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Opener Abhishek Sharma smashed 82 from just 32 balls as India hammered Afghanistan by seven wickets in the first T20 international in New Delhi on Sunday.Chasing 157 for victory, India rode on Abhishek's blitz, which included seven sixes and seven fours, to achieve the target in 13.4 overs and lead the three-match series 1-0.Abhishek got his first runs with a six off Fazalhaq Farooqi in the opening over and there was no looking back for the swashbuckling left-handed batter.He lost opening partner Sanju Samson for 10 but kept up the charge with a flurry of fours and sixes to raise his fifty off 22 balls.Abhishek and Ishan Kishan, who made 42, put on 121 runs as the pair tore into the opposition attack to raise the noise of over 25,000 fans at the Arun Jaitley Stadium."The shots Abhishek played were flawless, exemplary," said India captain Shreyas Iyer."Kishan has been in great form. He's very relaxed, calm and knows his game."Abhishek fell to off-spinner Mohammad Nabi as Rashid Khan took a good catch in the deep.Nabi soon sent back Kishan before Tilak Varma (3) and Iyer (8) saw the team home.India's left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh set up victory with figures of 3-19 in his four overs as he helped restrict Afghanistan to 156-8.Put in to bat, Afghanistan slipped to 43-5 before Azmatullah Omarzai hit an unbeaten 64. RETURNING PACER BUMRAH STARTED WITH 5 WIDESReturning pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah started with a wide down the leg side for five extras but struck on the second legal delivery to dismiss Rahmanullah Gurbaz, caught at first slip.Iyer praised Bumrah, calling the pace spearhead, who returned to the team after an injury in the second ODI against England in Cardiff on July 16, a "great asset".Skipper Ibrahim Zadran attempted to hit back with two fours but was soon run out for 11 after a mix up with Sediqullah Atal to give India the upper hand."I would say that run out was the turning point," said Zadran. "Ishan Kishan grabbed the ball and threw it to the bowler. They got the momentum."Wickets kept tumbling as spinners Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy took one each as Afghanistan lost half their side in seven overs.Omarzai, who survived a dropped catch on 39, and Nabi (33) then combined to rebuild the innings with a partnership of 83.Arshdeep broke the stand as he bowled Nabi off a slower yorker.Omarzai stuck around until the end as Afghanistan got 21 runs off the last over from Shivam Dube but it was not enough against the reigning T20 world champions.Afghanistan, who have long used India and the United Arab Emirates as home venues, are the official hosts for the series. BRIEF SCORESIndia 157 for 3 (Abhishek 82, Kishan 42, Nabi 2-28) beat Afghanistan 156 for 8 (Omarzai 64, Nabi 33, Arshdeep 3-19) by seven wickets 

India secured their place in the Asia Cup final Wednesday as Abhishek Sharma starred with 75 in a comfortable 41-run win over Bangladesh in Dubai.The holders posted 168-6 batting first after stumbling following a quick start, but their spinners helped stifle Bangladesh to 127 all out.The result means Sri Lanka are out of the tournament, with Thursday’s Super Four match between Pakistan and Bangladesh to decide who faces India in Sunday’s final.Abhishek has enjoyed a remarkable start to his T20 international career with 783 runs from 22 matches at a strike-rate of 197.72.The opener set up victory with another brilliant innings, striking six sixes and five fours in his 37-ball blitz, which ended with a run-out caused by a mix-up with captain Suryakumar Yadav.Both Abhishek and fellow opener Shubman Gill, who made 29, started cautiously before the two took on left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed, smashing 21 runs off the fourth over.Abhishek reached his fifty off just 25 balls after Gill fell to leg-spinner Rishad Hossain.Rishad quickly struck again with the wicket of the promoted Shivam Dube, before the dismissals of Abhishek and Suryakumar, for five off 11 balls, left India on 114-4. Hardik Pandya ensured India reached a competitive total with a 29-ball 38 with four fours and one six.Jasprit Bumrah struck first to send back opener Tanzid Hasan for one in the second over of Bangladesh’s chase, before Saif Hassan and Parvez Hossain Emon, who made 21, put on 42 runs to steady the innings.But Kuldeep Yadav dismissed Parvez and Bangladesh soon lost their way as the Indian spinners took charge. Saif, who survived four dropped catches, played a lone hand to raise Bangladesh hopes. Kuldeep struck twice with successive balls before Nasum played out the hat-trick ball. Saif finally fell in the 18th over for 69 to Bumrah and Bangladesh were bowled out in 19.3 overs.BRIEF SCORE:SIndia 168 for 6 (Abhishek 75, Hardik 38, Rishad 2-27) beat Bangladesh (Saif 69, Kuldeep 3-18, Bumrah 2-18, Varun 2-29) by 41 runs