Yadav's quick 50 sets up India for comfortable win
Suryakumar Yadav cracked a 28-ball 53 to set India up for a convincing 47-run win over Afghanistan in their opening Super Eights match at the T20 World Cup.
Yadav hit five fours and three sixes and shared in a crucial fifth-wicket partnership of 60 with Hardik Pandya as India posted 181 for eight at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. Afghanistan’s reply never recovered from the loss of three wickets inside the first five overs and they ultimately fell well short, bowled out for 134, as the impressive Jasprit Bumrah claimed three for seven.
India had made a sluggish start with Rashid Khan (three for 26) instrumental as they slipped to 90 for four. Rishabh Pant (20) and Virat Kohli (24) were among the leg-spinner’s victims after Fazalhaq Farooqi (three for 33) had claimed the early scalp of captain Rohit Sharma. The situation changed as Yadav and Pandya (32 from 24 balls) came together before Axar Patel’s quick 12 further bolstered the total.
Afghanistan struggled in response, particularly against Bumrah, and were always struggling after being reduced to 23 for three.Azmatullah Omarzai hit a battling 26 and Najibullah Zadran scored 19, but the outcome was determined long before the finish as Arshdeep Singh (two for 34) and Kuldeep Yadav (two for 32) also shone. PA Media
Updated
The Super Eights come thick and fast – tomorrow Australia take on Bangladesh in the early game, and England return to the Daren Sammy Stadium to battle South Africa at 3.30BST.
We’ll leave India to relish their glory. Thank you for your messages as ever, and have a nice evening, football scores and other things notwitstanding.
