India defeated Afghanistan by 170 runs in the second match of the three-match ODI series on Wednesday at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, taking an insurmountable 2-0 lead.

Despite a valiant effort from Rahmat Shah, the hosts overcame Afghanistan with a disciplined bowling performance and a batting masterclass led by captain Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan.

Afghanistan needed a fast start in pursuit of 403, but they never really came close to reaching the target. India’s fast bowling kept hitting consistently, stopping the guests from putting together any big partnerships. With three wickets each, Gurnoor Brar and Arshdeep Singh stole the show, while Prince Yadav earned his first ODI wicket on his debut.

Amidst the surrounding decline, Rahmat Shah stood strong, scoring 79 runs off 89 balls. He battled through cramps and found regular boundaries to keep Afghanistan’s aspirations alive, albeit remotely, showing great technique and resiliency. Rashid Khan delivered a quickfire cameo that was amusing, but the necessary rate kept increasing and was out of reach.

Brar and Prince Yadav finished up the tail in the 45th over, putting an end to the match. After Prince Yadav was pulled to fine leg, where Brar made an outstanding grab, Rahmat’s brave opposition was finally broken. India defeated Afghanistan by a large margin of 170 runs after Afghanistan was bowled out for 232 runs in 44. 3 overs.

India’s dominance throughout the match was highlighted by the outcome. Kishan’s aggressive hundred and Gill’s captain’s strike set the groundwork for a massive total, and the bowlers finished the work methodically to win the series with one game remaining.

India began cautiously earlier in the day, but Afghanistan’s disciplined new-ball bowling temporarily stopped them. Even more unexpected was the visitors’ decision to start with off-spinner AM Ghazanfar, which forced Yashasvi Jaiswal to fight for fluency before being dismissed.

Rohit Sharma was in incredible form, scoring gracefully off the boundary ropes, but he was dismissed for 48, just shy of a half-century, leaving India at 80/2.

The defining stage of the game came next. Gill and Kishan teamed up for an incredible third-wicket combination that completely altered the balance of the match in India’s favor. Kishan launched a relentless assault on Afghanistan’s bowlers while Gill played the anchor’s part with characteristic composure. The couple scored at over ten runs an over and gave the tourists little answers, adding 224 runs in only 140 balls.

Gill reached his ninth ODI century in just 77 balls and picked up the pace, scoring 150 in only 108 deliveries. In his fantastic 154 off 110 balls, he hit two sixes and 22 fours, making him the fastest Indian to score 3,000 ODI runs.

Kishan was similarly damaging at the opposite end, hitting 125 runs off just 79 balls with 14 boundaries and seven maximums. He scored his century off just 71 balls, controlling the middle overs and ensuring India maintained an incredible rate of scoring.

The barrage helped India speed past 300 in just 35. 5 overs, making it one of the quickest 300-plus totals ever scored by a team batting first in ODI history. Before Afghanistan recovered well in the dying moments, India appeared destined for an even higher total thanks to a quick 26 from Shreyas Iyer.

With spectacular figures of 4/76, Nangeyalia Kharoti, a left-arm spinner, started a collapse by removing both Gill and Iyer, while Rashid Khan took three wickets.

India lost their last seven wickets for only 80 runs, but they still ended with a strong 402 all out in 49. 5 overs.

Brief scores:
India 402/10 in 49.5 overs (Shubman Gill 154, Ishan Kishan 125; Nangeyalia Kharoti 4-76, Rashid Khan 3-48)
Afghanistan 232/10 in 44.3 overs (Rahmat Shah 79, Sediqullah Atal 42; Arshdeep Singh 3-45, Gurnoor Brar 3-60)