Team India. | (Image Credits: X)
Abhishek Sharma’s dream day at the iconic Wankhede was the foundation of India’s overwhelming 150-run victory over a hapless England in the fifth T20I on a Super Sunday.
The 24-year-old batter blasted the second fastest T20I hundred in a match between two Full Members as he powered India to a monstrous 247/9 in 20 overs before scalping two wickets in the hosts’ demolition of England for 97 in 10.3 overs.
Only Phil Salt’s 55 off 23 balls was the saving grace in England’s chase that never got anywhere once Salt lost his wicket. Mohammad Shami bagged 3/25 getting back to his groove while Varun Chakravarthy (2/25), Shivam Dube (2/11) and Sharma (2/3) picked two wickets apiece for India.
Earlier, India were off to a fiery start initiated by Sanju Samson. Samson was absolutely on song in the first over bowled by Jofra Archer slamming the first ball for a six in front of square. The fifth and sixth ball of the first over was battered for a six and a four respectively as India were off to a flier.
However, Samson perished in the second over holing out to Archer off Mark Wood at backward square leg for 16 as India lost their first wicket for 21 runs. From there on Abhishek Sharma took charge as he took out Archer for 18 runs in the third over with a cracking four off the second ball and two scintillating sixes over point and cover to get India well and truly going.
In the fourth over, it was Wood’s turn to be at the receiving end of Sharma’s brilliance as the left-hander smashed him for a boundary over mid on.
The third ball was driven straight down the ground by the Punjab southpaw as India went berserk. Sharma got a maximum off the fifth ball as India reached their fifty in 3.5 overs reaching 54/1.
Jamie Overton was taken for two consecutives sixes off the first two balls of the fifth over as Sharma brought up his 50 off just 17 balls in 54 minutes with three fours and five sixes as India raced to 67/1. It was India’s second fastest T20I fifty and England were really up against it as the carnage unfolded in front of them.
India were 80/1 after the completion of five overs
The last over of the powerplay fetched 15 runs for India with Tilak Varma cracking two fours and Sharma a boundary as well.
India’s 100 came in just 6.3 overs as Sharma hoisted Adil Rashid for two back to back sixes in the seventh over as the home side got to 111/7.
The carnage turned from bad to worse for England as they eighth over went for 16 runs with Sharma perhaps aiming for the fastest T20I hundred played between two Test-playing nations.
Tilak Varma was out for 24 in the ninth over as the 115-run partnership between Sharma and him came to an end. India cruised to 143/2 after 10 overs with a serious possibility of them posting a 250-plus score.
Sharma’s hundred finally came off just 37 balls, the second fastest T20I hundred between two full members, as India reached 145/2. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav disappointed though as he top-edged Brydon Carse in the 11th over to get out for just two.
India’s 150 came in 11.2 overs in 59 minutes as they reached 152/3. Shivam Dube played a cameo of 30 in 13 balls with three fours and two sixes before getting out to Carse.
Hardik Pandya struck a monstrous six before holing out to Liam Livingstone at deep backward square leg off Wood. India’s 200 came in 15.3 overs and 81 minutes with Sharma batting on 108 and another four overs to go.
Sharma was out for 135 eventually as he was caught by Archer off Rashid after what was a dream knock for the young man at the iconic Wankhede. India finished with 247/9 in 20 overs.
