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Asia Cup 2018: MS Shahzad, bowlers shine as Afghanistan force India for a tie - Highlights

A spirited Afghanistan side proved why no team can afford to take them lightly as their all-round performance ensured the Super Four encounter against finalists India ends in a tie.

MS Shahzad, bowlers shine as Afghanistan force India for a tie - As it happened

Dubai, September 25: A spirited Afghanistan side proved why no team can afford to take them lightly as their all-round performance ensured the Super Four encounter against finalists India ends in a tie here on Tuesday (September 25).

The Indian side that was led by their most successful ODI captain, MS Dhoni, made a lot of changes to their playing XI and fielded a relatively inexperienced side but given their reputation they should have won this game. A tie for India - who are still unbeaten in the tournament - could be termed as bad as a defeat.

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Afghanistan bowled exceptionally well in the middle overs and took the game into last-over thriller and India nine down. They showed great match awareness under pressure to effect some tight run outs in the last overs and created a chance for themselves.

With just a run required from the last two deliveries, Afghan spin sensation forced Ravindra Jadeja to play a lofted shot to be caught at midwicket by Naib which left the Indian camp and supporters stunned. The entire Afghan camp and supporters erupted into joy for the tie was no less than win as they stopped the second-ranked Indian side from crossing the line which was only their second match against the Men In Blue.

Indians were themselves to be blamed for making a mess out of this run chase for they kept losing wickets at regular intervals despite the opening stand of 110 runs. Chasing a target of 253, Indians were tested by a spirited Afghan bowling attack, particularly spinners and part timers. Indian middle-order wasn't tested much in the tournament and it was the first occasion in the tournament when their skills were brought to test and they faltered.

India's performance would encourage which ever team reaches the final to try and get their in-form openers i.e. Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan out cheaply which could very well give them an opportunity to put the middle-order under pressure.

Earlier, Afghanistan's wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Shahzad slammed his career's fifth ODI century and first against India while seasoned campaigner Mohammad Nabi scored a breezy half-century and helped their team post a fighting 252/8 batting first.

Shahzad (124) started things on an aggressive note as he made most of an inexperienced Indian pace attack and later punished the spinners as well with his power hittings in their final Super Four match in the ongoing Asia Cup 2018. Nabi scored a superb 64 and showed his calm and composure into the middle to ensure his bowlers have something to defend and test Indian batting, sans Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan.

Ravindra Jadeja (3/46) and Kuldeep Yadav (2/38) bowled exceptionally well in the middle overs and helped his team pull things back well.

AS IT HAPPENED:

Sep 26, 2018, 2:05 am IST

A young Indian fan couldn't stop his emotions as his favourite team couldn't win the game against Afghanistan. Turbanator Harbhajan Singh took to Twitter to console the young kid.

Sep 26, 2018, 1:29 am IST

India will have to ask a lot of questions to themselves for they didn't play well and should have won this game irrespective of those dismissals which went against them.

Sep 26, 2018, 1:22 am IST

MS Dhoni's 200th ODI as captain ends on a disappointing note as his team definitely deserved to win but the way their batsmen played in the middle overs pushed the game away from them.

Sep 26, 2018, 1:18 am IST

This is India's 8th tie in ODIs overall while this is the first-ever tie for Afghanistan.

Sep 26, 2018, 1:16 am IST

Afghanistan have tied this game as Rashid Khan gets the final wicket of Ravindra Jadeja on the 45.5th ball. What a game of cricket this has been? Afghanistan are the clear winners for they first pushed this Indian Team to the walls and snatched victory from India's jaws. This certainly was the best game of the tournament as Afghanistan tested India till the very end and pulled things exceptionally well after India's openers gave them a blistering start.

Sep 26, 2018, 12:56 am IST

Run Out! Kuldeep Yadav (9) departs while attempting a third run. India - 242/8 now. Afghanistan are just two wickets away from winning this game, or they need to ensure India couldn't score 11 more runs.

Sep 26, 2018, 12:49 am IST

After 47 overs, India have reached 236/7 and they require another 17 runs from 18 balls. Afghanistan are certainly at the top in this game.

Sep 26, 2018, 12:37 am IST

Wicket! Deepak Chahar (12) is clean bowled by Aftab Alam. Afghanistan are on top as India 226/7 in 44.5 overs. They still need 27 off 31. It's not going to be easy for India from here on.

Sep 26, 2018, 12:35 am IST

4! Deepak Chahar hits a boundary on the penultimate delivery off the over. India - 223/6 in 44 overs. 30 needed from 36. Mujeeb has completed his quota of overs, but Rashid still has 2 overs to bowl.

