India leaves Asia Cup on high note after Kohli’s century

Agencies | Dubai 

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Virat Kohli recorded his first international hundred in nearly three years as India bowed out of the Asia Cup with a massive 101-run win over Afghanistan yesterday.

Kohli, who made his last international century in November 2019 during a test match against Bangladesh, hit a blistering unbeaten 122 off just 61 balls and anchored India to 212-2.

Fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled one of the best spells in Twenty20 cricket by grabbing 5-4 with his brilliant swing bowling upfront before Afghanistan reached 111-8 and gave India its second-biggest win ever in a T20 international.

Afghanistan, which won its group games against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, faltered in the Super 4 stage, losing all three of its games.

India also couldn’t make it to the final after losing to Sunday’s finalists Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Kohli grabbed an opportunity to open with stand-in captain KL Rahul after regular skipper Rohit Sharma was rested from India’s last game in the tournament.

Tuesday night’s heart-breaking one-wicket loss to Pakistan seemed to be still on the minds of Afghanistan’s players as Ibrahim Zadran dropped Kohli on the boundary edge before he scored his half-century off 32 balls.

Rahul and Kohli provided India with a rollicking start of 119 run off 76 balls before Rahul holed out at long-on after making 62 off 41 balls.

But Kohli smacked both Afghanistan pace bowlers Fareed Ahmad (2-57) and Fazalhaq Farooqi (0-51) in the death overs in a stunning display of power-hitting on both sides of the wicket.

 Kohli raised his maiden T20 century in the penultimate over by hitting left-arm fast bowler Ahmed for a boundary and then raised his both arms with a broad smile by smashing a flat six over midwicket.

Kohli, who hit 12 fours and six sixes, provided an ideal finish with two sixes and a four against Farooqi.