In the first T20I match of the three-match series, India defeated Afghanistan by six wickets at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali.
Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to field first. The home team was quite economical with the ball as it restricted the visitors to 57/3 in 10 overs. Though in the next 10 overs, India conceded more than 100 runs, it was not worrisome for the Indian batters to chase down in the second innings.
While chasing, skipper Sharma got run out for a duck in the first over itself. Shubman Gill (23) looked promising on his home turf but couldn’t bat long. Along with him, Tilak Varma (26) also got a few runs. It was Shivam Dube (60*), who capitalised on his comeback innings and smashed an impressive fifty. The southpaw hit five fours and two sixes but most importantly, he batted throughout the innings to take India over the finish line. Jitesh Sharma (31) also contributed valuable runs in the middle overs, while Rinku Singh (16*) finished off the game along with Dube in the 18th over itself.
With the bat for Afghanistan, the side got a soft and slow start, which included a partnership between two openers, Rahmanullah Gubaz (23) and Ibrahim Zadran (25). Playing at a strike rate of 155, Mohammad Nabi (48) played an excellent role for Afghanistan, as he took the score to a decent score of 158/5.
For India with the ball, Mukesh Kumar and Axar Patel picked two wickets each while Dube also got one wicket in just two overs.
In the first innings with the ball, Mujeeb Ur Rahman got two wickets and with him, Azmatullah Omarzai also got one wicket.
With this win, India have secured lead in the three-match series by 1-0.
Scorecard:
Afghanistan: 158/5, Overs 20, Mohammad Nabi 42, Axar Patel 2/23
India: 159/4, Overs 17.3, Shivam Dube 60*, Mujeeb Ur Rahman 2/21