WT20, Group C: Afghanistan v India

India Win By Seven Wickets World Twenty20 debutants Afghanistan entirely overawed by the big occasion, failing to come anywhere close to exacting the upset they had hoped. Not much to say for India, who really just went through the motions of a given win. Handy time at the creas for Yuvraj and more promising stuff from Chennai graduate Vijay. If anything, they can question a rough day with the ball for Zaheer. On with the show. Next up: Pakistan versus Bangladesh. Here's hoping for an upset this time around...

Over 14.5 Mangal 0-6-6-0-2 116-3 - Dhoni gets straight into the thick of things, smashing six over the bowler's head and doing so again with a much bigger, straighter stroke the next time around. Losing captain Mangal is shellshocked and will probably never bowl himself again.

Over 14 Hassan 0-0-0-W-1-0 102-3 - Read headband at the ready, Hassan wipes his brow before rollicking into a quite lengthy run-up. Hardly needed, given his pedestrian seam. Wicket! As luck would have it, an ugly full toss does the trick for he bowler, who has Vijay hole out on the long-on fence. It was clear that Murali wanted to finish the match with a flourish but it's not to be. Dhoni in now.

Over 13 Nabi 6-6-0-0-0-1 101-2 - Nabi is back into the attack and cops a beating at the hands of Vijay, who spanks six and then six more over long-off. The second was by far the biggest, perhaps even of the tourney.

Over 12 Hassan 0-1-2-2-0-0 88-2 - Hassan tries his damndest to make up for his spill in the earlier over but can't manage as much as Yuvraj and Vijay merely pick him off at will.

Over 11 Sadiq 2nb-7nb-1wd-2-0-1-2-1-0 83-2 - Yuvraj decides now is the time to go big or go home, tucking into a host of full tosses and free-hits, one of which screams over Cow Corner for arguably the biggest six of the tourney thus far. Vijay is finally fed some strike and his day with the bat seems to has met its end but Hassan, running in from the long-on fence, drops a tough chance off the spooned top edge.

Over 10 Hassan 1-1-0-1lb-0-0 67-2 - Seamer Hassan and his rather zippy action enter the fray for the first time today, together enjoying a bit of an appeal for lbw as Yuvraj misses a bit of movement off the seam. No need for the big Indian to stress though, as it was sliding down leg-side and it turns out there was an inside edge too.

Over 9 Sadiq 1-0-2-1-1-1 64-2 - And more spin. Nabi exits and Sadiq steps into the attack, delivering some decent line but little turn to begin with.

Over 8 Shenwari 0-1-1wd-1-1-0-1 58-2 - The leg-spinner strikes Vijay high on the back pad and quickly has his appeal for lbw turned down as the ball was easily sliding down the leg-side. Meanwhile, I get the feeling Yuvraj is just limbering up for the onslaught. He can't keep this straight-bat stuff up for much longer. Square-leg umpire Dar is forced to take evasive action as Yuvraj - gifted the longest of hops - only manages to flat-bat it straight at the official, who would've worn it to the face had he not acted as quick as he did.

Over 7 Nabi 0-1-0-1-3-0 52-2 - Nabi is certainly the more effective of the two spinner on offer at the moment, flummoxing - to a degree - the Indian duo with some flight and slight purchase off the track. Nothing dramatic needed, though. Yuvraj and Vijay can just bide their time ahead of the bad ball.

Over 6 Shenwari 4-1-W-1-0-0 47-2 - More spin, with Shenwari making meticulously sure of his field placements before affording Vijay too much width to cut four past short third man. Wicket! Raina's short'n'sweet vigil comes to an end as the talented left-hander fails to pick the 'arm' ball, copping a blow to the front pad dead in front of the stumps. Up goes the finger in a flash and off goes Suresh. Yuvraj in now and there's no way he is going to dilly dally around with singles. Need we remind you that he clobbered England's Stu Broad for six sixes in one over in the first edition of the WT20 in 2007. And that's the end of the Powerplay.

