Colombo: India defeated Afghanistan by a comfortable margin of 74 runs in their opening match of the 3rd ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup here Friday.
Sent into bat at the CCC Grounds, India scored 281 for eight in the allotted 50 overs and then bowled out Afghanistan for 207 in 44.4 overs.
Middle-order batsman Deepak Hooda’s scintillating century helped India post a solid score and then the bowlers, led by off-spinning skipper Jayant Yadav (3/37) and supported by Mayank Markande (3/41), cleaned up Afghanistan. Hooda scored 105 and made a brisk 105 off 103 balls, with the help 12 fours and a six
Chasing 282 to win, Afghanistan top-order got starts but did not go on to post substantial scores.
One-down batsman Shahidullah Kamal made a slow 82-ball 47 before becoming leg-spinner Markande’s first scalp.
In the day’s other game, hosts Sri Lanka beat Oman by 109 runs. (PTI)
