NEW DELHI: India began their three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in emphatic fashion, chasing down a target of 157 with seven wickets and 38 balls to spare at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Put into bat, Afghanistan struggled to build momentum after losing wickets at regular intervals. They were reduced to 43/5 before Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi launched a counterattack.
Omarzai top-scored with an unbeaten 64 off 44 balls, while Nabi added 33 from 27 deliveries. Their 83-run sixth-wicket partnership rescued Afghanistan and lifted them to 156/8 in 20 overs.
India’s bowlers kept Afghanistan under pressure throughout, with Arshdeep Singh leading the attack. The left-arm pacer finished with 3/19, providing crucial breakthroughs during Afghanistan’s early collapse.
The chase was a completely different story.
India’s openers attacked from the outset, with Abhishek Sharma producing the standout performance of the night. The left-hander smashed 82 from just 32 balls, striking seven fours and seven sixes.
Abhishek raced to his half-century in only 22 deliveries and kept the pressure firmly on Afghanistan’s bowling attack. His aggressive innings effectively took the game away from the visitors.
Ishan Kishan added 42 off 33 balls to steady the chase after Sanju Samson’s dismissal. India continued to score freely before reaching 157/3 in 13.4 overs.
The victory gives India a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, with the second T20I scheduled for September 15 in Delhi.
For Afghanistan, Omarzai’s unbeaten half-century and the partnership with Nabi provided encouraging signs, but their early collapse proved costly. Their bowlers were unable to contain India’s aggressive batting approach once the chase began.
For India, the opening victory offered a strong combination of disciplined bowling and explosive batting. Abhishek’s power-hitting was the defining moment of the contest, while Arshdeep’s early breakthroughs helped set up the comfortable chase.
India will now look to build on the momentum and seal the series in the second T20I.
Match Summary
Afghanistan: 156/8 (20 overs)
India: 157/3 (13.4 overs)
Result: India won by 7 wickets
Player of the Match: Abhishek Sharma — 82 (32)
Best Bowler: Arshdeep Singh — 3/19
Series: India lead 1-0
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