Bengaluru, Jan 17: Following a record-breaking century by skipper Rohit Sharma and a fantastic batting effort by Afghanistan batters Rahmanullah Gurbaz, skipper Ibrahim Zadran and Gulbadin Naib, it took two Super Overs to separate both the sides as India beat Afghanistan by 11 runs after the match and the first Super Over ended in a tie here at Bengaluru during the third T20I on Wednesday.
India has secured the series 3-0. In the chase of 213 runs, Afghanistan started off with positive intent, with openers Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz scoring at a rate of nine runs per over.Afghanistan reached the 50-run mark in 5.5 overs.
Afghanistan ended the powerplay at 51/0 in six overs, with Zadran (29*) and Gurbaz (22*) unbeaten.
Afghanistan ended the first half of their innings with a bang, smashing Shivam Dube for 18 runs, including two fours and a six. Afghanistan was 85/0, with Gurbaz (44*) and Zadran (38*) unbeaten.
India got their first breakthrough in the next over, removing Gurbaz for 50 off 32 balls, with three fours and four sixes. Afghanistan was 93/1 in 11 overs.
With Zadran hitting Washington Sundar for a six, Afghanistan reached the 100-run mark in 12.1 overs.
Zadran reached his fifty in 41 balls, with four boundaries and a six.Sundar helped India earn a comeback into the game, getting Zadran (50) and Azmatullah Omarzai (0) on successive deliveries, reducing Afghanistan to 107/3 in 12.4 overs.Mohammed Nabi and Gulbadin Naib kept hitting despite these two quick wickets. The duo hit Avesh Khan for 20 runs in the 14th over, with two sixes and a four. Nabi’s two sixes helped Afghanistan get 17 runs from Kuldeep’s next.At the end of 15 overs, the match was even, at 145/3, with Nabi (19*) and Naib (20*) unbeaten.Afghanistan reached the 150-run mark in 15.2 overs. Bishnoi’s 16th over was also hit for 17 runs, including two fours and a six by Nabi. Afghanistan needed 51 runs in four overs.The all-rounder Nabi’s entertaining cameo off 34 in 16 balls, with two fours and three sixes is ended by Sundar. Afghanistan was 163/4 in 16.2 overs after Avesh Khan plucked a catch at deep point.
Karim Janat was run out for just two. Afghanistan was 167/5 in 17.1 overs. Wickets kept falling for Afghanistan as Najibullah Zadran was dismissed for five runs. Avesh Khan took the wicket while Virat took the catch. Afghanistan was 182/6 in 18.2 overs.Afghanistan needed 19 runs in six overs. Smashing Mukesh Kumar for a four and a six, Naib brought down the equation to three runs in the final ball. The match ended in a tie, with Afghanistan finishing at 212/6, with Naib (55* in 23 balls, with four boundaries and four sixes) and Sharafuddin Ashraf (5*) unbeaten. (Agencies)
