India spin out Afghanistan for 159

05 Mar, 2014

DHAKA: Spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin shared seven wickets as India skittled Afghanistan for 159 in their last league match in the Asia Cup in Dhaka on Wednesday.

Samiullah Shenwari top-scored with 50 and Noor Ali Zadran made 31, but eight batsmen failed to reach double figures after the Afghans were sent in to bat at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium.

The first-ever one-dayer between the two teams has no bearing on the tournament because Pakistan and Sri Lanka have already qualified for Saturday's final.

But it gave minnows Afghanistan a chance to test their skills against the reigning World Cup champions ahead of their maiden appearance in the tournament next year.

The Afghan batsmen appeared comfortable against the seamers, racing to 54-1 by the 12th over, before wickets collapsed in a heap against the turning ball.

Left-arm spinner Jadeja, brought on to bowl the 12th over, struck with his first and third deliveries to reduce the Afghans to 55-3.

With Jadeja and off-spinner Ashwin quickly taking care of the next four batsmen, Afghanistan found themselves struggling at 95-7 in the 26th over.

Shenwari boosted the total with six boundaries and a six in his fifth one-day half-century as the last three wickets added 64 valuable runs.

Jadeja finished with four for 30 and Ashwin claimed three for 31.

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