On this day in 2018: India end Afghanistan’s debut Test in two days
Afghanistan’s first-ever Test match started on 14th June 2018 and ended on 15th June 2018. Well, a five-day match was reduced to a two-day affair as India thrashed the Afghanistan side by an innings and 262 runs in Bangalore.
In what was a historic match for the Afghanistan cricket team, India won the toss and elected to bat first. And, the Indian willow wielders made merry. Openers Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan put on a sensational 168-run partnership. While Dhawan scored 107 off just 96 deliveries, Vijay helped himself to a classy 105.
KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya scored half-centuries as well, as India ended their first innings with a total of 474 runs on the board. For Afghanistan, Yamin Ahmadzai was the pick of the bowlers. In the 19 overs that he bowled, the right arm pacer scalped 3 wickets, giving away 51 runs.
What a brilliant gesture from #TeamIndia to ask @ACBofficials players to pose with them with the Trophy. This has been more than just another Test match #SpiritofCricket #TheHistoricFirst #INDvAFG @Paytm pic.twitter.com/TxyEGVBOU8
— BCCI (@BCCI) June 15, 2018
Afghanistan produced a shambolic performance with the bat in reply. The entire Afghanistan first innings lasted for just 27.5 overs, as the visitors were bowled out for a total of just 109. For India, spin bowling legend Ravichandran Ashwin scalped a four-wicket haul in the first innings.
Afghanistan was asked to follow on, and once again the visitors were not up to the task. The Asghar Afghan-led side was bowled out for 103 in their second innings, handing India a crushing victory. In the 2nd innings, it was left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja who bamboozled the Afghanistan batting line-up.
Jadeja picked up 4 wickets in the 9 overs that he bowled and gave away 17 runs. Umesh Yadav chipped in with 3 wickets with the red cherry as well. And, for his whirlwind century that paved the way for a crushing Indian victory, Shikhar Dhawan walked away with the Player of the Match award.
