Cricket

Jaiswal, Dube steer India to T20 series win

January 15, 2024 5:53 am

[Source: India Today]

Stormy half-centuries by Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shivam Dube propelled India to a dominant six-wicket win over Afghanistan in their second T20 International in Indore, sealing a 2-0 victory for the hosts in the three-match series.

Opener Jaiswal hit six sixes as he scored 68 of 34 balls to set the tone for India’s reply to Afghanistan’s 172, while Dube, another left-hander, got his second unbeaten half-century in this series, scoring 63 off 32 balls as India reached the target with 4.2 overs to spare.

Though Afghanistan were unable to build a big partnership, Gulbadin Naib’s sturdy 57 off 35 balls laid the foundations for a competitive total. Once he fell to spinner Axar Patel (2-17) in the 12th over, Najibullah Zadran (23), Karim Janat (20) and Mujeeb Ur Rahman (21) maintained the momentum.

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Afghanistan were all out in the last ball of the innings, losing four wickets in medium pacer Arshdeep Singh’s (3-32) final over including two run outs.

India’s chase got off to a rocky start with captain Rohit Sharma being bowled out by Fazalhaq Farooqi (1-28) for a golden duck. But the 22-year-old Jaiswal built a 57-run partnership with Virat Kohli (29) that put India in the driving seat.

Dube joined Jaiswal for the third-wicket partnership and the two added another 92 runs in the next seven overs, and by the time India lost two quick wickets to Karim Janat (2-13), including Jaiswal, it did little to swing the momentum.

The third and final T20I of the series takes place in Bengaluru on Wednesday.