ICC World Twenty20: India Seal Afghanistan Challenge Comfortably in the End

--> -->

Sreelata YellamrazuMay 1 2010

Afghanistan did put up a fight. But there was only so much they could do to put off the stronger, more confident Indian team at Beausejour, St. Lucia.

dhoni laughs at press conference

In the end, it seemed like a walk in the park, given that India had five overs and a ball to spare. But it was made possible by an emphatic batting performance from Murali Vijay and the two fast medium seamers in the line up.

Vijay struck a well timed forty-eight as India chased Afghanistan's 115. It did not look as easy as it did and had Afghanistan got a few more runs on more, perhaps at fifty given that they were playing against India, the story could have tighter.

Afghanistan did put up a good display of opening bowling and agile fielding but it was the lack of runs that did them in. With not much to defend, even their best efforts on the field were going to fall short against the bats of the likes of Vijay, and the Indian captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who finished matters off with a couple of telling blows for six. Not to be forgotten was the quiet batting of Yuvraj Singh.

But it was the bowlers that did Afghanistan early. Ashish Nehra had the newcomers struggling after picking two early wickets and the wicket off Ravindra Jadeja's bowling made it three down for twenty-nine.

But just when one thought this would be another insipid show, Noor Ali showed why Afghanistan were not without merit. A gritty half century in the face of daunting odds, Ali showed it was possible. Keeping his valiant company was Asghar Stanikzai who played his role for thirty runs.

How critical that partnership was became apparent once Ali fell upon scoring his half century, Nehra picking up his third wickets and Praveen Kumar coming into the picture, the wickets began to disappear rather quickly.

ICC World Twenty20: West Indies Tower over Ireland After Sammy's All Round Role

ICC World Twenty20: Nathan McCullum Seals SL's Fate with a Six off Penultimate Ball

2010 ICC World Twenty20 Schedule

Hosts West Indies Throw Their Hat into the Ring for the 2010 ICC World Twenty20

England at the 2010 ICC World Twenty20

Sri Lanka's Prospects at the 2010 ICC World Twenty20

Dark Horses New Zealand at the 2010 ICC World Twenty20

Pakistan Start at Defending Champions at the 2010 ICC World Twenty20

South Africa's chances in the 2010 ICC World Twenty20: A SWOT Analysis

Australia at the 2010 ICC World Twenty20: A SWOT Analysis

Team India in the 2010 ICC World Twenty20: A SWOT Analysis

For more on the 2010 ICC World Twenty20, simply follow the links: