Debutant Suthar takes three after Gill, Rahul centuries lead India to 564

India had two centurions – Shubman Gill (126) and KL Rahul (100). They also had two batters making 81 each – B Sai Sudharsan and Rishabh Pant. But it was left-arm spinner Manav Suthar‘s successful introduction to Test cricket that was their biggest W on day two of the one-off Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh.

Suthar bowled nearly two hours after tea, and took 1-20 in a marathon spell of 12.2 overs. He got lavish drift and turn with the new ball, and held his lengths nicely. Suthar eventually struck on the stroke of both tea and stumps, and finished with a three-for.

There was good support from Prasidh Krishna and Kuldeep Yadav even as Rahmat Shah (43*) showed some resistance for Afghanistan.

Earlier in the day, India’s batting continued to dominate from a position of strength as all ten batters got to double figures, while Washington Sundar (52*) ground the Afghanistan bowlers down in the heat.

Mohammad Saleem, though, was lion-hearted in his second Test, and finished with a six-for. Azmatullah Omarzai had also started well, and missed out twice due to Afghanistan not using the DRS.

India declared and bowled at Afghanistan for 20 minutes before tea. Openers Sediqullah Atal and Abdul Malik worked past nervy moments, and picked up two boundaries each off Mohammed Siraj. Malik looked to sweep Suthar off a length after the first three balls spun big, but only managed a top edge to backward square leg.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz defended decisively, didn’t mind getting beaten, and played the odd sweep. In 33 balls, he scored seven runs with 31 dots. Suthar got him with a ripper turning away to take the edge for a low catch at second slip.

Meanwhile, Prasidh bowled a snorter that seamed in to flatten Atal’s middle stump, and also send off stump flying. Rahmat had a bit of luck when he was hit on the pad by Suthar, in the 16th over, as the contact was made more than three metres from the stumps.

Kuldeep had a couple of near moments go against him. A drive from Rahmat went teasingly above him in the 21st over. Rahul then dropped Hashmatullah Shahidi at first slip in the 25th.

Washington replaced Suthar for a couple of overs. Shahidi survived an lbw call with DRS thanks to an inside edge. That wasn’t possible next over, when he missed a flick off Prasidh.

Suthar returned, Washington changed ends, and Afghanistan’s batters seemed to shut shop in the last few overs. There were no real boundary shots attempted. Rahmat danced down and smacked Suthar over the head for six.

Afsar Zazai saw a short ball down leg sit up and wound up big for the pull shot, but checked his shot halfway and got a top edge that ballooned back to the bowler.

When India batted earlier on day two, Afghanistan started the second session with spin – much to Suthar’s delight. He helped himself to two sixes off Shahidi as India made 28 off the first three overs after lunch.

Saleem joined Omarzai to cut down runs at first. It led to Suthar being caught behind looking to drive through cover, and completed Saleem’s five-for.

Siraj, promoted over Kuldeep Yadav, scored all his runs in boundaries. He took apart left-arm spinner Nangeyalia Kharote, and cut Saleem despite not getting width. Saleem responded by beating Siraj’s slog and denting middle stump.

Washington and Kuldeep didn’t hurry, though. Saleem continued to bowl at a high pace even after bowling upwards of 25 overs, and beat Kuldeep’s edge regularly.

The only bit of intent against Saleem came in the final over of the innings. Washington started it with a pulled six, and flicked one past mid-on to bring up fifty. (ESPNcricinfo)