Highlights, One-off Test: India beat Afghanistan by an innings and 262 runs on Day 2
Live Score, India vs Afghanistan One-off Test Cricket Match, Day 2: Two days is all it has taken for the mighty Indians to beat the Afghanistan. Once again it has taken them just a session to bowl out the visitors for the second time in the day. It was Ashwin who got a four-fer in Afghanistan's first innings, this time it was Jadeja. However, Umesh Yadav was the man who set the tone as he ran through the top order. Stanikzai and Shahidi did show some fight but once Jadeja was introduced eh made quick work of the middle and lower order to give the hosts a huge win. It was a complete performance by the Indians. First their batters did well to set a massive first innings score. Both the openers scored a ton. Hardik and Rahul also contributed with half centuries. They scored at a brisk rate and the visitors' bowlers except for Yamin Ahmadzai had no answer to the onslaught. He was their pick of the bowler, finishing with a three-fer. The historic Test comes to an end as the No.1 team made an impact and a message for the Joe Root led side when India face Enland in a five-match Test series from August 1. (LIVE SCORECARD) (LIVE STREAMING)
HIGHLIGHTS, INDIA VS AFGHANISTAN, ONLY TEST, DAY 2 LIVE UPDATES FROM BENGALURU
INDIA BEAT AFGHANISTAN BY AN INNINGS AND 262 RUNS AT M CHINNASWAMY STADIUM, BENGALURU
17.25 IST: OUT! And that's a wrap of the one-off Test match. Ashwin has the last say in the match as he astonishes Wafadar with a googly. What was that? Brain-fade? Maybe. Ashwin tosses this one up outside off, it turns back in. The batsman strangely offers no shot and the ball hits the middle pole. Wafadar stands there in disbelief as the Indians start celebration as they have WON BY AN INNINGS AND 262 RUNS!
17.20 IST: Wafadar makes his way out to the middle. Now if India do not pick up the last wicket by 1730 local, we will have an extended period of half an hour as a result is quite possible.
17.19 IST: OUT! Jadeja removes Mujeeb Ur Rahman for 3. His fourth of the innings. Afghanistan have lost nine wickets. AFG 98/9 in 36 overs
17.12 IST: FOUR! AFG 96/8 in 35 overs
17.09 IST: FOUR! Top shot! The key there was he played the ball very late. Short and outside off, Shahidi waits for it, arches his back and then guides it through backward point for a boundary. AFG 92/8 in 34.3 overs
17.07 IST: Almost! Jadeja angles this one on off and then makes it turn away. Mujeeb tries to keep it out but the ball just about kisses the outside edge.
17.03 IST: OUT! Ishant Sharma removes Yamin Ahmadzai for 1. Brilliant yorker to follow up a few short deliveries. It was right at the base of the off stump. Ahmadzai is maybe not expecting it as he is late in bringing his bat down. The ball sneaks through and hits the off pole. India are now just two wickets away. AFG 85/8 in 32.5 overs
16.53 IST: From around the wicket he bowls it on the pads. The batsman fails to clip it. The ball hits the pads and rolls towards mid-wicket. The batsmen run a leg bye. AFG 83/7 in 31 overs
16.45 IST: OUT! Ravindra Jadeja gets his third and he removes Rashid Khan for 12. Jadeja has got the better of Rashid. This is bowled quicker and it comes in with the angle. Rashid goes back and tries to cut but the ball is too close to play that shot. He gets an inside edge onto the stumps. Jadeja gets his third and India are just three wickets away. They have around 14 overs to do so. AFG 82/7 in 29.2 overs
16.41 IST: Another sweep shot from Rashid but this time he only gets a run as the ball goes to the fielder at deep square leg. AFG 82/6 in 29 overs
16.35 IST: FOUR!Tosses this one up above the eye line. The batsman reaches out for it and the strokes it through covers for a boundary. AFG 70/6 in 26.4 overs
16.33 IST: FOUR! Swept and swept fine! Jadeja bowls it very full, Rashid goes down on one knee and sweeps it through mid-wicket for a boundary. AFG 66/6 in 26 overs
16.30 IST: OUT! Jadeja collects his second. Jadeja from around the wicket angles this one on middle, it pitches and then straightens. Zazai does not account for the turn and plays inside the line. It beats his outside edge and hits the top of off. Jadeja gets his second and India only four wickets away now. AFG 62/6 in 25.3 overs
Afsar Zazai strides out to bat.
