Abhishek’s Brilliant Ton Helps India Demolish England in Final T20

AFP/APP

Mumbai: India’s Abhishek Sharma hit a brutal 135 to set up a crushing 150-run win over England in the fifth T20 international and seal the series 4-1 on Sunday.

Opener Abhishek’s incredible 54-ball knock, laced with 13 sixes, fired India—who had already clinched the series in the fourth T20—to 247-9 after being invited to bat first at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.

The tourists were never in the chase despite Phil Salt’s 23-ball 55, as India bowled them out for 97, securing their second-biggest T20 victory by runs.

Abhishek also took two wickets in the only over he bowled with left-arm spin.

“It’s a special one, coming for the country, always a great feeling,” said the 24-year-old Abhishek.

“When I see it’s my day, I always try to go from the first ball. And the way the coach and the captain have treated me from the first day— they’ve always wanted this intent, they’ve always backed me.”

England slipped to 68-4 as Jos Buttler (7), Harry Brook (2), and Liam Livingstone (9) all failed to make an impact.

Shivam Dube, a batting all-rounder who bowls medium pace, removed Salt with the first ball he bowled. Dube had controversially replaced fast bowler Harshit Rana as a concussion substitute in the previous match.

The rest of England’s batting collapsed quickly, with Jacob Bethell (10) being the only batter besides Salt to reach double figures.