India tightened their vice-like grip on the one-off Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh with a commanding second day to finish with the visitors reeling at 113/5 in reply to India’s 564/8 declared; a lead of 451 runs.
Centuries from Shubman Gill (126) and KL Rahul (100) set up a big total for India but the new ball showed how grass can be devilish as Manav Suthar shone on debut with three wickets. Suthar, who attained his 3/21 figures showing immense control as well drift and turn, affected Afghanistan batters in his spell.
The Afghanistan innings got off to a poor start. Early scars to Abdul Malik and Sediqullah Atal saw them make starts, but neither of the duo went on. Suthar bowled Malik as he went for an ambitious sweep, while Atal was dismissed for a duck but not before Prasidh Krishna delivered a superb delivery to shatter the stumps.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz played well without scoring quickly before getting out to a sharp turning delivery from Suthar which took the edge. Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi and Rahmat Shah tried to repair the damage but India’s bowlers kept up the pressure throughout. Then at the other end, Prasidh ended what had been a painful stay for Shahidi in front of him. Afghanistan was now in real trouble.
At stumps, Rahmat Shah stood unbeaten on 43 and offered the solitary resistance for the tourists. Nevertheless, with Afghanistan still 451 runs behind and only five wickets left in hand, India will be confident of taking victory going into day three.
India’s lower order added critical runs earlier having resumed from a position where they boasted an already strong hold on the game. Washington Sundar was solid in his approach and remained unbeaten on 52. Earlier, B Sai Sudharsan and Rishabh Pant had chipped in with half-centuries of 81 apiece to help India set a formidable total.
For Afghanistan, Mohammad Saleem performed out of his skin with the ball. The fast bowler took 6/140, which included key Indian batsman Gill and Dhruv Jurel. India was scoring freely for most of the innings, despite his efforts to reign in Afghanistan’s bowlers.
India are in a commanding position going into the third day, having built a first-innings lead of over 200 runs and with Afghanistan under pressure.