss it up. There was tinge of bounce on it and Gulbadin fell for the bait outside off. Fourth one down and the partnership has been broken. Gulbadin c Pant b Kuldeep Yadav 17(21) [4s-1 6s-1]

At the half-way mark in the chase, must say India is ahead. But Afghanistan are holding their grounds with this partnership. Little bit of a renaissance and Indians would not want to take this lightly. The required rate is more than 11. Won't be easy on this deck.

4.1

Bumrah to Hazratullah Zazai, out Caught by Jadeja!! Afghanistan in trouble as they lose their third! Length ball on leg stump, Zazai looks to clip it through the on-side but it's the off-cutter that grips a touch. Takes a thick leading edge and balloons to backward point where Jadeja takes the simplest of catches. Hazratullah Zazai c Jadeja b Bumrah 2(4)

3.4

Axar to Ibrahim Zadran, out Caught by Rohit!! Makes room looking to go over extra cover, but fails to get under the ball, hitting it straight to Rohit. The length was quite full which is why he couldn't get the elevation he was looking for. So Axar strikes in his first over. Ibrahim Zadran c Rohit b Axar 8(11) [4s-1]

1.2

Bumrah to Gurbaz, out Caught by Pant!! It's taken just two balls for Bumrah to strike! In Siraj's absence, he takes the new ball and provides the early breakthrough. Gurbaz looks very disappointed and doesn't want to leave. Slower ball very wide outside off, Gurbaz goes chasing after it, looking for a big shot. But all he gets is an outside edge to the keeper. Gurbaz c Pant b Bumrah 11(8) [4s-1 6s-1]

18.4

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Jadeja, out Caught by Gulbadin!! Slower bouncer that is very high, will be a wide if Jadeja leaves it, but he goes chasing and mistimes it to short third. His idea was to perhaps ramp it over the fielder but didn't get much bat on it at all. Gulbadin runs to his left for a simple catch. Jadeja c Gulbadin b Fazalhaq Farooqi 7(5) [4s-1]

17.6

Naveen-ul-Haq to Hardik Pandya, out Caught by Azmatullah!! Doesn't get hold of this one and holes out in the deep! Slower one outside off, Hardik throws his hands at it but slices it in the air. Despite going with the wind, it doesn't have enough to clear the man in the deep. No mistake from Azmatullah at deep point. Hardik Pandya c Azmatullah b Naveen-ul-Haq 32(24) [4s-3 6s-2]

16.6

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Suryakumar Yadav, out Caught by Nabi!! Suryakumar Yadav c Nabi b Fazalhaq Farooqi 53(28) [4s-5 6s-3]

50?

Ohh, in fact it's pad first. Dube could be in trouble!

10.5

Rashid Khan to Shivam Dube, out Lbw!! Rashid Khan fights back, takes a fantastic review to draw curtains to Dube's cameo. This was a quicker leg break and it spun back in sharply. Shivam Dube is a little late to react as the ball flicks the pad before he makes contact with the bat. Pitching in line, impact in line and it's crashing into the off-stump. Looked bat first to the naked eye, but it was pad first. Shivam Dube lbw b Rashid Khan 10(7) [6s-1]

8.3

Rashid Khan to Kohli, out Caught by Nabi!! Rashid Khan gets Kohli. Not for the first time in his career. Goes full and quick on off and Kohli chips it straight to Nabi at wide long-off. Timed that shot pretty well, but couldn't get enough elevation to clear the fielder stationed near the boundary. Kohli's run-a-ball innings comes to an end as India lose their third wicket. Two relatively new batters at the crease. India in search of a partnership. Kohli c Nabi b Rashid Khan 24(24) [6s-1]

India are 55)2 after 7 overs!

2.6

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Pant, FOUR, fired down the leg-side again, a loose delivery and Pant opens his account with a nonchalant flick towards the fine leg fence

Blaming the pitch for his shot selection...