Afghanistan spinners sink India

Afghanistan secured a consolation victory over India Under-23s, through a spirited bowling performance in the teams' final group game at the Asian Cricket Council Emerging Teams Cup in Singapore. Led by captain Mohammad Nabi's 3 for 32, Afghanistan defended 184, despite opener KL Rahul's half-century.

After India chose to bowl, openers Karim Sadiq and Mohammad Shahzad were involved in a 53-run stand, which consumed nearly 20 overs. Offspinner Baba Aparajith claimed two wickets in successive overs to leave Afghanistan at 77 for 3 in the 30th over.

Afghanistan's lower-order fought back as Nabi stopped the fall of wickets with a patient 25. Samiullah Shenwari and Mirwais Ashraf's 47-run seventh wicket stand, taking only 26 balls, took the total to 184. Shenwari, with 43 off 44, was the most fluent of all the batsmen in a Man-of-the-Match effort that included five fours and a six.

India's reply began in a similar vein, their fifty requiring two more balls than Afghanistan, but with a modest run-rate and opener KL Rahul holding firm at the crease, India looked comfortable.

Rahul brought up his own fifty in the 24th over. But Afghanistan began to claw back through their spinners, Nabi and Rahmat Shah, who accounted for Ashok Menaria and Rahul respectively to put India at 82 for 4 in the 29th over. Their 20 overs went for 73 runs and yielded five wickets.

Ankit Bawne, who made 39, sought to control the required-rate which was now climbing steadily, but with the dismissal of India captain Suryakumar Yadav in the 37th over - which was a maiden - it reached above six. The batsmen continued to struggle as Afghanistan gave away only eight runs between the 39th and 43rd overs. That pressure led to four more wickets and India finally ended up 29 runs short of their target.

Having reduced the margin of victory, however, India have topped Group A and will meet United Arab Emirates in the first semi-final on Friday