 | « Back to article | Print this article |
Images from the fifth T20 International between India and England at the Wankhede stadium, in Mumbai, on Sunday.
Abhishek Sharma unleashed a flurry of sixes to shatter the reputation of England’s bowlers en route the second-fastest T20I century by an Indian batter as the hosts trounced the visitors by 150 runs in the fifth and final match of the series at the Wankhede stadium, in Mumbai, on Sunday.
The thumping 150 runs result, now their second biggest by margin of runs in T20Is after the 168-run hammering of New Zealand in 2023, gave India a 4-1 series victory.
Abhishek's swashbuckling knock powered India to a huge 247/9 before England folded for a lowly 97 in 10.3 overs.
Mohammed Shami, back in the team, took 3/25, while Varun Chakravarthy, Shivam Dube and Abhishek bagged two wickets each.
In reply, Phil Salt's initial onslaught of a 23-ball 55, which included seven fours and three sixes, kept England on track for a mammoth chase, but rest of the batters produced an uninspired show.
England's leading batters — Ben Duckett (0), Buttler (7), Harry Brook (2) and Liam Livingstone (9) -- together scored an embarrassing 18 runs on a perfect batting track and there was hardly any resistance from the tail either.
After hammering their bowlers, Abhishek returned to haunt England's batters to take two wickets (2/3) in his only over, dismissing Brydon Carse (3) and Jamie Overton (1).
Thereafter, it was all over bar the shouting as England succumbed tamely.
Opening the innings, Abhishek, who scored 135 off 54 balls, which included seven boundaries and 13 sixes, brought up his century off just 37 deliveries, but failed to equal Rohit Sharma's record by just two balls.
Rohit had scored a 35-ball T20I ton for India against Sri Lanka in 2017.
Abhishek also scored a 17-ball half-century, which was the second fastest for India, when he hit Jamie Overton for a massive six in the fifth over.
He also shared a 115-run second-wicket partnership with Tilak Varma (24).
Earlier, England skipper Jos Buttler won the toss and elected to bowl but the decision seemed to have backfired as Abhishek sent the visitors on a leather hunt.
India made one change to the side, bringing in pace-bowling stalwart Mohammed Shami in place of the lanky quick Arshdeep Singh.
For England, Mark Wood replaced Saqib Mahmood in the playing eleven.
Abhishek did break the record for the most sixes by an Indian in a T20I knock when he smacked Brydon Carse (3/38) for his 11th six in the 17th over, eventually finishing with 13 hits over the ropes.
His monumental innings is now also the highest individual score by an Indian in the format, going past Shubman Gill's 126 not out against New Zealand at Ahmedabad in 2023.
While scoring more than half of the team’s total, Abhishek also helped India set their highest T20I score against England, bettering their total of 224/2 at Ahmedabad in 2021.
This is also India's fourth-highest innings total in T20Is.
The left-hander showed remarkable authority on the off-side to collect most of his runs, leaving England searching desperately for answers.
The southpaw danced down the track to hit express pacer Jofra Archer (1/55) while cutting and driving the others at will.
Perhaps, the highlight of his knock was when he lifted a low full toss from Overton over his head for a six to bring up his fifty, which helped India set their highest-ever power play total of 95/1 after six overs.
In fact, Overton's fifth over of the innings was also the costliest in which Abhishek collected 25 runs while hitting three sixes and a four.
While Sanju Samson (16) and Suryakumar Yadav's (2) ordinary run persisted, Tilak Varma (24) and Shivam Dube (30) forged robust stands with Abhishek.
Varma played second fiddle in his 115-run stand for the second wicket with Abhishek which came off a mere 43 balls, while Dube took initiative to give the opener a breather as the pair put on a brisk 37 off 18 balls for the fourth wicket.
At the start, getting early into right positions seemed to have helped Samson who smashed Archer for a couple of sixes in the first over, as 14 runs came off it.
But Samson fell again to the short ball, trying to pull it for a 6-ball 16, this time off Mark Wood with Archer taking an easy grab at backward square leg.
India captain Suryakumar too was consigned to disappointment as it wasn't a happy homecoming for the T20I marauder at the Wankhede Stadium.
Going for his trademark whip off the pads, Suryakumar ended up skying the ball high after getting a top edge and England ‘keeper Phil Salt took a sharp diving catch to prolong his lean patch.