The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Abhishek Sharma smashed 108 off 34 balls as India routed Afghanistan by 127 runs in the third T20 international to complete a 3-0 series sweep.
India scored 221-7 after being sent in to bat, with Abhishek
reaching his century in just 30 balls. Afghanistan was then bowled out for 94
as Nitish Kumar Reddy and Ravi Bishnoi took three wickets each.
Abhishek hit 11 sixes and nine fours in a blistering innings
that gave India a record 100 runs in the six-over powerplay. His 30-ball
century was the fastest in a T20 international against a full-member nation and
the third-fastest overall.
Sanju Samson contributed 50 for his second consecutive
half-century as India built a commanding total despite Afghanistan slowing the
scoring in the second half of the innings.
Abhishek needed only one delivery to settle before attacking
Fazalhaq Farooqi and Azmatullah Omarzai. He reached his half-century from 16
balls after hitting Mohammad Nabi for two sixes in the fifth over.
Rashid Khan was introduced during the powerplay but was also
unable to contain Abhishek, who struck him for two fours and a six as India
reached 100 without loss after six overs.
Abhishek brought up his century in the ninth over before
Rashid eventually dismissed him with a wrong'un in the 10th.
Samson took over after Abhishek's departure and reached his
half-century with two fours and four sixes. India was 164-2 after 13 overs and
appeared on course for an even bigger total before Afghanistan fought back.
Rashid was central to the recovery. He dismissed Abhishek,
ran out Tilak Varma off his own bowling and took a catch at long-off to remove
Samson.
Afghanistan's seamers then made effective use of reverse
swing and yorkers in the closing overs. India scored only 37 runs in the final
five overs to finish on 221-7.
Azmatullah Omarzai was Afghanistan's most economical
wicket-taker, finishing with 2-27.
Afghanistan never threatened the target after losing wickets
regularly in its chase.
Axar Patel struck twice in the fourth over, removing
Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sediqullah Atal, before Jasprit Bumrah bowled Darwish
Rasooli with a 143 kph yorker in the fifth.
Captain Ibrahim Zadran top-scored for Afghanistan with 25
before he was caught off Yash Thakur, who replaced the rested Arshdeep Singh in
India's lineup.
Reddy then effectively ended Afghanistan's resistance by
taking three wickets in one over. He bowled Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman and had
Omarzai caught in the deep with a slower legcutter.
Reddy finished with 3-25, while Bishnoi took 3-26 as
Afghanistan was dismissed for 94.
Reddy ended the three-match series with six wickets, the
most by any bowler.
India had already secured the series by winning the opening
two matches before completing the sweep with its biggest victory of the series.
