Abhishek Sharma smashed multiple records, posting the second-fastest fifty and hundred while recording the highest score of 135 for India in T20Is as they thrashed England by 150 runs in the fifth and final match to seal a 4-1 triumph in the five-match series at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.
It was a Super Sunday for India as they posted a massive total of 247/9 in 20 overs and then bundled out England for 97 in just 10.3 overs, winning the match by 150 runs with 57 balls to spare. This marked India's second-biggest victory by run margin, following their 168-run triumph against New Zealand in Ahmedabad two years ago.
Opener Abhishek Sharma played a sensational knock, blasting the second-fastest century by an Indian in T20Is, off just 37 balls—behind only Rohit Sharma. His aggressive batting helped India post a mammoth total of 247/9 against England in the series finale.
Abhishek hammered the second-fastest fifty (17 balls) and second-fastest century (37 balls) during a majestic 135 off 54 balls, treating every England bowler with disdain—pulling, hoicking, reversing, and driving with aplomb. He struck seven boundaries and 13 scintillating sixes in one of the finest knocks by an Indian batter in bilateral T20 cricket in recent times.
In response, England crumbled under some brilliant bowling by Mohammed Shami, who replaced Arshdeep Singh in the playing XI and scalped 3-25. The Indian spinners, combined with scoreboard pressure, contributed to England’s downfall as the visitors were bowled out for 97 in 10.3 overs, losing by 150 runs with 57 balls remaining.
Phil Salt fought valiantly with a 23-ball 55, but the rest of the England batting lineup collapsed. Ben Duckett (0), Jos Buttler (7), Harry Brook (2), Liam Livingstone (9), Brydon Carse (3), and Jamie Overton (1) all departed for single-digit scores as England slumped to 96/8 in the 10th over. The contrast in innings was stark, as India was 142/3 at the same stage earlier in the evening.
Mohammed Shami began England's downfall by getting Duckett to drive to Abhishek Sharma, while Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi dismissed Buttler and Brook, respectively, reducing England to 59/3. Abhishek Sharma (2-3 in one over) and Shivam Dube (2-11), whose concussion substitution in the previous match had sparked controversy, chipped in with crucial wickets.
It was an abject surrender by England's batters, as only Salt and Jacob Bathell (10) managed double figures. The visitors crumbled to an embarrassing defeat, with 57 balls to spare. Shami completed England’s misery by taking the final two wickets off successive balls in the 11th over.
Abhishek Sharma was named Player of the Match for his sensational knock, while Varun Chakravarthy took home the Player of the Tournament award for his brilliant bowling throughout the series.
England skipper Jos Buttler had opted to bowl first, hoping to exploit the early assistance for bowlers at the Wankhede, but that did not materialize as Abhishek came out all guns blazing. Their expectation that dew would hinder India’s bowlers also proved to be misplaced, as India wrapped up the chase in quick time.
Although India lost Sanju Samson (16) early after he started the match with a bang—pulling Jofra Archer for a six off the first ball and repeating the act on the fifth delivery—Abhishek and Tilak Varma forged a 115-run partnership for the second wicket.
Archer endured a tough day as Abhishek first smashed him to the extra-cover fence, then cut and cover-drove him for back-to-back sixes. Archer’s two overs went for 34 runs.
Abhishek dominated bowlers across the board, making even Mark Wood and Jamie Overton look ineffective. He reached his fifty off just 17 balls, the fastest by an Indian in T20Is after Yuvraj Singh’s iconic 12-ball fifty against England in the 2007 T20 World Cup in Durban. India posted their highest-ever Powerplay score in T20Is, reaching 95/1 in six overs.
Abhishek and Tilak Varma brought up their 100-run partnership in just 36 balls, with Abhishek contributing 80 and Varma 23. Tilak (23 off 15) fell soon after, caught behind by Phil Salt off Brydon Carse, but their 115-run partnership had already set the platform for a massive total.
Abhishek continued his onslaught, reaching his century off just 37 balls, hitting five fours and 10 sixes. He missed the record for the fastest T20I century between two full-member nations by just two balls—Rohit Sharma and David Miller hold the joint record at 35 balls.
Although skipper Suryakumar Yadav (2) departed early, Abhishek found support from Shivam Dube, who had sustained a concussion in the previous match. Dube smashed a pull and short-arm hook for a four and a six off Archer and repeated the treatment against Overton in the 13th over as India surged to 178/3. He scored 30 off 13 balls before falling to Rashid off Carse.
Hardik Pandya (9) and Rinku Singh (9) departed cheaply as India reached 200 in the 16th over.
After slowing down slightly in his 90s, Abhishek unshackled himself in the final five overs, hitting Carse for a four and a six before smashing Adil Rashid for two sixes. He was eventually dismissed, caught by Archer off Rashid, while attempting to hit a wrong’un over sweeper cover. India stood at 237/7 in the 18th over and finished close to 250, thanks to a couple of boundaries from Axar Patel (15).
Brief Scores:
India 247/9 in 20 overs (Abhishek Sharma 135, Shivam Dube 30; Brydon Carse 3-38, Mark Wood 2-32)
England 97 all out in 10.3 overs (Phil Salt 55; Mohammed Shami 3-25, Varun Chakravarthy 2-25, Shivam Dube 2-11, Abhishek Sharma 2-3)
Result: India won by 150 runs.
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