Picture Credit: BCCI/Associated Press
Left-arm spinner Manav Suthar produced a memorable performance on debut, claiming six wickets to help India bowl Afghanistan out for 152 in their first innings on Day 3 of the one-off Test at the New PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh.
After India declared on 564/8, Afghanistan resumed on 113/5 but suffered a collapse that handed the hosts a commanding first-innings lead of 412 runs.
Suthar finished with impressive figures of 6/33, recording the second-best bowling figures by an Indian on Test debut.
India struck early when Prasidh Krishna dismissed Azmatullah Omarzai for a duck.
Afghanistan slipped further despite a determined effort from Rahmat Shah, who became the first Afghan batter to score a Test half-century against India.
Rahmat scored 60 and shared a valuable partnership with Sharafuddin Ashraf. Suthar, however, broke the stand before producing a superb delivery to bowl Rahmat and complete his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket.
The spinner later removed Mohammad Saleem Safi to complete his six-for, while Washington Sundar claimed the final wicket as Afghanistan were dismissed for 152.
India enforced the follow-on and immediately turned to Suthar with the new ball.
Afghanistan’s second innings began more positively, with opener Sediqullah Atal taking an aggressive approach.
Atal struck a six and several boundaries to move quickly to 16 not out, while Abdul Malik remained cautious at the other end. The pair successfully negotiated the morning session without losing a wicket.
At lunch, Afghanistan were 18/0 in four overs, still trailing India by 394 runs but displaying far greater intent than in their first innings.
Also Read: Manav Suthar’s 3/21 Leaves Afghanistan Reeling In One-Off Test
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