Suryakumar, Bumrah shine as India defeat Afghanistan by 47 runs in T20 Super Eight

Suryakumar Yadav hit his second consecutive half-century, and Jasprit Bumrah proved his worth with the ball, as India swept to a 47-run victory over Afghanistan in their T20 World Cup Super Eight match on Thursday.

Player-of-the-match Suryakumar's audacious 53 off 28 balls propelled India to a daunting 181-8. In response, Afghanistan were consistently behind the required run rate, finishing on 134 all out from the final ball of the match.

Fast bowler Bumrah was virtually unplayable, taking three wickets for seven runs in four overs.

Afghanistan's left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi and off-spinner Mohammad Nabi opened the bowling on a hot, humid day at Kensington Oval.

India captain Rohit Sharma survived an impassioned appeal for lbw off Farooqi when he missed with an ungainly heave to the leg side, but he only lasted five balls more before being caught by Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan at mid-on for eight runs.

Naveen-ul-Haq replaced Farooqi, and Virat Kohli, who had scored only five runs in his previous three matches, whipped him imperiously through the covers before lofting a six straight over the bowler's head and hitting the sight screen.

Rishabh Pant reverse-swept Nabi for four before being dropped on the boundary by Naveen. The ball crossed the boundary, and India were 47–1 at the end of the powerplay.

Rashid took the ball and struck in his first over, dismissing Pant for 20 with his final delivery, an LBW attempt at a reverse sweep.

He struck again in his second over, when Kohli on 24 lofted the ball straight to Nabi on the long-off boundary, before dismissing Shivam Dube lbw for 10.

Suryakumar seized the initiative for India with two boundaries off Azmatullah Omarzai and a straight six.

Hardik Pandya (32) responded with a four and a straight six off Noor Ahmed's next two deliveries.

The pair reached 50 before Suryakumar was caught, but Hardik hit a six from the top of the Terrace Stand to keep India on track.

Afghanistan lost three wickets during the powerplay, with opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz caught behind for 11 by Bumrah, who also dismissed Hazratullah Zazai for two.

They fell steadily behind the required run, still needing 81 off five overs when Bumrah returned.

He struck immediately, dismissing Najibullah Zadran for 19 to dash Afghanistan's hopes of an unlikely victory.

"We adapted well and got 180 which was a great effort from the bowlers," Rohit said as India remained unbeaten in the tournament. "We had class bowlers who defended it perfectly. We know Bumrah's class and what he can do."

SportsLigue