IND vs AFG: Afghans make roaring return after Dhawan, Vijay tons; India 347/6

Hundreds from Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay gave Afghanistan the expectedly tough initiation into Test cricket but the debutants managed to find their bearings to leave India a tad uncomfortable at 347 for 6 on a raincurtailed first day of the historic oneoff Test hereDhawan 107 off 96 balls bludgeoned the rookie Afghan bowlers into submission with a single session century while Vijay grinded them with a compact 105 off 153 balls as the duo smashed 168 in only 284 oversHowever the world no1 hosts did take their foot off the pedal in the final session losing five wickets for 99 runs in 32 overs The result was that the day end scorecard didnt paint a sorry picture for Afghanistan something that was threatening to happen after the first two sessionsThe final session definitely belonged to Afghanistan as their bowlers put up an inspired performance backed by the fielders Vijay and a wellset KL Rahul 54 off 64 balls were removed in quick succession by the impressive pace duo of Yamin Ahmadzai 232 in 13 overs and Wafadar 153 in 15 oversThe VijayRahul second wicket partnership yielded 112 runs but their dismissals brought about a collapse Skipper Ajinkya Rahane 10 off 45 balls and Cheteshwar Pujara 35 couldnt maintain the momentum giving the visiting team bowlers something to cheer about in the final sessionRahane became Rashid Khans maiden Test scalp while Mujeeb ur Rahman got Pujara caught at leggully with one that spun in sharply Comebackman Dinesh Karthik 4 was runout needlessly as a solid foundation laid by the openers was wasted by the middleorder Rashid 1120 in 26 overs conceded a century getting a reality check on the enormous gulf between T20 and Test cricket during the first two sessionsHowever being a quick learner he came back well in the final session varying the pace of his deliveries and getting the ball to dip in troubling the middleorder with a final spell of 92151Earlier Dhawan became the first Indian batsman to score a century in the first session of a Test match joining the illustrious ranks of Sir Don Bradman Victor Trumper Majid Khan and David WarnerThe hapless bowlers struggled during the first two sessions as they were not able to hit the correct Test match length especially the spinners who are used to bowling flat and quick Afghanistan coach Phil Simmons statement about not knowing what its all about till you get there seemed prophetic as the talented bunch of cricketers got their introductory lessons in red ball cricket from two openers who have played 85 Test matches between themselvesRashid the reigning crown prince of 24ball spells received a harsh treatment from Dhawan who smacked him for three boundaries to complete a halfcentury in 47 balls Dhawan also hit a flowing cover drive off Rashid to complete his sixth Test hundred off 87 balls as Vijay also frustrated the minnows with his watertight technique Call it irony Dhawan stepped out to hit straight sixes off Afghanistans three IPL participants iquest Rashid Mohammed Nabi and Mujeeb ur Rahaman with effortless easeIn all Dhawan hit 19 boundaries and three huge sixes before Yamin Ahmedzai picked him with a perfectly pitched delivery that moved a shade away after pitching Mohammed Nabi in the slips pouched it after his skipper Ashgar Stanikzai fumbled on the first attemptThe moment Rashid or Mujeeb 169 in 14 overs tried to flight Dhawan would step out if they upped the pace of the deliveries they were cut forcefully At the onset opening bowler Ahmadzai bowled a few sharp outswingers before leaving the field with a muscle pull He did comeback at the stroke of lunch but left after another fourover spell in which he got Dhawans wicketDuring the final session he also got Rahul who dragged a delivery back onto his stumpsThe other new ball bowler Wafadar was angling it across the lefthander and Vijay faced him more to wear him out and take advantage of the spinners While Dhawan was more forceful in his strokeplay Vijay was more silken in his drives The shot of the day would certainly be a backfoot square drive off WafadarVijays innings had 15 boundaries and a six He completed his 12th hundred with a lofted shot over point off Wafadar However the young pacer had the last laugh when he got one to jag back as Vijay shouldered arms and was adjudged leg beforeWhile watching Rashid bowl during the pre and post lunch session it seemed as if Kevin Pietersens Pataudi memorial lecture was being played on the backgroundT20 offers cricketing buzz without the full sting Wickets are less precious Risks are taken without same downside There is less character and technique required Rashid understood it the hard way Initially he was relying too much on the quicker deliveries but missing the length time and again meant that he was carted on all sides of the wicket Once the openers were gone Rashid found his mojo and got to land his googlies consistently on good length troubling the middle order batsmenBrief Scores India 2481 Shikhar Dhawan 104 Murali Vijay 94 not out Yamin Ahmadzai 128 vs Afghanistan at TeaCatch up on all the latest sports news and updates here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates