Prabhsimran, Gaikwad, Tilak score fifties in DLS loss to Afghanistan A

India A suffered a defeat to Afghanistan A in a rain-hit match, despite Prabhsimran, Gaikwad, and Tilak scoring fifties. The visitors took the game by 4 runs under the DLS method.

Key Performances

Prabhsimran Singh, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and captain Tilak Varma all hit half-centuries to take India A to a big total. However, Afghanistan A’s batters did enough to help them edge the game on DLS.

Sooryavanshi Impresses

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi put on a more impactful display against Afghanistan A, laying down the marker early and cutting the first two balls he faced through cover point for fours. He predominantly targeted the off side, driving or slashing anything offering width, helping India A reach 50 in 4.5 overs.

Prabhsimran Leads the Way

At the other end, Prabhsimran also started well, driving fuller balls through the covers and walking down the track to put away some punchy square drives. He brought up a 39-ball half-century in the 14th over and finished that over with a deft touch to beat short third.

Gaikwad and Tilak Control the Middle Overs

Gaikwad started off from where he left off, meeting his first ball with a glorious back-foot cover drive. He was happy to go at around a run a ball while Prabhsimran did the heavy lifting. Once Prabhsimran fell, Gaikwad was joined by Tilak, and the two kept the scoreboard ticking mainly through singles and doubles.

India A’s Bowlers Struggle for Penetration

After a short delay during the first innings, more rain followed during the innings break, delaying the restart. Afghanistan A began their chase needing 294 from 38 overs. With the light likely to start fading, and with floodlights not in action, the match was most probably going to be decided by DLS.

Afghanistan A Secure Victory

Afghanistan A openers Hassan Eisakhil and Imran started off quickly, with Eisakhil the initial aggressor. India A’s new-ball bowlers Anshul Kamboj and Arshad Khan failed to threaten, until Arshad drew a top edge from Eisakhil with a bouncer in the eighth over. Rain and bad light eventually stopped play at 5.28pm, with Afghanistan A four runs ahead on DLS.