Over 5 Nabi 0-1-0-5nb-0-6-2 41-1 - Afghanistan introduce a bit of spin, with Nabi into the fray with his right-arm trundle. Vijay and Raina take in a couple of sighters before the former opts over midwicket for four. The fielder almost got there but instead head-butted the ball. Ouch, indeed. Then, another Afghan almost injures himself as Raina soars six over square-leg. The bloke goes for an improbable catch and ends up crashing into the advertising boards.

Over 4 Zadran 1wd-1-0-0-1-0-0 27-1 - Zadran struggles with a leg-side wide but then convenes to a near perfect off-side line, beating Raina on more than the odd occasion. Dawlat's approach is hardly anything to write home about, but this man is an entirely different tale.

Over 3 Dawlat 0-W-0-0-2-3 24-1 - Nowroz afford Dawlat another over and enjoys a repayment in faith. Wicket! Unable to pick the gap at backward point, Gambhir decides cover is the other option but finds the fielder via the aerial route. Lazy cricket from the left-hander, who could quite easily laced that along the ground. Next in is Raina, fresh from a quite spectacular IPL campaign. He kicks off his account with some exquisite timing on the cut, only to have a potential boundary thwarted by Ali's great dive on the backward point fence.

Over 2 Zadran 1-0-0-1-1-0 19-0 - This tourney boasts a few tall bowlers - Ireland's Boyd Rankin, Windies' Kieron Pollard and the like - but Shapoor has to be the longest. Approaching from over the wicket to the right-hander, the southpaw seamer creates an awkward angle to Vijay, who is suddenly unsettled and forced to a string of back-foot defence.

Over 1 Dawlat 2nb-4-0-1-1-6-2 16-0 - Instant trouble for the bowling side as Dawlat oversteps and Twenty20 Internationla debutant Vijay smears the subsequent free-hit over mid-off for four. Gambhir, having to make do with a new batting partner due to Sehwag's absence, waatches from the non-striker's end as the Chennia Super Kings star bludgeons six over midwicket and plugs two across a diving mid-on. 16 off the first over. Ouch, Afghanistan.

India's Pursuit All and sundry back out in the middle, with Gambhir and Vijay to open the batting for India. Any takers on how quickly India will chase their target down? My guess is 13 overs. Mail me at jonhenry.wilson@teamtalkmedia.co.za.

Afghanistan Finish On 115 For Eight Quite frantic end to the innings, with the minnows losing their last five wickets for 18 runs. Ali and Asghar promised much initially but with little to know support for the duo the Afghans have sunk to a poor tally. India shouldn't have any trouble in chasing this down and it looks like we will have to wait for the Pakistan-Bangladesh clash for the first upset of the tourney.

Over 20 Zaheer 1-1-0-4-W-1 115-8 - Khan offers nothing short of the blockhole as Raees and Hassan scrape together the miscues on offer, including the umpteenth top edge over the wicketkeeper's head for four. Wicket! That's Hassan's last scoring 'shot' of the day though, as mid-off gets in the way of his attempted crank down the ground.

Over 19 Nehra 1-0-2-4-W-1 108-7 - Top edges aplenty continue to fly over Dhoni's head and the Indian captain may well be considering stationing a long-stop behind him. Wicket! As if things could not get any worse for the Afghans, Raees and Shenwari decide it's time for a run-out, both ending up at the non-striker's end as Dhoni topples the bails on the other side. Absolute lack of communication there and Hassan in now.

Over 18 Praveen W-W-1-0-1-1 100-6 - Afghanistan batsmen certainly know how to get out to some awkward strokeplay. Wicket! Asghar fancies a massive dip over the leg-side to a delivery very much on the off-side. One baseball-esque heave later he holes out in the deep and next in is Raees. Wicket! The new bloke at the crease watches from the non-striker's end as Nabi perishes in similar fashion to Asghar, but at least has the courtesy to offer Dhoni the top edge rather than any of the outfielders. Shenwari joins Raees at the crease and together they manage to stave off Kumar's advances for the duration of the over and manage to bring up the collective century in the consoled process.

Over 17 Nehra 0-1-1-W-0-0 97-4 - Ali brings up his half-century. It's the first of his young Twenty20 International career and has taken him 47 balls and four fours to get there. Not the most fluid of knocks, but effective given the strong nature of the opposition. He simply must cut loose from here on in if the Afghans hope to reach 130-odd. Wicket! So much for that. For the third time today Dhoni and Nehra combine to remove a rival batsman. Ali backs away to the leg-side, has an ugly hack across the line and rubbernecks to see the wicketkeeper pouch a simple edge. Nabi in now, renowned as somewhat of a six-savager. Not even a single from him yet, though.

