Dharamshala, June 14: India secured a convincing victory against Afghanistan in the first ODI match held at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium on Saturday, winning by 7 wickets. This win gives Team India a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Due to rain, the match commenced at 5:45 PM, resulting in a reduction to 25 overs per side. Batting first after losing the toss, Afghanistan struggled, collapsing to 194 runs in just 24.5 overs.
The visiting team lost three wickets for just 26 runs within 4.3 overs. However, Rahmanullah Gurbaz formed a crucial partnership with captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, adding 116 runs for the fourth wicket off 66 balls, taking the score to 142.
Gurbaz reached his ninth ODI century in just 48 balls, scoring 102 runs off 51 deliveries, including 8 sixes and 8 fours. Shortly after, the team lost Shahidi, who managed 27 runs off 30 balls before returning to the pavilion.
Azmatullah Omarzai then contributed significantly, adding 28 runs for the sixth wicket with Mohammad Nabi. Omarzai scored 26 runs off 16 balls, hitting 3 sixes. For India, debutants Harsh Dubey and Gurnoor Barar each took 3 wickets, while Arshdeep Singh and Nitish Reddy claimed 2 wickets apiece.
In response, India chased down the target in 22.5 overs. Rohit Sharma and captain Shubman Gill put together a solid opening partnership, scoring 46 runs in 34 balls before Rohit fell for 16. Gill then teamed up with Ishan Kishan to add 70 runs for the second wicket in just 43 balls, bringing the score to 116.
Ishan scored 34 runs off 22 balls, featuring 1 six and 3 fours. Gill continued his impressive innings, forming partnerships of 26 runs with Shreyas Iyer (12) and an unbeaten 53 runs with KL Rahul, leading the team to a remarkable victory.
Gill finished with an impressive 84 runs off 66 balls, hitting 2 sixes and 11 fours, while KL Rahul contributed 39 runs off 19 balls, including 7 boundaries. For Afghanistan, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi and Rashid Khan each took 1 wicket.
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