New Delhi, Sept 18:
Opener Abhishek Sharma smashed a record-breaking century off just 30 balls as India thrashed Afghanistan by 127 runs in the third and final T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Thursday to complete a 3-0 series sweep.
Abhishek produced one of the most destructive batting displays in T20I cricket, reaching his century in only 30 deliveries. The left-hander’s explosive innings included a series of boundaries and sixes as he took the attack apart and gave India a flying start.
His 108-run knock came off just 34 balls and laid the foundation for India’s imposing total of 221 for seven. Abhishek’s century was the fastest in a T20I involving two full Test-playing nations, underlining the remarkable pace at which he scored his runs.
India raced to 142 for one after 10 overs, with Abhishek leading the charge. However, his dismissal for 108 triggered a slowdown in the Indian innings. The middle order struggled to maintain the same momentum as Afghanistan’s bowlers managed to contain the scoring rate during the latter part of the innings.
Despite losing wickets regularly towards the end, India finished with 221 for seven, setting Afghanistan a daunting target of 222.
The Afghan chase never gathered momentum. India’s bowlers struck early and repeatedly to ensure that the visitors were unable to mount any serious challenge.
Left-arm spinner Axar Patel delivered a decisive first over, dismissing Rahmanullah Gurbaz for 15 and Sediqullah Atal for just one. The double strike put Afghanistan under immediate pressure and disrupted their chase.
Afghanistan struggled to build partnerships thereafter, with India’s disciplined bowling attack keeping a tight grip on the innings. The Afghan batting line-up once again failed to match India’s intensity and was eventually bowled out for 94 in just 14.1 overs.
Seam bowler Nitish Kumar Reddy also played a major role in India’s victory. He claimed three wickets for 25 runs, including two wickets in one over, to further derail Afghanistan’s chase.
Axar’s early strikes and Reddy’s three-wicket haul ensured that India’s bowlers completed the job after Abhishek had provided the platform with the bat.
The 127-run victory gave India a comprehensive 3-0 series win over Afghanistan. The result also underlined India’s dominance throughout the three-match series, with the team combining aggressive batting with an effective bowling attack.
For Afghanistan, the final match was another disappointing outing with the bat. After losing early wickets, they were unable to establish the partnerships required to chase a target of more than 200.
Abhishek’s sensational century, meanwhile, emerged as the defining moment of the series finale. His ability to reach three figures in only 30 balls provided India with a spectacular start and helped set up one of the biggest victories in the series.