Over 16 Harbhajan 2-1-6-1wd-1-1-1 95-3 - Zaheer is yanked out of the attack after his one-over return spell and watches from his fielding position as Bhajji cops six over midwicket at the hefty hands of Asghar, who now has three biggies to his name. Ali, meanwhile, has moved to his highest Twenty20 International score - 49 not out.

Over 15 Jadeja 1-0-0-0-0-1 81-3 - Bored or just stupid, Ali tries to two reverse-sweeps in a row - neither of which bring him a run. He would have been better off driving down the ground. He finally comes to his senses and does exaclty that - drive down the ground. But it's too late - the over is wasted. Jadeja's day with the ball is done - 4-1-15-1.

Over 14 Zaheer 4-1-1-1-1-2 79-3 - Ali welcomes the southpaw seamer back into the attack with a dance down the wicket and fat swipe thorugh mid-off for a scorching four. Khan then endures a severe lack of length, coughing up a couple of ugly full tosses. Ali and Asghar struggle to punish 'em though, instead making do with singles skewed to the various boundary riders.

Over 13 Yusuf 1wd-1-0-2-1-1-6 69-3 - Dhoni looks to his fourth slow bowler of the day in the form of Pathan's right-arm off-break. He kicks off with a silly leg-side wide, then darting in a string of deliveries rather than floating 'em up like Harbhajan would. Asghar and Ali enjoy some tidy footwork in unison, with their advances down the track bringing singles aplenty down the ground. An otherwise cheap over for India comes to an expensive end, as Pathan coughs up one in the slot only to have Asghar heave it over midwicket for six more.

Over 12 Harbhajan 2-1-1-1-0-0 57-3 - Ali is not bothered by the presence of first slip, offering the deftest of touches on the late cut for a nifty two before milking a single to deep square-leg. He and Asghar then turn the strike at will, pinpointing the outfield vacancies with decent aplomb. Wise to their tricks, Bhajji adjusts his line and length to close the over on the quiet.

Over 11 Jadeja 1-6-1-0-1-0 52-3 - Up, up and away - Asghar is responsible for Afghanistan's first six in World Twenty20 competition thanks to a fat swipe over long-on. Some quite lovely footwork from the confident right-hander, who might turn out to be the aggressor here as Ali assumes the anchor role.

Over 10 Harbhajan 1-1-1-0-0-0 43-3 - Some lazy running between the wickets almost costs Asghar his stay at the crease, but he makes his ground at the non-striker's end at the very last moment despite an accurate throw from midwicket. Then, Ali - undecided whether to attack or defend - misses the straight one and is lucky not to have his off-stump pegged back.

Over 9 Jadeja 4-1-0-0-0-0 40-3 - Tired of letting the bowlers dictate proceedings, Ali decides to tee of over extra cover and times and places well enough for four. A single sniped to midwicket leaves his sidekick to the strike, who fails to pick the arm ball but survives a decent shout for lbw. The umpire is having none of it, as the ball is sliding down the leg-side.

Over 8 Harbhajan 0-0-1-0-0-1 35-3 - Spin all over the place now as the most superior of 'em all enters the attack. Asghar and Ali both struggle with the loop and flight offered by Harbhajan, who is afforded the luxury of a solitary slip.

Over 7 Yuvraj 1-0-0-1-0-2 33-3 - Yuvraj Singh gets a bowl. Ali has looked very good so far. While the others have looked to go for big shots, he has played a controlled innings. He adds another single to the total with a confident stroke through to the man on the extra cover boundary. Asghar gets one down the ground and Ali ends the over with two to the man on the cover boundary.

Over 6 Jadeja 0-0-0-W-0-0 29-3 - This is the final over of the Powerplay and into the attack comes Ravindra Jadeja. He missed the whole IPL due to a contractual dispute. Jadeja is one of five spinners in the India XI. Yusuf Pathan, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh are the other spinners. WICKET! Mangal is next to depart as he miscues one straight to mid-off. He was looking to clear the infield, but found Gambhir. Asghar is next in.

