Dubai: Afghanistan bowed out with a sensational tie against India, in their final Super Four match of the Asia Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday night.
However, title holders India have already qualified for Friday's final where they will meet the winners of Pakistan and Bangladesh match in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. While Afghanistan are out of contention.
India have rested skipper Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah and Yuzvendra Chahal with Mahendra Singh Dhoni taking over as captain and leading the team for the 200th time in a one-day international.
Earlier, Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan won the toss and opted to bat, as Mohammad Shahzad's 124 lifted Afghanistan to 252-8 in 50 overs while India were all out in 49.5 overs with the scores level.
Afghanistan started well and was going smoothly when their first wicket fell on a score of 65 runs. Javed Ahmadi was sent to pavilion on a score of five runs off 30 balls. Ravindra Jadeja took Ahmadi's wicket.
Soon after, Ahmadi departed, Ravindra Jadeja sent Rahmat Shah to pavilion for 3 runs. The Afghanistan batsman was looking to defend but the ball kept low and crashed into the stumps through the gap. Afghanistan were 81/2 in 14.4 overs.
Kuldeep bowled a flighted delivery, Hashmatuallah came down the track, he missesd the ball and Dhoni took the bails off. While Afghan Asghar couldn't manage the flighted delivery and departed without scoring any run.
Ravindra Jadeja took three wickets and spent 46 runs, while Kuldeep Yadav took two wickets. Debutant Deepak Chahar, part timer, Kedar Jadhav and Khaleel Ahmed took one wicket each.(UNI)