Sep 26, 2018, 12:14 am IST

Wicket! Dinesh Karthik (44) is trapped in front by Nabi and India have lost two wickets in a gap of 1 run. India are 205/6. This game is far from over. Afghanistan are scripting a comeback here. It's not going to be an easy chase for India.

Sep 26, 2018, 12:10 am IST

Unlucky dismissal! Kedar Jadhav (19) departs at a critical juncture as he's run out. a shot from DK hit Mujeeb's hand and crashes into the stumps. Jadhav was out of the crease confirmed the third umpire. India 204/5 in 38.5 overs. Have Afghanistan got the breakthrough they were searching for?

Sep 25, 2018, 11:42 pm IST

India 180/4 after 33 overs in the run chase. They need 73 more runs to win this game. Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman have 5 overs each left. Indian middle-order has some task ahead.

Sep 25, 2018, 11:30 pm IST

Wicket! Manish Pandey (8) tries to cut Aftab Alam but finds an edge and MS Shahzad pouches him comfortably. India are four down at 166. The middle-order has been exposed for the first time in the tournament and they haven't yet delivered.

Sep 25, 2018, 11:18 pm IST

29 overs have been bowled so far and India have reached 160 for the loss of three wickets. 93 more runs required by India two win this game.

Sep 25, 2018, 11:06 pm IST

Big Wicket! Ahmadi traps Dhoni in front and the captain's innings ends on 8. India are 142/3 in 25.5 overs. The ball was missing the wickets by a margin but Rahul had wasted the DRS earlier. Unlucky for him.

Sep 25, 2018, 10:45 pm IST

Wicket! KL Rahul tried to reverse-sweep Rashid and misses it completely and gets trapped in front. End of his innings on 60 and India have lost 2 wickets in 20.3 overs. There wasn't any need to play such an ambitious shot. Both the openers have thrown their wickets away.

Sep 25, 2018, 10:28 pm IST

And that's fifty for KL Rahul off 55 balls. The right-handed batsman also makes most of the opportunity.

Sep 25, 2018, 10:28 pm IST

Wicket! Ambati Rayudu (57) tried to clear Mohammad Nabi for a maximum but the ball went very high into the sky and couldn't get the distance. Najib takes a well judged catch near boundary ropes. Rayudu might be unhappy with himself as he had a genuine chance of making it big. India - 110/1 in 17.1 overs.

Sep 25, 2018, 9:57 pm IST

24 runs came from 9th and 10th over combined and India have reached 65/0 in the powerplay. The openers have given India a solid start in the run chase.

Sep 25, 2018, 9:39 pm IST

After 6 overs, India have reached 26/0 in the run chase. Aftab Alam and Mujeeb Ur Rahman have troubled the Indian openers.

Sep 25, 2018, 9:28 pm IST

KL Rahul and Ambati Rayudu have opened the innings for India in the run chase. They have scored 19 in three overs in the run chase of 253.

Sep 25, 2018, 8:37 pm IST

End of the innings! Afghanistan have batted all 50 overs as they score 252/8. Khaleel concedes 4 off the final over as he finishes with figures of 10-1-45-1. MS Shahzad (124) and Mohammad Nabi (64) shine with the bat for Afghanistan. The batsmen have played their role well and onus now shifts on their bowlers to restrict Indian batsmen and win this one.

Sep 25, 2018, 8:24 pm IST

Khaleel Ahmed ends a brilliant knock of Mohammad Nabi for 64. Kuldeep and Karthik had collided but Kuldeep ensured he doesn't lose the ball from his hands. Afghanistan - 244/8 in 47.3 overs.

Sep 25, 2018, 8:12 pm IST

Wicket! Jadeja traps Najibullah Zadran (20) LBW and the batsman even wasted the DRS. Afghanistan - 226/7 in 44.1 overs.

Sep 25, 2018, 8:09 pm IST

Fifty! Mohammad Nabi has reached his half-century off 45 balls.

Sep 25, 2018, 7:45 pm IST

Wicket! MS Shahzad's memorable knock comes to an end as Kedar Jadhav gets rid of the dangerman for 124. The batsman mistimed against the flighted delivery and Dinesh Karthik picks a well-judged catch at long-off. Afghanistan are six down.

Sep 25, 2018, 7:33 pm IST

After 36 overs, Afghanistan have reached 169/5 against India. MS Shahzad and Mohammed Nabi are present in the middle and their partnership is worth 37.

Sep 25, 2018, 7:20 pm IST

Very Very Special praise for Shahzad.

Sep 25, 2018, 7:16 pm IST

An achievement for MS Shahzad!

Sep 25, 2018, 7:11 pm IST

Virender Sehwag congratulates MS Shahzad for his quickfire ton.

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Story first published: Wednesday, September 26, 2018, 2:29 [IST]
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