New Chandigarh, June 8 (IANS) Washington Sundar struck three crucial blows in the second session as India continued to tighten their grip on the one-off Test against Afghanistan, reducing the visitors to 98/5 in their follow-on innings at tea on Day 3 at the PCA Stadium on Monday.
After being bowled out for 152 in their first innings earlier in the day and conceding a 415-run lead, Afghanistan responded with far greater intent in their second outing with the bat. Resuming from 18/0 at lunch, the visitors frustrated India for long periods and showed a willingness to counterattack the spinners before losing wickets at regular intervals.
The foundation of Afghanistan’s resistance was laid by opener Sediqullah Atal, who continued the positive approach he had displayed before lunch. Having taken on debutant left-arm spinner Manav Suthar in the morning session, Atal mixed caution with aggression and helped Afghanistan bring up their highest opening partnership against India in Test cricket.
India finally broke through when Mohammed Siraj trapped Abdul Malik lbw for 8, ending a 42-run opening stand. Siraj had repeatedly tested Atal outside off stump and was rewarded immediately after switching his attention to Malik, who was pinned in front attempting to play across the line.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz then injected momentum into the innings. The wicketkeeper-batter attacked both Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar, striking three fours and a six in a brisk 24 off 24 balls. Alongside Atal, Gurbaz added 32 runs and briefly put India on the defensive. However, Kuldeep earned his first wicket of the match when Gurbaz’s attempted lofted drive off a spinning delivery found Prasidh Krishna at long-on. Afghanistan slipped to 74/2, opening the door for India once again.
Rahmat Shah, Afghanistan’s lone half-centurion from the first innings, looked to carry the fight forward and even launched Sundar for a six over mid-on. But Sundar’s drift proved decisive as Rahmat charged down the track and miscued to Manav Suthar at mid-off for 13. The off-spinner struck again when Hashmatullah Shahidi edged a turning delivery to first slip, where Shubman Gill completed a low catch after a television review confirmed the dismissal.
Just when Atal appeared set to carry Afghanistan through the session, Sundar delivered another blow on the final ball before tea. The left-hander, who had battled his way to 42 off 80 balls with five fours and a six, sliced a lofted drive to Prasidh Krishna at backward point. At tea, Afghanistan were 98/5 in their second innings, still trailing India by 314 runs, with Sundar leading the charge with figures of 3/30 while India remained firmly on course for victory.
Brief Scores: India 564/8 dec. in 127 overs (Shubman Gill 126, KL Rahul 100, Rishabh Pant 81, Sai Sudharsan 81, Washington Sundar 52*; Mohammad Saleem Safi 6-140) lead Afghanistan 152 and 98/5 in 29 overs (Sediqullah Atal 42, Rahmanullah Gurbaz 24; Washington Sundar 3/30, Kuldeep Yadav 1/24, Mohammed Siraj 1/11) by 314 runs.
–IANS
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