Bengaluru Test: Afghanistan in trouble after losing four quick wickets
Bengaluru, June 15: Afghanistan trumbled again on the second day of test match against India at Chinnaswamy stadium here on Friday.
Afghanistan were asked to follow on after they got all out for just 109 runs in their first innings. However, the team that is playing its first ever test match against India continued its poor performance with bat and lost four of its main batsmen for just 24 runs in their second innings.
Earlier, an excellent half century from all-rounder Hardik Pandya steered India to a commanding 474 even as Afghanistan managed to take the remaining four wickets on the second morning of the one-off Test here on Friday.
India managed to add 127 runs to their overnight total of 347/6, thanks to Pandya's (71) third Test half ton, and coupled with some cameos from the tailenders.
If statistics are to be taken into consideration, this is the third instance where a team has conceded more than 400 runs in their inaugural Test. Bangladesh (2000) and the West Indies (1928) are the other teams in the category.
Coming to the second morning of the ongoing Test, India lost overnight batsman Ravichandran Ashwin (18) on the eighth over of the day, after the off-spinner was caught behind off Yamin Ahmadzai.
Ashwin's dismissal brought in the dangerous Ravindra Jadeja (20), who was dropped first ball off an edge.
The southpaw did well to put that scare behind him and forged a valuable 67-run eighth wicket stand with Pandya, who took the attack to the opposition after a sluggish start.
Pandya picked wrist spinner Rashid Khan for some special treatment, whacking him to the boundary line thrice before sweeping Mohammed Nabi for a four to bring up his half century in 83 balls.
Jadeja also joined the party, smoking Nabi for a six over long-on before perishing to the same bowler when he attempted one over long-off, only for the ball to land in the hands of Rahmat Shah.
Pandya soon followed his partner to the pavilion after being cramped for room and failing to cut a short ball from Wafadar, which resulted in a simple catch for keeper Afsar Zazai.
The right-hander struck 10 fours in his 94-ball effort.
With the scoreboard reading 440/9, the hosts would have been more or less satisfied but number 11 Umesh Yadav (26 not out from 21 balls; 4x2, 6x2) had other plans.
Umesh entertained the Chinnaswamy crowd with some lusty blows, which included two massive sixes off Wafadar and more importantly, helped India cross the psychological mark of 450 runs.
Together with Ishant Sharma (8), Umesh added 34 runs for the 10th wicket before Rashid trapped Ishant, ending India's innings for 474.
For the visitors, pacer Yamin Ahmadzai was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets while fellow quick Wafadar and Rashid chipped in with two wickets each.
The other spinners Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman chipped in with one wicket apiece.
Brief Scores: India 474 (Shikhar Dhawan 107, Murali Vijay 105, Hardik Pandya 71; Yamin Ahmadzai 3/51) vs Afghanistan.
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Shiv temple reopens in Muzaffarnagar after 1992 Ayodhya incident, Muslims shower flowers
Muzaffarnagar (UP) (PTI): A Shiv temple in Ludhawala, a predominantly Muslim locality under the jurisdiction of Kotwali police station, was reopened on Monday with a 'havan' and Muslims showering flowers on a procession by Hindus.
The Shiv temple was built in 1971. However, during the communal tensions triggered by the Ayodhya incident in 1992, Hindu families from the locality migrated, taking the temple's idols and 'shivling' with them. Since then, the temple had remained closed.
City Magistrate Vikas Kashyap confirmed that the reopening and associated ceremonies were conducted peacefully.
"All functions in the temple were conducted without any disturbance. The atmosphere was cordial and Hindu activists, led by Swami Yashvir Maharaj, returned in a peaceful manner," Kashyap told PTI.
In a remarkable display of harmony, local Muslims welcomed the procession of Hindu activists by showering flowers on them as they made their way to the temple.
Swami Yashvir Maharaj led the purification ceremony in the temple, which involved performing a 'havan' and other rituals. "This is a significant moment for us. The Shiv temple has been closed for years, but today it has been reopened after proper purification," he remarked.
The swami had announced last week that the temple would reopen on December 23 after a purification ceremony.
The district administration had made elaborate security arrangements to ensure peace in the area. The police patrolled the locality to avoid any untoward incident during the event.
About 200 km away from Muzaffarnagar, excavations are going on in Sambhal after the reopening on December 13 of the Bhasma Shankar Temple, which had been closed for over 46 years.
Last week, an old temple structure was found in Khurja town of this district, sparking demands from right-wing outfits for its renovation.
Uttar Pradesh: In Muzaffarnagar, Swami Yashveer Maharaj conducted a Havan Poojan to purify a 54-year-old Shiva temple that had fallen into ruins. The ceremony was attended by both Hindus and Muslims pic.twitter.com/3ou0nelKgz
— IANS (@ians_india) December 23, 2024
