Mohammad Saleem Safi: India tightened their grip in the ongoing one-off Test against Afghanistan, declaring at 564/8 and striking early through debutant left-arm spinner Manav Suthar to leave the visitors at 28/1 in 5.4 overs and trail by 536 runs at tea on day two’s play.
Off-spin bowling Washington Sundar anchored the lower order with a composed 52 not out, his sixth Test fifty, while Mohammed Siraj provided fireworks with a career-best 22 off just 12 balls, before India’s declaration came in 127 overs. Sundar’s fifty was marked by a wristy flick for four off Safi, after slamming a commanding pull for six.
Promoted up the order, Siraj swung freely, hitting a six and four boundaries before Mohammad Saleem Safi cleaned him up. Safi, who had gone wicketless in his previous four international outings, finished with 6-140 in a breakthrough performance, using variable bounce and sharp lengths to rein in India’s batters through a disciplined second new ball spell.
