India’s Bowlers Restrict Afghanistan To 159/8 Despite Late Rashid-Nabi Surge

Afghanistan overcame a difficult beginning to post 159/8 against India in the second T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday.

Jasprit Bumrah immediately applied pressure by bowling a maiden over to Ibrahim Zadran.

Arshdeep Singh followed up by dismissing Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a second consecutive duck in the series, with Ravi Bishnoi taking the catch at mid-on after the opener mistimed a short-of-length delivery.

Zadran struggled to find his timing initially but responded by hitting Arshdeep for four boundaries in the third over. He subsequently joined Sediqullah Atal to give Afghanistan a stronger powerplay.

The pair added 50 runs before Nitish Kumar Reddy ended their partnership with his first delivery.

Zadran attempted to clear the field but picked out Bishnoi at deep mid-wicket, departing for 37 from 33 balls with six fours.

India quickly exploited the opening created by Zadran’s dismissal.

Bishnoi removed Atal for 12 in the next over after the batter sliced a googly towards long-off, where Tilak Varma completed the catch.

Nitish then struck again by removing Gulbadin Naib for 10, reducing Afghanistan to 67/3.

Darwish Rasooli and Azmatullah Omarzai tried to stabilise the innings, with Rasooli attacking Shivam Dube and Axar Patel for sixes.

Axar eventually dismissed Omarzai for 11 before Arshdeep accounted for Rasooli, who scored 26 from 15 balls.

Afghanistan slipped to 105/6 before Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan launched an aggressive counter-attack.

The experienced pair added 48 runs, with Rashid taking 16 runs from an Arshdeep over through two fours and a six.

Bumrah ended Nabi’s stay at 20 from 14 balls after Shreyas Iyer took the catch at cover.

Nitish then dismissed Rashid for 28 from 16 balls with the first delivery of the final over, as Axar held a superb diving catch at deep square leg.

Nitish emerged as India’s leading bowler with 3/24, while Arshdeep returned figures of 2/35.

Brief Scores:

Afghanistan 159/8 in 20 overs (Ibrahim Zadran 37, Rashid Khan 28; Nitish Kumar Reddy 3/24, Arshdeep Singh 2/35) against India.

Also Read: India Eye Series Win As Bishnoi Replaces Chakaravarthy Against Afghanistan