MOHALI: Shivam Dube proved his utility in India’s crowded batting line-up with a belligerent half-century to secure their six-wicket victory against Afghanistan in the opening T20 International in Mohali on Thursday.

Left-hander Dube gave a good account of himself ahead of the T20 World Cup in June with an unbeaten 60 off 40 balls to help India overcome a 159-run target with 15 balls to spare at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium.

Electing to field, India restricted Afghanistan to a modest 158-5.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (23) and Ibrahim Zadran (25) put on a 50-run opening partnership but it was Mohammad Nabi’s 42 off 27 balls that helped Afghanistan cross the 150-mark.

Left-arm spinner Axar Patel led India’s disciplined bowling effort, claiming 2-23 in his tidy four overs.

The home side were rattled early in their chase with skipper Rohit Sharma, playing his first T20 International in more than a year, run out for a duck in the first over.

Rohit drove the ball to mid-off and embarked on a quick single but Shubman Gill at the other end was busy watching the ball leading to an mix-up that led to his captain’s dismissal.

Gill struck 23 but was stumped after he came dancing down the track only to miss the delivery from off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

Tilak Varma (26) combined with Dube in a breezy 44-run stand to steady India but departed after Gulbadin Naib took a blinder at backward square leg.

Jitesh Sharma fell after a quickfire 31 but Dube could not be denied his half-century, which came in 38 balls, and he celebrated the milestone with a monster six before sealing their victory with a four.

The teams move to Indore for the second T20 of the three-match series on Sunday.

SCOREBOARD

AFGHANISTAN:

R. Gurbaz st Jitesh b Axar23

I. Zadran c Rohit b Dube25

A. Omarzai b Kumar29

R. Shah b Axar3

M. Nabi c Rinku b Kumar42

N. Zadran not out19

K. Janat not out9

EXTRAS (LB-3, NB-1, W-4)8

TOTAL (for five wickets, 20 overs)158-5

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-50 (Gurbaz, 2-50 (Zadran), 3-57 (Shah), 4-125 (Omarzai), 5-130 (Nabi)

DID NOT BAT: G. Naib, F. Farooqi, N. Ul Haq, M. Ur Rahman

BOWLING: Arshdeep 4-1-28-0 (3w); Kumar 4-0-33-2 (1w, 1nb); Axar 4-0-23-2; Sundar 3-0-27-0; Dube 2-0-9-1; Bishnoi 3-0-35-0

INDIA:

R. Sharma run out0

S. Gill st Gurbaz b Mujeeb23

T. Varma c Naib b Omarzai26

S. Dube not out60

J. Sharma c Zadran b Mujeeb31

R. Singh not out16

EXTRAS (W-3)3

TOTAL (for four wickets, 17.3 overs) 159

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-0 (Rohit), 2-28 (Gill), 3-72 (Varma), 4-117 (Jitesh)

DID NOT BAT: A. Patel, W. Sundar, R. Bishnoi, A. Singh, M. Kumar

BOLWING: Farooqi 3-0-26-0 (1w); Mujeeb 4-1-21-2; Nabi 2-0-24-0 (2w); Naveen 3.3-0-43-0; Omarzai 4-0-33 1 8.25 Gulbadin Naib 1-0-12-0

RESULT: India won by six wickets.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Shivam Dube

SERIES: India lead three-match series 1-0.

Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2024