16.25 IST: OUT! Ravindra Jadeja removes Asghar Stanikzai for 25. Jadeja strikes but that is reckless by the Afghanistan captain. He was playing so well out there and he throws it away in the end. Uses his feet, comes down the track and tries to heave it across the line. The ball turns away, takes the top edge and lobs towards Dhawan at covers who takes a dolly. The stand which looked promising has been broken. AFG 61/5 in 23.4 overs
16.22 IST: Loopy ball to start his new spell. The batsman defends it onto the ground. AFG 61/4 in 23.3 overs
16.16 IST: Ravindra Jadeja is brought into the attack.
16.12 IST: FOUR! Excellent batting! Once again Umesh is guilty of bowling it too straight. Stanikzai flicks it through mid-wicket and the ball races to the fence. AFG 60/4 in 20.1 overs
16.11 IST: FOUR! A touch short on middle, Shahidi picks the length up early and pulls it through mid-wicket for a boundary. AFG 56/4 in 19.5 overs
16.08 IST: FOUR! Well played by Stanikzai on Umesh's delivery. Lovely shot! Full and on the pads, Stanikzai flicks it off the middle through mid-wicket and that races away to the fence. 50 for Afghanistan. AFG 52/4 in 18.5 overs
16.05 IST: FOUR! Dropped short, Shahidi pulls it through mid-wicket and gets a boundary! AFG 48/4 in 18 overs
16.01 IST: FOUR! This is a good passage of play for Afghanistan. The two out there are looking solid now. This is fuller and outside off, Stanikzai hits it through covers and a boundary results. AFG 44/4 in 17.3 overs
15.54 IST: Nicely played but no runs! Fuller and outside off, it is driven towards cover where the fielder makes a good diving stop to his right. AFG 39/4 in 14.4 overs
15.52 IST: Some issue with the ball and it is being changed.
15.49 IST: Another Maiden over by Ashwin. AFG 39/4 in 14 overs
15.47 IST: Length ball on off, this slants away from the batsman. Shahidi tries to defend but gets an outside edge which goes along the ground to the man at gully. AFG 39/4 in 13.1 overs
15.40 IST: Drinks! Almost a repeat of what happened in the first innings of Afghanistan. They are already 4 down and a finish today is certainly on the cards. However, the two out there are trying their best to battle it out but can they continue to do so? We will find out.
15.31 IST: SIX! Unexpected! On the front foot, Stanikzai steps up and smashes Ashwin for a maximum. AFG 37/4 in 9.4 overs
15.27 IST: FOUR! A sight for sore eyes as Stanikzai plays a classy cover drive on Pandya's delivery. Short and wide and it has been put away! Stanikzai pounces on the width offered outside off and cuts it through backward point for a boundary. AFG 30/4 in 8.4 overs
15.19 IST: Asghar Stanikzai strides out to bat.
15.17 IST: OUT! Ishant Sharma removes Rahmat Shah for 4. Another one bites the dust! A very soft dismissal there. This is full and on the pads, Shah flicks it but does not bother to keep it down. It goes straight into the hands of Rahane at mid-wicket who takes a low catch to give Ishant his first. AFG 24/4 in 6.3 overs
15.13 IST: OUT! Umesh Yadav removes Mohammed Nabi for a duck. Afghanistan have lost their third wicket. It is hitting the leg stump! Did not see that coming but credit to India, excellent use of the review. Umesh bowls it on middle and lands it on a length. Nabi tries to flick but misses to get hit on the pads. The ball rolls towards square leg and the batsmen go for a run. The Indians are appealing but the umpire shakes his head. Rahane after a chat with his teammates goes for the review. They take it upstairs and replays show three reds. Nabi has been given his marching orders. His promotion up the order does not work and India are now just 7 wickets away. AFG 22/3 in 5.5 overs
15.08 IST: Mohammad Nabi is promoted up the order.
15.07 IST: OUT! Umesh Yadav removes Javed Ahmadi for 3. There goes number two! Another good delivery by Yadav. Lands it on a length again and then it swings away. Ahmadi goes back and tries to defend but the ball takes the outside edge and goes towards Dhawan at second slip who completes the catch. India now 8 wickets away from a win. Afghanistan 109 & 22/2 in 5.1 overs against India (474) in Bengaluru
15.02 IST: Rahmat Shah is the new man in.
15.01 IST: OUT! Umesh Yadav removes Mohammad Shahzad for 13. EDGED AND TAKEN! Umesh Yadav draws first blood. Goes fuller this time on off, this one swings away a touch. Shahzad with no footwork at all, tries to drive it down the ground. He does not account for the away movement and the ball kisses the outside edge and goes into the mitts of Karthik. The players appeal and the umpire raises his finger. Shahzad starts walking back cheaply, again. Afghanistan 109 & 19/1 in 4 overs against India (474) in Bengaluru.
