Catch the highlights from the India A Vs Afghanistan A, Emerging Teams Asia Cup Semi-Final 2 match, here
The last-four clash will begin at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground at 7pm IST, with the toss slated for 6:30pm IST. The match will be telecast on the Star Sports Network in India. It will also be live streamed on the Disney+Hotstar application and website.
India A: Abhishek Sharma, Prabhsimran Singh(w), Tilak Varma(c), Nehal Wadhera, Ayush Badoni, Ramandeep Singh, Nishant Sindhu, Anshul Kamboj, Rahul Chahar, Rasikh Dar Salam, Vaibhav Arora, Aaqib Khan, Hrithik Shokeen, Anuj Rawat, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore.
Afghanistan A: Zubaid Akbari, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli(c), Karim Janat, Shahidullah Kamal, Mohammad Ishaq(w), Sharafuddin Ashraf, Qais Ahmad, Allah Ghazanfar, Faridoon Dawoodzai, Bilal Sami, Nangeyalia Kharote, Wafiullah Tarakhil, Numan Shah, Abdul Rahman.
India are the only unbeaten team in the tournament which started with six teams, two of which have been eliminated. After defeating Pakistan A in their campaign opener, Tilak Varma and Co easily earned two more victories, first against UAE and then against hosts Oman.
Afghanistan A started their Emerging Asia Cup 2024 on a high defeating Sri Lanka A and Bangladesh A in their first two matches. However, the Darwish Rasooli-led side was handed a shock defeat in their final group game by Hong Kong. The Afghans will be eager to get back their mojo going into the knockout stages. India A have been the best side in the tournament so far and Afghanistan A will have a tough time containing them in the semifinals.
Afghanistan A won the toss and opted to bat first.
Teams:
India A (Playing XI): Prabhsimran Singh(w), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma(c), Ayush Badoni, Nehal Wadhera, Ramandeep Singh, Nishant Sindhu, Anshul Kamboj, Rahul Chahar, Rasikh Dar Salam, Aaqib Khan
Afghanistan A (Playing XI): Sediqullah Atal, Zubaid Akbari, Darwish Rasooli(c), Mohammad Ishaq(w), Karim Janat, Shahidullah Kamal, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Abdul Rahman, Allah Ghazanfar, Qais Ahmad, Bilal Sami
Here we go! The whistle blows and the match begins!
Sediqullah Atal and Zubaid stride to the crease for the Afghan Abdalyans, while the India Blues spread out on the green field, with Anshul opening the bowling attack.
Too early to call it, but the Afghan Abdalyans have made a strong start! Zubaid hits a four off the very first ball, and while Sediqullah has only hit one boundary so far, he seems poised to unleash his favourite long sixes!
AFGA 17/0 (2.4)
Sediqullah Atal has been a one-man army for Afghanistan this season, stabilizing and building their innings. He scored 52 off 42 balls against Hong Kong, though it was their only loss of the season by 5 wickets. Atal smashed 95 off 55 balls against Bangladesh, leading to a 4-wicket win, and scored 83 off 46 in Afghanistan's opener against Sri Lanka, which they won by 11 runs. A true gem of the Afghan Abdalyans, having posted at least a half-century in every matches.
The powerplay concludes with Afghanistan A at 53 runs without loss, marking a strong start for the team with both openers shining bright! Sediqullah is in fine form, scoring 28 off 16 balls, while Zubaid has contributed 25 off 18. It’s not been an ideal start for the Indian bowlers, they are under pressure early on.
AFGA 61/0 (6)
Badoni nearly managed to halt the storm that Sediqullah was unleashing! He bowled a slow ball, disrupting the stumps from behind by Prabhsimran Singh, but the third umpire ruled it not out as Sediqullah was back inside his crease on time.
Meanwhile, Zubaid is shining even brighter today, communicating solely in four and six! He has scored 43 off 25 balls, while Sediqullah has made a solid 42 off 30. The partnership is proving formidable!
AFGA 87/0 (9.4)
What a situation! Should we praise Sediqullah or highlight Zubaid? Both have been exceptional, each smashing half-centuries and leading Afghanistan A to a remarkable 111 without loss in just 12 overs! This partnership is truly impressive. India must find a way to halt this onslaught of sixes and fours before it spirals out of control!
AFGA 111/0 (12.2)
Aaqib finally halts the storm! A marvelous catch by Prabhsimran sees Zubair depart after a solid innings of 64 off 41 balls, bringing the score to 137/1 in 14.1 overs.
The umpires took a long in checking whether Zubaid has nicked a ball considering a possible catch behind. There is no DRS or Ultra edge.
Karim Janat, right-handed batter, comes to the crease now.
AFGA 138/1 (14.2)
Zubaidullah Akbari was visibly unhappy with the third umpire's decision that ruled him out. He lingered at the crease even after the original call. His coach came over to ask him to stay, and it took quite a while discussing with the umpire. Meanwhile, in the Indian camp, there's a heated discussion unfolding between the two coaching staff, adding to the tension of the moment!
And down goes Sediqullah! After a brilliant knock of 83 off 52 balls, Atal departs as Rasikh strikes, ending the six-hitting frenzy. Meanwhile, Karim shows no mercy, already scoring 30 off just 14 balls!
