Afghanistan Secures Historic Victory Over India, Advances to ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup Final
In a landmark achievement, Afghanistan A defeated India A by 20 runs in the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup T20 semifinal on Friday. This victory marks the first time Afghanistan has bested India in a cricket match, securing their place in the final against Sri Lanka A.
Opting to bat first, Afghanistan A took full advantage of their strong opening partnership. Sediqullah Atal (83 off 52 balls) and Zubaid Akbari (64 off 41 balls) built a remarkable 137-run stand, setting a solid foundation and reaching the tournament’s highest total of 206/4. The duo hammered the Indian bowling attack with boundaries, including several sixes and fours, making it difficult for India to contain the runs. Karim Janat then added to the momentum with a quick 41 off just 20 balls, pushing Afghanistan to an impressive target.
India A struggled at the start of their chase, losing key wickets early in the powerplay. Allah Mohammed Ghazanfar dismissed Abhishek Sharma (7) and Prabhsimran Singh (19), while Tilak Varma (16) fell to Abdul Rahman, leaving India reeling at 48/3 in the sixth over. Despite brief resistance from Ayush Badoni (31) and Nehal Wadhera (20), Afghanistan’s bowlers kept the pressure on.
Ramandeep Singh’s valiant 64 revived some hope for India, especially during a spirited 68-run partnership with Nishant Sindhu. As the overs dwindled, India needed 53 runs from the final three overs. A crucial miscommunication led to Sindhu’s run-out for 23, swinging the momentum back to Afghanistan.
In the final over, with India needing 30 runs, Abdul Rahman (2/32) held his nerve. He dismissed Ramandeep on the last ball, sealing Afghanistan’s historic 20-run victory as India finished on 186/7.
This win sets up Afghanistan A for their first-ever final in the Emerging Teams Asia Cup, where they will face Sri Lanka A on Sunday. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka A had earlier defeated Pakistan Shaheens by seven wickets in their semifinal match, led by leg-spinner Dushan Hemantha’s remarkable 4/21.
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