14.58 IST: FOUR! Excellent timing! Slightly straight by Umesh. Shahzad whips it through mid-wicket. Ashwin gives it a chase but then gives up in the end.
14.50 IST: FOUR! Edgy but a boundary!! Short and outside off, Yadav slashes at it but gets an outside edge over the slip cordon for a boundary.
14.47 IST: Umesh Yadav to bowl from the other end.
14.46 IST: A maiden over to start with. Ishant Sharma to Mohammad Shahzad, no run. Another ball outside off, the batsman does not fiddle with it. A maiden but not a threatening one.
14.42 IST: Umesh Yadav claims 100th Test wicket, joins elite list of Kapil Dev, Anil Kumble (Read Full Story)
14.20 IST: Afghanistan all out for 109 in 27.5 overs against India (474) in Bengaluru. Ashwin 4/27, Jadeja 2/18 .
14.13 IST: Wafadar is the last man in.
14.12 IST: OUT! Ashwin removes Nabi for 24. In the air... taken! A good catch in the end by ishant gives Ashwin his fourth. Once again Ashwin tosses it up, Nabi tries to clear the mid-wicket fence but is done in by the bounce. The ball takes the top edge. it goes up in the air towards square leg. Ishant comes running in from the deep. Also Vijay is running towards the ball from short leg. The former gets to it first and takes a good catch inches above the ground. Afghanistan are nine down now and the end is nigh. Afghanistan 88/9 in 26.3 overs vs India (474) in Bengaluru.
14.07 IST: Mujeeb Ur Rahman strides out to the middle.
14.06 IST: OUT! Ashwin removes Ahmadzai for 0. Three-fer for Ashwin. The batsman's patience runs out. Ravichandran once again floats it up on off, it is the carom ball. Yamin's eyes lit up seeing the flight. He makes the mistake of going across the line. The ball takes the outside edge and lobs towards point. Jadeja there accepts a dolly. Afghanistan 87/8 in 24.5 overs vs India (474) in Bengaluru
13.58 IST: FOUR! Intentions are clear here from Nabi, he is going after Ashwin. The bowler gives it air, Nabi uses his feet, gets to the pitch of it and powers it over the bowler's head for a boundary.
13.56 IST: Yamin Ahmadzai is the next man in.
13.55 IST: OUT! Jadeja removes Rashid Khan for 7. Jadeja comes and strikes. Not the best of deliveries though. It is short and outside off, gets it to bounce a touch extra. Rashid goes for the cut but the ball gets big on him. He fails to keep it down and it goes towards backward point where Yadav moves to his right and takes it. Afghanistan 78/7 in 21.3 overs vs India (474) in Bengaluru.
13.53 IST: Ravindra Jadeja is into the attack.
13.50 IST: FOUR! Sloppy work in the field! This is fuller on the pads, Nabi flicks it through mid-wicket. Rahul in the deep runs to his left with pads on. He dives, collects the ball but as he stands up, the ball slips out and touches the ropes.
13.48 IST: FOUR! Up and over! Full ball on off, that is in Nabi's zone. He lofts it over the mid off fielder and it races away to the fence.
13.45 IST: FOUR! Never easy to hit a cover drive to the offie but Rashid has done it really well here. Ashwin tosses it up outside off, Rashid goes against the turn and slams it through covers for a boundary.
13.39 IST: Rashid Khan is the new man in.
13.38 IST: OUT! Ashwin removes Shahidi for 11. The review does not save him this time! It is PLUMB! Once again it is the flatter one on off, it comes in with the angle and also skids off the surface, Shahidi makes the mistake of going back as he is beaten by the skid of the delivery. The ball sneaks through even before the bat is down and hits the him on the pads. The players appeal and the umpire raises his finger. Shahidi signals for the 'T'. Replays roll in and they show that there is no bat involved. The ball has brushed the front pad first and then hit the back pad. Hawk Eye shows the impact to be in line and the wickets to be hitting. Ashwin gets his second and Afghanistan lose a review. Afghanistan 59/6 in 16.4 overs vs India (474) in Bengaluru.