Over 5 Zaheer 0-1-wd-0-0-4-1 29-2 - Nehra gets a breather and Zaheer Khan comes into the attack for the first time. Just one slip in for him. Ali pushes to mid-off and sets off for the quick single. Mangal pulls firmly and it just beats Harbhajan Singh at mid-on and rolls away to the boundary. He keeps the strike with a single to fine leg.

Over 4 Nehra 4-0-W-0-0-0 22-2 - Shahzad also gets in on the act as he flicks it through square leg for four. WICKET! Almost a carbon copy of the Sadiq dismissal. Another short one down the leg side, the batsman looks to pull, but only manages to get glove to it. Dhoni isn't too convincing behind the stumps and the batsman also didn't look too happy, but the umpire sent him on his way. Nowroz Mangal joins Ali in the middle.

Over 3 Praveen 1-0-4-0-0-4 18-1 - Noor Ali pulls powerfully, but the man at square leg gets a touch to it and they come back for a second. Saved a certain four last night. After getting beaten past the outside edge, Noor gets Afghanistan's first four in boundary with a glance down to fine leg. Make that two boundaries in international cricket. The second one is brilliantly timed and placed wide of point.

Over 2 Nehra 2-1-0-W-2-0 8-1 - Ashish Nehra shares the new ball and he also has two slips next to the wicketkeeper. He also gets some swing and Ali gets an inside edge wide of square leg and comes back for a second. Wide outside off and slashed through gully, but there's a man down there and it's only a single. Will Sadiq come down the ground again? He opts for the conservative approach this time, but it goes past the outside edge. He's yet to make contact with the ball. WICKET! Sadiq finally makes contact, but he only manages to glove it through to the keeper. It was a shorter one down the leg-side from Nehra and Sadiq was down the track looking for a pull, but he was in no position to play that shot. Not the best of starts to international cricket for Sadiq then. Mohammad Shahzad is the new man and he is up and running with an unconvincing chip through midwicket.

Over 1 Praveen 0-0-2lb-1-0-0 3-0 - MS Dhoni opts for two slips and Praveen shows it's an excellent decision as he generates plenty of swing for the first two balls. He then goes too straight and Afghanistan's first runs in international cricket are two leg-byes down to fine leg. Ali's first run is a quick single down the ground. Wow! Sadiq has no intention of hanging around and he immediately marches down the track, but fails to make contact.

Ready to roll Noor Ali and Karim Sadiq are Afghanistan's two openers and Praveen Kumar will have the honour of delivering the first over of this Group C clash.

Empty stands There are plenty of empty seats Beausejour Stadium. Disappointing to see.

Anthem time Afghanistan's players proudly belt out Milli Surood. Yes, I had to Google that. That is followed by India's Jana Gana Mana.

Special occasion Spare a thought for the Afghanistan players. This is the first time they're staying in a hotel. It's been a meteoric rise for them, but apparently they're not too overawed by it all. They are the 22nd nation to play international cricket.

Teams: Afghanistan Karim Sadiq, Noor Ali, Mohammad Shahzad(w), Nowroz Mangal, Asghar Stanikzai, Raees Ahmadzai, Mohammad Nabi, Hamid Hassan, Samiullah Shenwari, Dawlat Ahmadzai, Shapoor Zadran

India G Gambhir, M Vijay, SK Raina, MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, YK Pathan, R Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh, Z Khan, P Kumar, A Nehra,

India team news Vinay Kumar, Piyush Chawla, Dinesh Karthik and Rohit Sharma are on the sidelines for the first match. We'll bring you news about the Afghanistan team as soon as we get it

Toss India skipper MS Dhoni has won the toss and he has asked the Afghanistan team to make first use of the track at the Beausejour Stadium.

Welcome to the big stage Afghanistan make their World Twenty20 debut today. They've really come a long way in just a few years. Hopefully they will give India a good run for their money or cause a major upset by beating them.

Greetings Welcome to our live over-by-over coverage of the opening game in Group C of the World Twenty20. Today's match sees subcontinent neighbours Afghanistan and India going head-to-head.

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