AFG vs IND Ball by Ball Commentary

FOUR! A bit of a mishit, but that is enough to seal the deal. India win by 7 wickets and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in this three-match series. Serves the googly, does Rashid, and it is bowled from well behind the stumps, full and on off. Kishan presses forward and has a swing at it. The ball spins away, and Kishan ends up slicing it off the outer half. He clears the man at extra cover, and the ball trickles into the fence.

Scores are now level! Tossed up, turning in, on middle. Varma lunges and reaches the pitch of the ball to flick it through mid-wicket. Half a shout for LBW from Rashid Khan, but it is turned down. The bat and the front leg seemed to be close to each other and Rashid feels that the ball hit the pad/toe first. Ibrahim Zadran takes a chance with the review. The third umpire does not even need UltraEdge, as the front-on replay shows that the front leg was away from the line of the ball, and the ball came right off the blade.

Lovely bowling! Rashid switches to around the wicket and dishes out the googly, around off. Varma stays back to a full ball. He looks to defend but is squared up by the turn and is beaten past the outside edge.

Short and wide on off. Kishan frees his arms and slaps it to backward point, where the fielder gets low to make the stop but he fumbles and concedes a single. Rashid is not happy one bit.

Full and on the pads. Tilak helps it wide of short fine leg and hurries to the other end.

FOUR! Power followed by finesse! Mujeeb drags the length back, around off. Ishan waits for it on the back foot and cuts it late to thread the gap between short third and backward point for a boundary.  17 runs off the over. India need 4 more runs.

SIX! Sensational hit from Ishan! Sliding into the batter, full in length, Kishan skips down the track and sails it cleanly over long on for a huge six.

FOUR! Finds the gap! Very full from Mujeeb on this occasion, on middle and leg. Ishan sits down on a knee and powerfully sweeps it to the left of deep square leg for a cracking boundary.

Slows it up, on a fullish length, at 91 kph, on off. Tilak knocks it to long on for a run.

Short and quick, at 103 kph and outside off, Ishan backs away and hammers it to long off for a single.

Off-break, a touch full on off, Tilak plays off the back foot and steers it to deep square leg for a single.

Takes pace off and deceives Ishan completely. Short and jagging in off the pitch. Kishan swings to pull but he is early on the shot and gets beaten on the inside edge. The ball strikes him around his ribs and he winces in a bit of pain.

Short of a length, on top of off. Tilak hops on the toes and tucks it to deep mid-wicket for an easy single.

WIDE! Reload! Digs in a slower bumper, but it nips down the leg stump. Varma gets inside the line but misses to connect the pull shot. The ball bounces behind to Gurbaz.

Nagging length, outside off, Varma hangs back and punches it to the fielder at cover.

At pace now, 133 kph, on a good length, on the leg stump. This is nudged off the back foot by Tilak and with soft hands, through mid-wicket. The fielder dashes in off the ropes and the batters pick up two quick runs. India need 25 runs to win!

Slower one again, into the pitch, on top of off. Ishan controls the pull shot along the ground towards deep backward square leg for one more.

Farooqi is now introduced into the attack! Starts off with a pace off length ball, on off, Tilak pulls it off the back foot to deep square leg for a single.

Bowls it full on the pads, Tilak lunges and clips it wide of deep mid-wicket for a single. India need just 27 runs from 48 balls.

FOUR! Skilfully played by Varma! Mujeeb shortens the length, around the off stump, Tilak Varma picks the googly, transfers his weight onto the back foot and cuts it marvellously through backward point for a boundary.

Beaten! Spins away very sharply, short and outside off. Tilak is hurried by the pace and is beaten on the cut shot.

Drags the length back, does Mujeeb, on off. Ishan tucks it across and down to long on for one more.

Pushed through, full on middle and leg, Tilak leans on and works it to long on for a single.

Flatter and fuller on the leg stump, sliding in. Ishan stands tall and clips it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Spins in from around the stump, Ishan cuts the length ball wide of point for a single.

Short on the pads, tickled to the leg side for a single.

OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Fantastic reflexes from the Afghan skipper and Rashid has three wickets to his name. He dishes out a full ball, on the off stump line and gets a good bit of purchase off the track. The ball also shoots low off the surface as Shreyas shapes up to play the late cut, but only manages a thick outside edge. The ball goes low to the right of Ibrahim Zadran at first slip. Ibrahim is a bit late to react to take the catch around his right shin, and almost shells the catch, with the ball threatening to bobble out of his hands, but dives to his left and takes it on the second attempt. India are 123/3, needing 37 runs from 56 balls.

Bowls it full and flat, on a length, Iyer knocks it hard to covers.

SIX! Glorious hit! Serves a friendly half-volley, around the off stump, does Rashid. Shreyas takes a step forward and effortlessly hoists it over deep extra cover for a six. Rashid, too, admires that shot from the Indian captain.

Floats it full and on middle, Iyer leans on and drives it inside out to short cover.

Good effort in the field! Fractionally short, on middle. Kishan uses his feet and whips it away towards long on. Mohammad Nabi is quick to his left and dives to prevent the boundary, saving a couple of runs for his side.

