INTERNATIONAL: India has finally flexed their muscles to crush Afghanistan by 66 runs in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday for the Twenty20 World Cup semi-finals. The 2007 champions' hopes of making the last four hang by a thread following heavy losses to Pakistan and New Zealand in their first two Super 12 group matches.

India's batting finally clicked against Afghanistan, however, as they racked up the tournament's highest total of 210-2 and restricted their opponents to 144-7. Openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul shared a 140-run opening stand to set up their massive score which proved too big a mountain to climb for Afghanistan's modest batting lineup.

Group II leaders Pakistan have booked their semi-final spot and India must win their last two games to have a chance of joining them in the last four. Rohit, adjudged man-of-the-match, raced to a 37-ball fifty

and Rahul reached his half-century in the next over needing two balls fewer. Rohit smashed leg-spinner Rashid Khan, Afghanistan's best hope against the rampant openers, for back-to-back sixes before falling to Karim Janat in the 15th over.

Gulbadin Naib bowled Rahul in the 17th over but with Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant going berserk in the final overs, there was no respite for the Afghans. Pandya remained unbeaten after a blistering 13-ball 35, while Pant was 27 not out having faced an equal number of balls.

Afghanistan stumbled early in their chase, losing both openers to successive deliveries inside the first 19 balls. Rahmanullah Gurbaz hit Mohammed Shami (3-32) for back-to-back sixes before offering a skier to Pandya in Ravindra Jadeja's first over.

^{PHOTO: HIGHLIGHTS OF INDIA BEATING AFGHANISTAN IN THE TWENTY20 WORLD CUP GROUP STAGE}