Brief Score, IND A vs AFG A: India A (319 for 9 in 50 oves, Tilak 59, Priyansh 58) beat Afghanistan A (218-all out in 36.5 ov, Nishant Sindhu 4/31) by 101 runs in Dambulla on Wednesday. Highlights
Days after facing heavy flak for losing his cool and letting slip a tense tri-series game against Sri Lanka, skipper Tilak Varma stepped up when it mattered the most in Wednesday’s must-win clash against Afghanistan A. After hitting a patient 59 to help build on a solid platform laid by 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Varma marshalled his troops wonderfully well as India successfully defended 319 in Dambulla to seal a spot in the tri-series final.
India A had looked thoroughly rattled after losing to Sri Lanka A in a chaotic Super Over on Monday. Tilak Varma was widely criticised for appearing to overstep the line when arguing his team’s case with the on-field umpires on more than one occasion as matters got tense. Sooryavanshi also faced heat for physical misconduct after shoving a Sri Lankan player post-match. Needing nothing less than a victory on Wednesday to keep their tournament alive, the Men in Blue came out all guns blazing, remarkably staying composed and focused on the job at hand.
A compelling all-round performance ultimately saw India A thrash Afghanistan A by 101 runs. The comprehensive victory snapped a two-match winless run for the defending champions, catapulting them to the top of the points table with four points. Boasting a superior Net Run Rate of 0.597, India A have comfortably guaranteed their place in Sunday’s showpiece final. Even if Afghanistan A, currently languishing at the bottom with two points and a poor NRR of -1.602, manage to upset second-placed Sri Lanka A on Friday, they cannot bridge the massive statistical deficit.
VAIBHAV FIRE
India A produced a complete performance in Dambulla on Wednesday, riding on a strong batting display and a clinical bowling effort to overpower Afghanistan A by 101 runs in the tri-series.
Asked to bat first on a surface that appeared slow and two-paced, India A made a flying start through openers Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Priyansh Arya. The pair took the attack to the Afghan bowlers from the outset, stitching together 75 runs inside the first eight overs and putting the opposition immediately on the back foot.
Sooryavanshi looked in ominous touch once again, showcasing his range with crisp drives and a couple of towering sixes. Just when he appeared set for a substantial score, the youngster fell for 38. Attempting to pull a short ball from Faridoon Dawoodzai that cramped him for room outside off stump, he miscued his shot and departed.
Arya, meanwhile, continued his aggressive approach and reached a rapid fifty in only 29 deliveries. The left-hander appeared destined for a bigger score before perishing for 58, cutting Farmanullah directly to the fielder at point. His dismissal coincided with the pitch becoming noticeably slower, forcing India A to alter their approach.
With the ball no longer coming on to the bat as freely, Tilak Varma and vice-captain Ruturaj Gaikwad focused on rebuilding. Neither batter found scoring easy, and Gaikwad’s innings came to an unfortunate end when he was given caught behind down the leg side off Abdollah Ahmadzai after making 30.
Tilak then assumed responsibility for the innings. The captain paced his knock expertly, compiling 59 from 67 deliveries, while Kumar Kushagra provided valuable support with a composed 58. Their fourth-wicket partnership yielded 104 runs and ensured India A maintained control despite a slowdown in scoring through the middle overs.
Although the run rate dipped to around five an over for a significant period, Vipraj Nigam injected fresh momentum towards the end. His brisk 30 from 20 balls helped India A surge beyond the 300-run mark and close on 319 for nine.
NISHANT SINDHU SHINES
Afghanistan A never truly recovered after losing early wickets in the chase. Yash Thakur struck first by dismissing Hassan Eisakhil for 14, with Gaikwad taking a sharp catch. Anshul Kamboj then removed Khalid Taniwal for 13 before Nishant Sindhu outfoxed captain Imran Mir to deepen Afghanistan’s troubles.
The only significant resistance came through Bahir Shah and Faisal Shinozada. The duo combined for an 87-run stand that briefly revived Afghanistan’s hopes, with Shah making a fighting 57 from 52 balls and Shinozada contributing 46. However, once both batters fell in quick succession, the chase unravelled rapidly.
Tilak marshalled his resources impressively, frequently adjusting his fields and encouraging his bowlers to attack. His proactive captaincy paid dividends as India A tightened their grip on the contest.
Sindhu was the standout performer with the ball, claiming 4 for 31 in 6.5 overs. Thakur finished with 2 for 48, while Kamboj, Suryansh Shedge, Anukul Roy and Nigam chipped in with a wicket each as Afghanistan A were bowled out for 218 in 36.5 overs. (With inputs from PTI)
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