Googly now, on the shorter side, on middle. Shreyas waits back and nurdles it square on the leg side for another single.

Dropped short again, around leg. Kishan rocks back and pulls it to deep backward square leg for a single.

Missed out! Dragged down, around leg. Kishan goes hard on the pull but gets it off the gloves and it rolls to short fine leg.

More air given, full and on off. Kishan hammers it back to the bowler. Noor makes a half-stop in his follow-through. It is parried to his left, where the mid-wicket fielder tidies up.

Looped up, on the pads. Iyer turns it to deep square leg for a single.

Serves the googly, not all that short to go on the back foot but Iyer does so. He just about gets his bat in line with the ball. Ekes out an inside edge behind square leg for a single. First over in this innings in which Afghanistan did not concede a boundary.

Just out of reach! On a good length, turning back, on middle. Kishan charges down the track but is not to the pitch of the ball. Chips it down the deck, where Rashid dives to his left and opts to go for the catch with his right hand rather than the left. The ball stays out of his reach and dribbles down to long on. They cross.

Nearly ran past the ball, did Kishan! At 97 kph, it is the googly, spinning away, outside off, on a nagging length. Kishan gives the bowler the premeditated charge. He does not get to the pitch of the ball and ends up padding it away.

Attacking the front pad at 97 kph, on a length. Iyer brings his bat out in front and eases it to long on for one more run.

On off, stays full, Kishan drives it to long off and turns the strike over.

Very full, on the off stump. Kishan drills it back to the bowler. Rashid feels the sting in his right palm after catching the ball.

Across off, on a good length. Iyer plays the late dab but can't get it past short third.

Dishes out a full ball, a googly at 93 kph. Ishan Kishan flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single as the fielder in the deep slides to his left and throws it back to the keeper. But Shreyas has already charged for the second run, and is sent back on a sharp call. He slips and the bat drops down as well but he is quick enough to skate in before the keeper whips the bails off.

SIX! Such a beautiful shot! Noor serves it under the bat and around the off stump. Ishan comes charges down the track and pumps it over the long on fence for an 80-meter six.

Dropped short, on the off stump, another wrong' un. Iyer rocks back and pulls it off the toe end, but the ball lands safely in front of deep mid-wicket for a single.

Slides the ball outside off through a googly, on a length. Iyer hangs back and slashes hard, but finds the backward point fielder en route.

Starts with a full ball, on the leg stump, Ishan works it through mid-wicket for a single. The 100 is up for India in 7.1 overs.

OUT! CAUGHT! End of the entertainment from Sanju Samson. Floated up by Rashid, on off. Samson presses forward and puts his head down. He swings through the line but the bat turns in his hand and he slices it towards long off, where Mohammad Nabi moves to his left and gets his body behind the ball. Nabi gets his hands high over his head and stays balanced on the fence to take the catch. Khan checks with Nabi, and the 'President' raises his finger to signal that his effort was clean. The umpires are happy with the effort and do not feel the need to send it upstairs. Samson trudges off to a standing ovation.

SIX! Just enough bat on it. This is dropped short by Khan, it is the googly, on middle. Samson goes on the back foot quickly for the pull. The deep mid-wicket fielder steadies himself just in front of the boundary cushions and gets his hands to take the catch but it clips his fingertips and drops beyond the fence.

FOUR! Off the edge, but that takes Sanju Samson to his 7th T20I FIFTY. This knock could not have come at a better time for him after a string of low scores. This is quicker through the air, on a length, on off. Samson pushes at the ball. Gets an outside edge that goes low and beats Gulbadin Naib at slip to his right and races away.

Tossed up, on middle. Kishan drives it down to long on for a single.

OUT! CAUGHT! Rashid Khan answers right back. Sediqullah Atal slams the ball into the turf in anger. The length is pulled back and it is quicker through the air, on middle and leg. Sharma goes on the back foot to unleash the pull but the ball spins back to cramp the left-hander for room and he is hurried as well. Gets it high on the bat and it goes straight down the throat of deep mid-wicket, where Atal makes no mistake.

SIX! That has gone back many a mile. Flighted up, turning back in, on middle and leg. Sharma skips down the track and reaches the pitch of the ball. He clubs it way over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

SIX! All the way. Nabi switches to around the wicket and pushes it across the right-hander. This is dropped short as well. Samson uses the depth of the crease and dumps it beyond the long off fence for a maximum. 27 runs off the final over of the Powerplay. After 6 overs, India are 82/0.

FOUR! Easily done. Not the best of balls by Nabi, full and outside off. Samson extends his hands and gets under the ball to launch it over cover for a boundary. 21 runs off the over so far.

FOUR! Pumped down the ground. Just a bit short, on off. Samson picks up the length quickly and rocks on the back foot to slam it back over the bowler's head. The mid off fielder stands no chance. Sanju moves to 37 and according to the on-air commentators, this is now his highest score since the T20 World Cup final.

SIX! High and long enough. Noor Ahmad was in business for a moment there. Floated up, on the pads, Samson gets down on one knee and sweeps it aerially, looking to clear the deep square leg fence. Noor leaps on the fence and sticks out his right hand but the ball stays out of his reach.

