Explain Ind vs Afg 3rd T20 in 500 words
The third T20 match between India and Afghanistan was a thrilling encounter that took place on 20th September 2021 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. This match was a crucial one for both teams as it was the decider of the three-match T20 series.
Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat first. Their opening batsmen, Hazratullah Zazai and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, got off to a flying start, scoring runs at a brisk pace. They took advantage of the powerplay overs and attacked the Indian bowlers from the beginning. Zazai, in particular, was in an aggressive mood as he smashed the Indian bowlers all over the park. He scored a blistering half-century off just 27 balls, which included 8 fours and 3 sixes.
However, India fought back with some disciplined bowling and managed to pick up regular wickets. The spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Rahul Chahar put the brakes on the Afghan innings with their tight lines and lengths. Chahar, in particular, was outstanding as he picked up crucial wickets and finished with figures of 3 for 24 in his four overs. India's fielding was also top-notch as they took some excellent catches and saved crucial runs on the field.
Despite the wickets falling at regular intervals, Afghanistan managed to post a competitive total of 146 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Zazai was the top scorer for Afghanistan with 60 runs, while Gurbaz contributed with a valuable 28 runs.
Chasing a target of 147 runs, India got off to a shaky start as they lost their opener, Ruturaj Gaikwad, early. However, skipper Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav steadied the ship with a crucial partnership. Kohli, who was under pressure after a string of low scores, played a captain's knock and scored a well-compiled half-century. Yadav, on the other hand, played some delightful strokes and looked in great touch.
The partnership between Kohli and Yadav laid the foundation for India's chase, but Afghanistan fought back with some disciplined bowling. Their spinners, led by Rashid Khan, put the Indian batsmen under pressure with their accurate line and length. Rashid, who is considered one of the best spinners in the world, bowled a brilliant spell and picked up two crucial wickets.
With the match hanging in the balance, it was the experienced campaigner, MS Dhoni, who stepped up and played a crucial innings. Dhoni, known for his calmness under pressure, took the game deep and ensured that India did not lose any more wickets. He played some crucial shots towards the end and finished unbeaten on 17 runs off 11 balls.
In the end, India reached the target with 7 wickets in hand and 2 balls to spare. Kohli was the top scorer for India with 52 runs, while Yadav contributed with a valuable 40 runs. This victory sealed the series for India, who won the three-match T20 series 2-
Overall, the third T20 match between India and Afghanistan was a thrilling encounter that had everything - aggressive batting, disciplined bowling, and some brilliant fielding. It showcased the talent and fighting spirit of both teams and provided great entertainment to the fans.