The no.1 Test ranking team India thrashed the new Test team Afghanistan just under the second day of the one-off Test match at Bengaluru. In that historic encounter, India won by an innings and 262 runs.
On Thursday morning, Afghanistan became the 12th Test members when their captain Asghar Stanikzai came to toss but lost and had to bowl first.
Both the Indian openers scored centuries in the first innings. Shikhar Dhawan played the smashing knock of 107 runs off 96 balls while Murali Vijay scored 105 runs off 153 balls. Also, the no.3 batsman KL Rahul scored 54 runs.
The openers 168-run partnership set a good total for the team. However, India suffered a batting collapse in the next stage as they went down to 334/6 from 280/1. Hardik Pandya played an important innings of 71 runs off 94 balls and the lower-orders also helped to provide some important partnerships.
Finally, India was bowled out for 474 runs during the first session on day 2. Pacer Yamin Ahmadzai, who delivered the first ball for Afghanistan in their Test cricket history as well as Afghanistan’s first Test wicket-taker, took the most wickets as his bowling figure was 19-7-51-3.
Also, Wafadar (2/100) and Rashid Khan (2/154) got two wickets each while Mohammad Nabi (1/65) and Mujeeb Ur Rahman (1/75) picked up one wicket each.
In reply, Afghanistan was bundled out for just 109 runs in their first ever Test innings. Only Mohammad Nabi (24 runs) reached the 20-run mark in that innings.
Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (4/27) picked up 4 wickets in that innings, while Ishant Sharma (2/28) and Ravindra Jadeja (2/18) scalped two wickets each and Umesh Yadav (1/18) completed his 100th Test wicket by claiming one wicket.
Having a big 365-run lead at the end of the first innings fight, India forced the new Test team for the follow-on. This time the Afghan team was bundled out for just 103 runs. Only Hashmatullah Shahidi (36* runs) and the skipper Asghar Stanikzai (25 runs) reached the 20-run mark.
This time, Ravindra Jadeja (4/17) earned four wickets while Umesh Yadav (3/26), Ishant Sharma (2/17) and Ravichandran Ashwin (1/32) claimed three, two and one wickets respectively.
At the end of the match, Shikhar Dhawan won the Player of the Match award.
Here are some Twitter reactions:
https://twitter.com/sagargala1234/status/1007598974621175808
https://twitter.com/stories_cricket/status/1007601568667987969
The romance of Afghanistan's debut is now face-to-face with the reality of test cricket. Just 28 overs in the first innings.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 15, 2018
First two-day victory for India.
Biggest Test win (Inns & 262 runs).
Most wickets in a day of a Test in last 100 years.
Only the 4th instance of a team dismissed twice in a day. #IndvsAfg
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) June 15, 2018
KL Rahul could have easily scored Century but he got out to give chance to ajinkya rahane and other batsman
Simplicty Level 99.9999999999999 %#INDvAFG #INDvsAFG— Lord Binny (@lordbinny) June 14, 2018
kahan h insaniyat
is nazuk paristhiti mein ballebazi karwa rahe hain pic.twitter.com/MNZwNsL7vN— Arun Lol (@dhaikilokatweet) June 15, 2018
After Dhawan @hardikpandya7 has impressed most, blending defence & attack judiciously. Afghan bowlers showing resolve but catching below par
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) June 15, 2018
Teams conceding 400+ in inaugural Test
429 by BAN vs IND, Dhaka, 2000
407* by AFG vs IND, Bengaluru, 2018
401 by WI vs ENG, Lord's, 1928#INDvAFG— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) June 15, 2018
Very nice innings from Hardik Pandya. Controlled, played at the pace he wanted. The innings of a batsman.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 15, 2018
Last time 24 or more wkts fell on a single day in a Test, 116 years ago in 1902!#INDvAFG
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) June 15, 2018
India first Asian side to win a Test in two days!#IndvAfg
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) June 15, 2018
This is Spirit of Cricket!#INDvAFG pic.twitter.com/kmOIkN1H0t
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) June 15, 2018
Think Afghanistan missed a trick with the second new ball…should’ve taken. And now, it’s a little too late. #IndvAfg @StarSportsIndia
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) June 15, 2018
Arson baad ek Rahul number teen par. #INDvAFG
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) June 14, 2018