Fuller now, on middle. Abhishek hits it in front of mid off and hurries to the other end. There is a direct hit at the bowling end but Sharma is well in.

SIX! Into the stands! Nabi darts it in on the shorter side, on middle and leg. Sharma waits for the ball to arrive on the back foot and dispatches it by standing tall. Clears the wide long on fence with ease, does Abhishek.

FOUR! A weird kind of boundary. Omarzai lands it full on the stumps, Sanju stays leg side of the ball and smears it gun-barrel straight down the ground. It is hit so straight that the ball crashes into the stumps at the non-striker's end. Now, the ball deflects wide of mid on. Rashid, by the looks of it, moves to his left as an initial charge and finds the ball race away to his right. He still gives it a chase, but the ball wins the race. 20 runs from this over and India are flying high.

Short of a length, pitching outside leg. Sharma backs away to make room and punches it on the bounce and to the left of Rashid at mid off for a single.

Overpitched by Azmat, on off, Sanju carves it down the ground. The mid on fielder, Rashid, dives and makes a half-stop, and recovers by putting in a second dive to stop the ball. One run taken.

FOUR! Up and over. Omarzai under pressure. Full and outside the off stump. Sanju extends his arms and gloriously lifts it over cover-point for a gorgeous-looking boundary.

SIX! Easy pickings! Angled on the leg stump, short in length. Sanju just uses the pace and helps it behind to deep fine leg for a six.

FOUR! Straight as an arrow! Half-volley, at 139 kph, on middle. Sanju smashes it down the ground, beating mid on to his left for a boundary.

Leading edge, but falls safely! Nabi is not happy. Good length, 91 kph, and it grips and turns sharply away to finish outside off, catching Abhishek off guard. He pokes at it and mistimes it off the leading edge but gets away with it as the ball drops behind cover. The cover fielder, in fact, slipped while backtracking, and the cover-point fielder could not get to it either. Two runs taken.

Similar line and length and Abhishek once again finds Omarzai at cover.

Wide outside off and flat, Sharma punches the short ball to the fielder at cover.

SIX! The margin of error is so little against Abhishek. Drops it fractionally short, and slows it up as well, outside off. Abhishek transfers his weight onto the back foot and hammers it down the ground for a cracking six.

Outside off again, in-between length, Sharma cuts it to the cover-point fielder.

With mid off and mid on in the circle, Nabi lands it on a length, outside off. Sharma chops it to cover, where Omarzai makes a diving stop to his left.

Full and outside off, Samson drives it away but cannot pierce the gap at cover.

FOUR! That will make him feel a lot better! Short but slow and into the pads. Samson swivels and rolls his wrists to keep it along the ground and pulls it to deep backward square leg for a boundary.

Fuller with a little away shape, outside off. Samson crisply drives it off the front foot, but finds the fielder at cover.

Short at pace, on top of the leg stump. Abhishek controls the pull shot, hitting it along the ground to deep backward square leg for a single.

Slower delivery, short on the bodyline. Samson is deceived by the lack of pace and misses the pull off the back foot. The ball hits his body, and rolls to the leg side, behind square, and they dash through for a leg bye.

Omarzai is into the attack! Starts with a full delivery, 131 kph, outside off, Samson watchfully stabs it to the left of the bowler.

SIX! All the way! On a length, drifting in a touch. Abhishek Sharma picks the length in a trice and sends it flying over long on for a six. It was turning out to be a fine over from Nabi, but Abhishek spoils it.

Short and outside off, Abhishek does not move his feet at all and tries to smash it past point, but the ball spins away to beat his outside edge.

Back to over the stump. Full on the leg stump, 97 kph. Samson flicks it gently to the deep mid-wicket region for an easy single. A measured start from Sanju so far.

Comes from around the wicket to the left-hander. Drops it short on off, slightly holding on the surface. Abhishek punches it a bit uppishly, but into the cover gap for a single.

On the stumps and full, Samson runs it through mid on for a single.

Nabi starts with a full ball from over the stumps. It lands in front of off, and spins in. Sanju blocks it to the covers.

Serves it up there, full and around off, Sharma gets on the front foot and drives it firmly but finds the man at cover. 12 runs off the first over. India need 148 runs from 114 balls.

Outside off, on a length, Sanju punches it off the front foot to the point region. The fielder dives to his left and makes a half-stop, with the ball deflecting to the man at extra cover. One run taken.

WIDE! Spears it down the leg stump, 103 kph, on a length. Sanju lets it through and Gurbaz fails to pouch it behind the stumps, parrying the ball to his left.

In the air... but lands safely! Quicker one and it angles in. Sharma miscues the pull shot but luckily for him, the ball lands to the left of mid on for a single.

FOUR MORE! Thrashed away! A smidge short and around off, Abhishek prods forward and carts it through covers for a cracking boundary.

FOUR! No sighters needed at all. From around the stumps, this is flat and full with a bit of a curve away from the batter. Sharma stays compact in the crease and slices it over backward point for a boundary.

Off the mark right away! Mujeeb starts with a short ball that slides in. Samson rocks back and punches it to long on for a single to open his account.