Abhishek’s Storm: Afghanistan Couldn’t Even Match His Score as India Complete 3-0 Clean Sweep
New Delhi: India defeated Afghanistan by 127 runs in the third and final T20 International here on Thursday to complete a 3-0 clean sweep of the series. After being asked to bat first, India posted 221 for seven, before Afghanistan were bowled out for just 94 in 14.1 overs.
Afghanistan could not even manage the number of runs scored by the star of the match, Abhishek Sharma, who smashed a century and broke two major records. Abhishek scored 108 runs off just 34 balls in 45 minutes, hitting 11 sixes and nine fours. Nitish Reddy produced another three-wicket burst in successive matches. Ravi Bishnoi also claimed three wickets, while Axar Patel took two and Yash Thakur, who came into the side in place of Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh, picked up one wicket.
Earlier, India posted 221 for seven in their 20 overs in Delhi to set Afghanistan a massive target of 222. Abhishek Sharma completed his century in just 30 balls, breaking Finn Allen’s international record of a 33-ball century among the major cricketing nations and Rohit Sharma’s Indian record of a 35-ball century.
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Apart from Abhishek, Sanju Samson scored 50 off 35 balls, with four sixes and two fours, providing excellent support to Abhishek at the other end. The pair put together a 142-run opening partnership. Abhishek finished with 108 off 34 balls, while Samson made 50 off 35. Azmatullah Omarzai was Afghanistan’s most successful bowler with two wickets.
The fastest century in T20 Internationals overall belongs to Estonia-based Indian-origin batter Sahil Chauhan, who reached his hundred in just 27 balls against Cyprus. However, among T20 International matches involving major cricketing nations, New Zealand’s Finn Allen had held the record with his 33-ball century against South Africa.
That record has now been broken by Abhishek Sharma, who smashed a century from just 30 balls to create a new benchmark among the major cricketing nations.