Afghanistan’s middle-order recovery could not prevent a seven-wicket defeat to India in the opening T20I at Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday, leaving the Afghans 1-0 down in the three-match series.
Afghanistan’s innings was in serious trouble at 43 for five after India’s pace attack struck repeatedly in the opening phase. Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi then rebuilt the innings with an 83-run partnership for the sixth wicket.
Omarzai remained unbeaten on 64 from 44 balls, while Nabi made 33. Their stand gave Afghanistan a route back into the contest and helped lift the total to 156 for eight from 20 overs. Arshdeep Singh was India’s leading bowler with three wickets for 19 runs.
The central problem for Afghanistan was that the recovery came after too much early damage. A competitive total required the bowlers to create similar pressure in India’s chase, but Abhishek Sharma quickly changed the balance of the match.
After Sanju Samson fell for 10, Abhishek attacked Afghanistan’s bowlers for 82 from 32 deliveries, hitting seven fours and seven sixes. Ishan Kishan added 42, and their 121-run second-wicket partnership effectively removed Afghanistan’s opportunity to force a close finish.
India completed the chase at 157 for three with 38 balls remaining. For Afghanistan, Omarzai and Nabi’s resistance was the clearest positive, but the collapse at the top of the order and the inability to slow India’s scoring rate exposed two areas that will require adjustment before the second T20I on September 15 at the same venue.
Sources: match reporting cross-checked against The Indian Express and The New Indian Express.