13.34 IST: FOUR! A little too full and the bowler pays the price! Flighted ball on the fuller side. The spin is out of contention. The batsman gets to the pitch of it and times it through covers for a boundary.
13.29 IST: Just three runs from the over. Hardik Pandya to Mohammad Nabi, no run. Another bouncer, this is a well-directed one. Nabi again ducks under it. AFG 54/5 in 15 overs.
13.26 IST: Hashmatullah Shahidi NOT OUT! Excellent use of the review! This is the straighter one by Ashwin on middle, it comes in with the arm. Shahidi lunges forward and tries to defend but he seems to have missed it and the ball hits the pads. The players appeal and the umpire raises his finger. The batsman goes for the review immediately and replays show why. There is an inside edge and the decision has to be overturned.
13.19 IST: Mohammad Nabi is the new man in.
13.18 IST: DRINKS BREAK. Well, what can be described in this manic period? 5 wickets lost in 75 balls. Afghanistan simply have not shown any gumption to hang in out there. India have been probing but they have not had to do exceedingly well.
13.17 IST: OUT! Ashwin removes Stanikzai for 11. That is a lovely delivery from the offie. He tosses this up over the eyeline of the batsman and entices him forward. Stanikzai comes forward but now he sees the ball has not come yet. That is because Ashwin has lessened the pace as well. That causes hesitation in Stanikzai's footwork and he is indecisive. Eventually, when he does spot the ball, it is dipping into him. He looks to defend but it is half-hearted. The cherry lands, goes past his half lunge, spins in and hits the top of leg stump. Top delivery. ASHWIN NOW GOES PAST ZAHEER KHAN in the list of India's top wicket takers in Tests - 4th as of now, with his 312th scalp. Afghanistan 50/5 in 12.3 overs vs India (474) in Bengaluru.
13.10 IST: Hardik Pandya time. Has already affected a run out.
13.06 IST: FOUR! On middle and leg, Stanikzai flicks it through square leg. Umesh Yadav runs to his left and slides but while pushing the ball away, his knee touches the ropes.
13.03 IST: FOUR! Full and on middle, this also threatened to sneak through, but Stanikzai managed to flick it through mid-wicket for a boundary!
13.01 IST: Captain Asghar Stanikzai walks out. Can he stop the procession?
13.00 IST: OUT! Ishant removes Zazai for 6. Another one goes. Full and outside off, nipping back in, Zazai looks to drive but is comprehensively beaten. There is a massive gap between bat and pad and the ball goes right through. This is turning out to be a no-contest. Afghanistan 35/4 in 9.1 overs vs India (474) in Bengaluru.
12.56 IST: Hashmatullah Shahidi walks in now.
12.55 IST: OUT! Umesh Yadav removes Rahmat for 14. Dead plumb LBW. This is straight, Rahmat plays all around it and simply misses the ball. Is hit right in front of the sticks and is adjudged LBW. Afghanistan 35/3 in 8.2 overs vs India (474) in Bengaluru.
12.51 IST: FOUR! Full and outside off, Rahmat looks to drive but the ball nips back in, takes the inside edge and rockets past the off stump to the fine leg fence.
12.42 IST: FOUR! Full on middle, worked wide of Ravichandran Ashwin at mid on and gets a boundary.
12.40 IST: Afzar Zazai is in early, at number 4. Remember, he kept wickets in the first innings. Should he have come so soon?
12.39 IST: OUT! Ishant removes Javed Ahmadi for 1. Timber! Right through his defense. Superb bowling. On a length outside off, Ahmadi looks to defend but the bat does not come down at all. It takes an age to come down, as if to indicate he is not in total agreement to play that. There is a massive gap between bat and pad and the ball comes in, goes right through that gap and knocks the off pole. Two wickets down in quick time. Afghanistan 21/2 in 5.2 overs vs India (474) in Bengaluru.
12.35 IST: FOUR! Down the leg side, clipped fine for a boundary.
12.33 IST: Rahmat Shah walks in at number 3, replacing Shahzad.
12.32 IST: OUT! Mohammad Shahzad run out for 14. Bull's eye from Hardik sends Shahzad back! Magical fielding. On a length outside off, Shahzad pushes it towards point and sets off running. Hardik quickly gets to the ball, bends, picks the ball with one hand and fires a missile. Destroys the stumps at the bowler's end. It is taken upstairs and replays show that poor Shahzad tried hard to run fast but just couldn't beat Hardik's throw. Afghanistan 15/1 in 4 overs vs India (474) in Bengaluru.