And, Rasikh Strikes again!!!!!!! bowling out Darwish Rasooli (who replaced Sediq) for duck.
Two back-to-back wickets for Rasikh and for India in this moment of adversity!
AFG-A: 181/3 (17.4)
What a spectacle! Not only is it the highest total, but this match has been a feast of runs. Karim Janat's explosive 41 off just 18 balls has ensured that the three wickets lost have had little impact on Afghanistan's innings.
India still struggling in hunt for the leather.
AFGA 203/3 (19.2)
Meanwhile, Rasikh Salam continues to find ways! He strikes for the third time, dismissing Karim Janat, who is caught by Abhishek Sharma. Janat departs after a blistering 41 off 20 balls, featuring 4 fours and 2 sixes.
With that wicket, Afghanistan A finishes their innings on a high, setting a formidable target of 207 for India A.
AFGA 206/4 (20) - INNINGS BREAK!
Prabhsimran and Abhishek Sharma are at the crease. Allah Ghazanfar opens the bowling attack.
It was a promising start, but it was too soon to celebrate. After hitting a stunning six, Abhishek Sharma has fallen. Allah Ghazanfar claims the wicket, catching Sharma for 7 runs off 5 balls.
Now, Prabhsimran Singh is stepping up as the hope for India, having already scored 18 off 10 balls. Captain Tilak Varma, the left-handed batsman, is now making his way to the crease.
INDA-25/1 (2.3)
When it comes to bowling, Allah Ghazanfar is the game-changer for Afghanistan. He was the standout pacer who made headlines when the Afghan cricket team clinched their first-ever ODI victory over South Africa, securing a comfortable six-wicket win in Sharjah in September. Read his impact on the game here.
And Allah Ghazanfar does it again! He takes down Prabhsimran, who is caught by Darwish Rasooli for 19 runs off 13 balls, including 2 fours and 1 six.
Now, Tilak Varma joins Ayush Badoni, the right-handed batter and player of the match from the last game, at the crease.
INDA 40/2 (4.2)
Abdul Rahman gets the breakthrough as he takes down the captain Tilak Varma, caught by Sharafuddin Ashraf for 16 runs off 14 balls, including 3 fours. Nehal Wadehara is the new man at the crease.
It's a speechless situation for India—a poor powerplay that has left them needing a miracle to stage a comeback. With three wickets down, they must act fast to avoid further collapse.
AFG 206/4 (20)
IND 48/3 (5.4)
CRR: 8.47 | REQ: 11.09
Now, two scenarios could unfold: India A may collapse early, given the Afghan bowlers are in form, just like their batting lineup. Or, India could stage a remarkable comeback, with hopes resting on Badoni, who shone in the last game.
Ayush Badoni is at 15 off 13 and Nehal Wadhera at 6 off 9. They need to accelerate now.
INDA 66/3 (9.1)
Nehal Wadhera departs! Qais Ahmad delivers to Wadhera—and he goes dow with run out by Mohammad Ishaq for 20 runs off 14 balls, including 3 fours and 1 six.
What now?
Well, the Drinks are on the field now and Ramandeep Singh comes to the crease.
INDA 80/4 (10)
Ayush Badoni, the player meant to be India's hope, has now fallen, caught by Darwish Rasooli off Sharafuddin Ashraf for 31 runs from 24 balls, including 2 fours and 1 six.
It’s hard to deny that the Afghan Abdalyans are putting on a carnival show with both bat and ball! India in collapse now in need of 97 runs in 38 balls.
Nishant Sindhu joins Ramandeep at the crease who is now gaining rhythm.
INDA 103/5 (13.2)
The game is still alive! It’s not over until Ramandeep Singh has finished unleashing his full tosses and super sixes.
Ramandeep has smashed 42 runs off just 21 balls, including 4 fours and 2 sixes.
IND-A: 149/5 (16.5)
CRR: 8.85 | REQ: 18.32
India A need 58 runs in 19 balls!
Nishant is stepping up to carry the hope for India when it matters most, slamming three consecutive fours off Abdul Rahman's deliveries.
IND 167/5 (17.4)
CRR: 9.45 | REQ: 17.14
India A need 40 runs in 14 balls!
Abdul Rahman delivers to Ramandeep Singh and Nishant Sindhu goes down with run out! A quick single turned disastrous as he’s run out by Darwish Rasooli and Mohammad Ishaq for 23 runs off 13 balls, including 3 fours.
India A facing another setback and all chances seem to slip away now
INDA 169/6 (18.1)
Ramandeep Singh's powerful knock of 64 off 34 balls helped India A post a competitive total of 186/7 (20). On any other day, that might have been enough, but not today. Afghanistan’s explosive start saw them secure their spot in the finals during the powerplay itself.
With this result, India A head home, while Afghanistan celebrate reaching their first-ever final of the ACC Emerging Asia Cup!
AFGA 206/4 (20)
INDA 186/7 (20)
It’s none other than Sediqullah Atal—the tournament's MVP and leading scorer! He earns the Player of the Match honors once again for his blistering 83 runs off 52 balls.