India declare on 564-8 after Afghanistan's Saleem takes six wickets
India declared their first innings on an imposing 564-8 on day two of the one-off Test against Afghanistan on Sunday after pace bowler Mohammad Saleem took six wickets.
Skipper Shubman Gill top-scored with 126 and put on a fourth-wicket stand of 169 with Rishabh Pant, who made 81, after the hosts resumed on 368-3 in New Chandigarh.
Washington Sundar was unbeaten on 52 when India called off their innings in the second session.
Afghanistan were 28-1 after debutant Indian spinner dismissed Abdul Malik for 16 and players walked off for tea.
Sediqullah Atal was unbeaten on 11.
Earlier Saleem, who took two wickets on Saturday, struck twice in the morning session and then sent back Suthar, for 28, after lunch to claim his first Test five-wicket haul as he touched his forehead on the ground to celebrate.
The 23-year-old Saleem consistently bowled at speeds of over 140 kmph (86.9 mph) and impressed in just his second Test.
Sundar, a left-hand batter, and Mohammed Siraj, who hit a 12-ball 22, made crucial runs with their attacking batting to boost the total.
Siraj hammered debutant left-arm spinner Nangeyalia Kharote for a four and two sixes in one over before Saleem bowled him.
Earlier Saleem broke the big stand between Gill and the left-handed Pant after he had the Indian captain caught behind with a delivery that held its line.
Wicketkeeper Pant had added 31 runs to his overnight score and was eyeing a century when he was caught at long-off attempting a big hit off Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi.
It could have been so much better for Afghanistan had they not repeatedly failed to make good use of the umpire decision review system.
Gill, who was 103 not out overnight, had moved on to 108 when he was struck on the pads by pace bowler Azmatullah Omarzai.
He was given not out and Afghanistan did not review. But ball-tracking technology indicated the ball would have hit the leg stump.
Pant, on 54, survived the next ball after Omarzai sped one past the edge with technology showing it had feathered the bat after Afghanistan again decided against a review.
It was the third referral mistake by Afghanistan, who did not review an appeal for caught behind on the first day when KL Rahul was on 16.
Rahul would have been out, but went on to make 100.
V.Pua--HStB