12.19 IST: Ishant Sharma to bowl from the other end.
12.17 IST: FOUR! Off the inside edge this time! Full and outside off, Shahzad pushes at it meekly and the ball comes in. Takes the inside edge and goes past the off stump to the fine leg fence!
12.15 IST: EDGED, FOUR! Full and outside off, Shahzad throws his bat at it like there is no tomorrow, does not move his feet and gets a thick outside edge. The ball flies past gully and races to the third man fence.
11.34 IST: India all out for 474 in 104.5 overs against Afghanistan in Bengaluru. Pandya 71, Ahmadzai 3/51. Rashid Khan to Ishant Sharma, OUT! LBW! The decision stays as it is. The googly around off, Ishant goes for the sweep but misses and is hit on the pads. The batsmen take a single as Rashid appeals but the umpire eventually raises his finger on the appeal. Ishant takes the review but nothing on the replays can save him. No glove or bat and the ball is projected to be hitting the stumps. INDIA HAVE MANAGED 474.
11.19 IST: FOUR! EDGED BUT RUNS! What a bisection. On a good length outside off, Ishant backs away to the leg side but the ball keeps coming in. He just fends it and the ball goes off the outside edge. But the keeper has moved to his left initially and by the time he dives to his right, the ball speeds past.
11.18 IST: SIX! That is HUGE! Ho ho ho! A length ball outside off, Umesh slogs this into oblivion over mid-wicket!
11.17 IST: SIX! WHAM! Terrific batting. Wafadar drops it on a length, outside off, Yadav backs away and slaps it over cover!
11.16 IST: FOUR! A short ball, Umesh hacks it over mid-wicket and gets a boundary. IND 446/9 in 101.1 overs.
11.08 IST: No idea why India are not declaring. Umesh Yadav has come out to bat as well.
11.07 IST: OUT! Wafadar removes Hardik Pandya for 71. Caught behind. No century for Hardik. A short ball outside off, Pandya looks to play the upper cut by arching back but is not quite able to do so. The ball takes his gloves and the keeper ends his innings. Fine knock from Hardik again. Will India declare now? India 440/9 in 99.2 overs vs Afghanistan in Bengaluru.
11.06 IST: FOUR! Edged but safe! Full and outside off, Pandya slashes hard but gets a thick outside edge. The keeper dives to his right but cannot get to the ball and it races to the third man fence.
11.05 IST: Ishant Sharma walks in at number 10, replacing Jadeja.
11.02 IST: OUT! Nabi removes Jadeja for 20. Taken in the deep. Good bowling from Nabi. He senses that Jadeja is going to go after him and bowls this slower through the air. The all-rounder indeed dances down the track and looks to go over the top. He is not quite to the pitch of the ball and miscues it big time. Rahmat Shah takes it calmly at long off. Jadeja's small innings ends. India 436/8 in 98.5 overs vs Afghanistan in Bengaluru.
10.54 IST: FOUR! Cracking shot. 50-run stand is up. A short ball outside off, Pandya pulls it through mid-wicket and gets a boundary!
10.52 IST: FIFTY! Hardik Pandya hits his 3rd Test fifty off 83 balls. WHACK! What a way to get to your half century. Full and outside off, Hardik gets down and sweeps it powerfully through mid-wicket for a boundary! India 417/7 in 96.4 overs vs Afghanistan in Bengaluru .
10.42 IST: SIX! Catch it was the call but you had to be in the crowd to catch that. Jadeja comes down the track, he does not quite get to the pitch of the ball but still goes ahead with the shot. The ball hits the middle and clears the wide long on fence.
10.35 IST: DRINKS BREAK. A 'nothing' hour. Totally meaningless. No explanation as to why Afghanistan are not taking the second new ball. The old ball is not reversing, neither were the fast bowlers tired that they needed a break, nor is the pitch turning. A bizarre performance by Afghanistan so far which has not seen ANY intent. Sloppy fielding, poor bowling and two good deliveries which could have had wickets but for a dropped catch.
10.30 IST: Did you know? Before today, whenever Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja have batted together (across formats), Pandya has crossed 50 twice and has a 40!
10.24 IST: Wafadar into the attack now. No signs of the new cherry yet.
10.15 IST: FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries by Pandya. Ho ho ho... who says Hardik is only brute power? He has class too. Full and outside off, Hardik leans and executes a lovely cover drive. Asghar Stanikzai runs to his left, puts in a slide but the ball slips through. 12 from the over. IND 389/7 in 89 overs.
