NEW DELHI : Debutant Manav Suthar claimed a six-wicket haul and was named player of the match as India recorded the biggest victory in their test history, crushing Afghanistan by an innings and 300 runs inside three days of their one-off match in New Chandigarh on Monday.
After piling up 564-8 declared in their first innings, India unleashed their spin attack to dismiss Afghanistan for 152 before enforcing the follow-on.
Left-arm spinner Suthar returned figures of 6-33 in the first innings, while off-spinner Washington Sundar claimed 4-36 in the second as Afghanistan were bowled out for 112. Sharafuddin Ashraf did not bat due to a quad injury.
“A complete win from our side, ticked all the boxes, so very happy,” India captain Shubman Gill said.
“It was very hot. We decided that if we bowl them out by lunch or around the first drinks break in the second innings we will ask them to bat again.
“For the spinners it was more about getting the experience of how to set up the batters.”
Afghanistan resumed day three on 113-5 but lost their remaining five wickets during the morning session.
Rahmat Shah top-scored with 60, striking nine fours and a six in a determined effort to resist India’s spin attack.
Suthar, who had already removed Ashraf behind the wicket, bowled Rahmat around his legs to complete a five-wicket haul before dismissing Mohammad Saleem in the same over.
Forced to bat again, Afghanistan attempted a more aggressive approach. Sediqullah Atal scored 42 and Rahmanullah Gurbaz made a brisk 24 after Mohammed Siraj trapped opener Abdul Malik lbw for eight.
Kuldeep Yadav ended Gurbaz’s counter-attacking innings and later struck twice in successive deliveries to remove Nangeyalia Kharote and Saleem as Afghanistan’s resistance collapsed.
Yadav finished with 3-30, while Sundar’s off-spin accounted for four wickets as 14 Afghan wickets fell on the final day.
Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi said the defeat highlighted his side’s lack of experience in the longest format.
“The reality is we don’t have that much experience in this format,” Shahidi said.
“I think we learned a lot from this game because we don’t get enough opportunities to play this format.
“Everybody knows India is a tough team playing in their own conditions. But a lot of lessons for us and hopefully we learn from this.”
