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One-off Test: Suthar Claims Maiden Wicket As Afghanistan Reach 28/1 At Tea, Trail India By 536 Runs

Mohammad Saleem Safi: India tightened their grip in the ongoing one-off Test against Afghanistan, declaring at 564/8 and striking early through debutant left-arm spinner Manav Suthar to leave the visitors at 28/1 in 5.4 overs and trail by 536 runs at tea on day twos play. Off-spin bowling Washington Sundar anchored the lower order with a composed 52 not out, his sixth Test fifty, while Mohammed Siraj provided fireworks with a career-best 22 off just 12 balls, before Indias declaration came in 127 overs. Sundars fifty was marked by a wristy flick for four off Safi, after slamming a commanding pull for six. Promoted up the order, Siraj swung freely, hitting a six and four boundaries before Mohammad Saleem Safi cleaned him up. Safi, who had gone wicketless in his previous four international outings, finished with 6-140 in a breakthrough performance, using variable bounce and sharp lengths to rein in Indias batters through a disciplined second new ball spell. Indias innings was built on skipper and local lad Shubman Gills authoritative 126, KL Rahuls century, Sai Sudharsans 81 and Rishabh Pants 81 earlier in the day. But the lower-order contributions ensured the hosts had a healthy run-rate of 4.44 and also placed the innings among Indias fourth fastest 500-plus totals in Test history. Indias declaration was timed to give their bowlers two full sessions, and Gills decision was vindicated almost immediately. Afghanistan openers Abdul Malik and Sediqullah Atal began positively, finding boundaries against Siraj and Prasidh Krishna. Malik, in particular, struck three fours in his 16-ball stay. Indias innings was built on skipper and local lad Shubman Gills authoritative 126, KL Rahuls century, Sai Sudharsans 81 and Rishabh Pants 81 earlier in the day. But the lower-order contributions ensured the hosts had a healthy run-rate of 4.44 and also placed the innings among Indias fourth fastest 500-plus totals in Test history. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brief Scores: India 564/8 dec in 127 overs (Shubman Gill 126, KL Rahul 100; Mohammad Saleem Safi 6-140, Hashmatullah Shahidi 1-91) trail Afghanistan 28/1 in 5.4 overs (Abdul Malik; Manav Suthar 1-0) by 536 runs Article Source: IANS