10.13 IST: FOUR! MAGNIFICENT! Full on middle, Pandya just eases it down the ground. 'STOP IT, RAHMAT! cries the keeper but the ball beats his desperate dive to the left.
10.11 IST: FOUR! A flash, a thick edge and a boundary. Short and outside off, Pandya cuts hard but gets a thick outside edge which flies behind point to the fence. Plenty of runs as always in a Test match, in that region. The stand is worth 12 from 15 balls.
10.07 IST: FOUR! Full on middle, Hardik flicks it through mid-wicket and gets a boundary.
10.05 IST: EDGED, DROPPED, FOUR! That is tough luck for the bowler. Full and outside off, Jadeja pushes at it. The ball moves away and takes the outside edge. It is a regulation catch for the keeper but he makes a mess of it as he dives to his left and parries it past first slip to the third man fence.
10.03 IST: Ravindra Jadeja walks in at number 9, replacing Ashwin.
10.02 IST: OUT! Ahmadzai removes Ashwin for 18. The ball has carried. Afghanistan get a wicket this morning. Didn't look like getting one. On a length outside off, Ashwin looks to cut but gets a bottom edge. The ball dips in front of the keeper who takes it safely. They appeal but umpire Gaffaney is worried whether the ball carried. He asks his partner who takes his own sweet time to walk across and eventually they take it upstairs with the soft signal as OUT. And replays indicate that it has carried. India 369/7 in 85.5 overs vs Afghanistan in Bengaluru.
09.55 IST: Yamin Ahmadzai to Ravichandran Ashwin, 2 runs. ALMOST A WICKET, ALMOST OVERTHROWS! Bizarre scenes. A short ball outside off, Ashwin punches it towards point. Now, had this ball been stopped here itself, we would not have had any issues. But then, as life is usually complex, we have got to get used to the same. The fielder fumbles and now problems start. For the commentators, that is. The ball goes towards the fence and the batsmen take two. By the time it is retrieved, Pandya calls Ashwin for the third. He takes ages to run and the throw comes in to the keeper. He sees a run out chance at the bowler's end and fires a throw but it is a wild one. Ashwin runs sideways to give the keeper a clear view of the sticks but the throw nearly beats mid on. Had the fielder not dived and stopped the ball, 7 RUNS were on offer! So you see - a simple fielding effort could have saved us so much trouble of typing.
09.48 IST: Just 4 runs from the over by Rashid. IND 361/4 in 83 overs. Rashid Khan to Hardik Pandya, no run. The batsman gets an inside edge and the ball hits him on the pads.
09.43 IST: REVISED SESSION TIMINGS - Lunch will be taken at 11.30 am local as usual while the next two sessions will be extended by 15 minutes each. So Tea will be taken at 2.25 pm while the final session will be from 2.45 pm-5 pm, with a 30-minute extension provided to complete the pending overs.
09.36 IST: FOUR! Juicy and easy. A half volley and dead straight. Flicked with disdain through mid-wicket. No one at the fence except the ball boys.
09.34 IST: Yamin Ahmadzai to bowl from the other end. One over to go for the second new ball.
09.30 IST: Out come the players on the field. Hardik Pandya and Ravichandran Ashwin are the overnight batsmen. It will be Rashid Khan to start off proceedings to Pandya.
09.27 IST: PITCH REPORT! Sunil Gavaskar and Simon Doull doing the observation says that the grass is still there on the pitch. That will hold the cracks together which will make batting still look good. There is some cloud cover around and some moisture, which means there will be some assistance for the bowlers as well.
09.25 IST: Afghanistan Cricket Board has extended its best wishes on the auspicious occasion of Eid.
09.15 IST: Former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar has tried to decode Rashid Khan's leg-spin and googly.
09.00 IST: The BCCI congratulated Shikhar Dhawan for becoming the first Indian cricketer to score a century before lunch on the opening day of a Test.
Day 1 Score & Highlights: Openers Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay scored a century each to give Afghanistan the expectedly tough initiation into Test cricket but the debutants managed to find their bearings to leave India a tad uncomfortable at 347 for 6 on a rain-curtailed first day of the historic one-off Test.
However, the world no.1 hosts did take their foot off the pedal in the final session losing five wickets for 99 runs in 32 overs. The result was that the day end scorecard didn't paint a sorry picture for Afghanistan something that was threatening to happen after the first two sessions.
The final session definitely belonged to Afghanistan as their bowlers put up an inspired performance backed by the fielders. (Read: Day 1 Match Report)
