Afghanistan spun out for 159 by India

MIRPUR, Bangladesh (AP) — Afghanistan succumbed to India's spinners to be all out for 159 in the 46th over in the Asia Cup on Wednesday.

The first one-day international between them highlighted Afghanistan's strengths and weaknesses.

The Afghan batsmen had no trouble against fast bowling, reaching 52-1 after 11 overs from Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami.

But the wickets fell and the run-rate declined as the spinners led the attack for the next 25 overs, the Afghans tormented by the appreciable turn.

Allrounder Ravindra Jadeja and his left-arm spin took two wickets with his first three deliveries. He had 3-3 off two overs, and should have had a fourth wicket in his third over, but a regular catch of Najibullah Zadran was dropped by India captain Virat Kohli in the slips.

Zadran was out in the next over, off the first ball by offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

At one point, Jadeja had 4-14 off five overs.

Along with legspinner Amit Mishra, India put a stranglehold on Afghanistan that the latter couldn't recover from.

After 25 straight overs of spin, Ashwin had 2-26, Mishra 1-17 and Afghanistan was 127-8.

Shami was hit for 10 in the 37th over, and India reverted to three more overs of spin, in which the ninth wicket was taken.

Afghanistan then hung on for 7.2 more overs, as No. 8 batsman Samiullah Shenwari scored a fighting 50 to help his side pass 150. Shenwari's fifth half century in 31 games included six fours and a six off 73 balls.

Opener Noor Ali Zadran chipped in with 31, and wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Shahzad made 22, the only other scores in double figures.

Ashwin finished with 3-31, and Shami 2-50.

India and Afghanistan have already been eliminated from contention for the final, which features Sri Lanka and Pakistan on Saturday.