Asia Cup: Afghanistan pull off last-ball tie against India

Afghanistan displayed a spectacular form of cricket to end the second last game of the Super four stage of 2018 Asia Cupin a draw against India.

The credit of the tie goes to a complete team effort by Afghanistan, be it in batting, bowling and fielding. Rashid, who bowled the last over, made it difficult for the Indian side to win.

Ravindra Jadeja, who faced the second-last ball of the game, could have easily taken a single and registered a win, instead of trying to hit a big shot.

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With three-run outs and two wrong decisions against them, India were all-out for 252, with one ball still remaining.

MS Dhoni, who was leading the team and came two down to bat, had to leave the ground due to a wrong lbw decision. He made just 8 runs.It was Dhoni's 200th game as captain which ended in a tie.

Kedhar Jadhav and Dinesh Karthik were also dismissed in quick succession. Karthik was lbw by Nabi while Jadhav was run-out by Mujeeb.

Openers KL Rahul and Ambati Rayadu gave India the required start while chasing a decent target of 253 runs set by Afghanistan.

The two laid a strong foundation of the Indian inning and stitched a 110-run partnership, with Rayadu contributing 57 runs, before losing his wicket to Mohammad Nabi.

Rayadu's 49-ball inning included four boundaries and one six.

KL Rahul, on the other hand, also reached his half-century in 55 balls. But lost his wicket to a beautiful delivery of Rashid Khan.

In his 60 runs inning, Rahul slammed five boundaries and one six.

Earlier, Mohammad Shahzad's brilliant century and Mohammad Nabi's perfect cameo powered Afghanistan to a total of 252 for the loss of eight wickets against India on Tuesday.

Electing to bat, Afghan's Shahzad was the sole player on whom the team was dependent before Nabi took the driver's seat.

The opener was in action from the very first ball and played magnificently against the Indian bowling attack to slam 124 runs.

Dropped at 49 by Ambati Rayudu, Shahzad slammed 11 boundaries and 7 huge sixes in his 116-ball inning, which was finally ended by Kedhar Jadhav.

Afghans could have put a high target if Shahzad would have found an ally in the downline. Apart from him no other player, till Nabi arrived, could stand the Indian attack and were dismissed in quick successions.

Nabi's 56-ball 64 runs cameo was supported with three boundaries and four sixes. He played at a strike rate of 114.29, much better than what Shahzad's had today.

Khaleel Ahmed was the man who took Nabi's wicket to restrict Afghanistan's score.

Meanwhile, Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja took two and three wickets respectively to keep Afghanistan's score in control.

India, who is already in the finals, will either face Pakistan or Bangladesh, the two teams who will fight for the final spot tomorrow.