Related Links: Arise Asia Cup 2014 – Results and Scorecards | Afghanistan v India at Dhaka – Scorecard
India finished Asia Cup 2014 with a consolation win against minnows Afghanistan on Wednesday evening. Having bundled out Afghanistan for 159, Team India batted out for 32.2 overs while losing its openers to get to the target.
Virat Kohli had won the toss and put Afghanistan to bat first at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka. India disappointingly made no changes to its team and thus leaving out Cheteshwar Pujara, Ishwar Pandey, Stuart Binny and Varun Aaron.
Afghanistan started off on a promising note but only to lose wickets in a heap. Their first wicket went down in the 6th over with Nawroz Mangal looking to force a cut off Mohammad Shami but only to drag it onto the stumps. The introduction of Ravindra Jadeja straightaway gave wickets. Jadeja got Rahmat Shah lbw to a drifter with the very first ball he bowled in the 13th over. In the same over, he Jadeja had the dangerous opener Noor Ali Zadran (31 from 35 balls) caught at slip off a turning and jumping delivery.
Ravindra Jadeja bowling (Photo credit: Sum_of_Marc)
More wickets followed for Afghanistan with their run machine Asghar Stanikzai caught at mid on pulling Ravindra Jadeja in the air. R Ashwin joined the party as his flighted lollipop lured left-handed Najibullah Zadran to miscue a slog. Afghanistan’s Captain Mohammad Nabi was consumed by a turning delivery from Ravindra Jadeja while Dinesh Karthik held onto a sharp catch.
Afghanistan’s Wicket Keeper Mohammad Shahzad played a cameo of 22 from 28 balls with 2 fours and a six before was lbw to a skidding carrom ball from Ravichandran Ashwin. The 8th Afghan wicket went to the unlucky Amit Mishra with Mirwais Ashraf caught at slip with a bat pad inside edge.
India conceded 48 runs to take the remaining two Afghan wickets. R Ashwin got the 9th wicket with Shapoor Zadran given lbw to a carrom ball. Last man out was leg-spinning all-rounder Samiullah Shenwari who scored 50 from 73 balls with 6 fours and a six to bring some respectability to Afghanistan total. Mohammed Shami claimed his wicket in the 46th over with Samiullah Shenwari shuffling far too across for a paddle scoop and missing it.
Thanks to 30 overs of spin, India bowled out its overs quickly and by the Supper Break, batted for 9 overs to score 34 for no loss. Ajinkya Rahane was sent in to open with Shikhar Dhawan. Both the batsmen played with extreme care to score half centuries. Ajinkya Rahane was dismissed for 56 (from 66 balls with 5 fours), lbw to Mirwais Ashraf trying to flick him across the line.
Shikhar Dhawan was bowled by a flattish off break from Mohammad Nabi which drifted in and turned away just enough to strike off. Dhawan scored 60 from 78 balls with 4 fours and a six. Rohit Sharma (18* from 24 balls) and Dinesh Karthik (21* from 27 balls) spent some time in the middle as well before wrapping up the easy run chase.
For figures of 10-1-30-4, Ravindra Jadeja was adjudged as the Man of the Match.
