Opener Abhishek Sharma smashed a record T20 century off just 30 balls to set up a crushing 127-run win for India in the third match against Afghanistan, sweeping the series 3-0. The left-hander's ton on Thursday was the fastest in a T20 international between full Test-playing nations, guiding India to 221-7 at New Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Afghanistan, the official hosts for the series, briefly checked the opposition surge after Abhishek departed for 108 off 34 balls, but India lost their way from 142-1 in 10 overs. The Afghan batters once again disappointed and were bowled out for 94 in 14.1 overs. Left-arm spinner Axar Patel struck twice in his first over to dismiss Rahmanullah Gurbaz (15) and Sediqullah Atal (1), and Afghanistan could never recover. Seam bowler Nitish Kumar Reddy also took two wickets in one over to return figures of 3-25, while leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi wrapped up the innings with his third strike.
Abhishek's third T20 century surpassed Zimbabwean Sikandar Raza's ton off 33 balls against Gambia in 2024 and Finn Allen's effort from the same number of deliveries in New Zealand's T20 World Cup semi-final win over South Africa earlier this year in India. The only two faster T20I hundreds came in matches between lower-tiered associate members of the ICC: Sahil Chauhan of Estonia holds the overall record of 27 balls against Cyprus two years ago, while Muhammad Fahad needed just 29 balls for Turkey against Bulgaria in 2025.
Abhishek tore into the Afghanistan bowling attack after India were invited to bat first. He hit a six to reach 99, completed the hundred with a single, and celebrated by sitting in a meditation pose. He finally fell for 108 off 34 balls to leg-spinner Rashid Khan. His opening stand of 142 with Sanju Samson, who hit 50, put India on course for a big total, but the Afghan bowlers hit back with regular wickets. Tilak Varma was run out for two by Rashid, and Samson departed after his second successive half-century, falling to pace bowler Azmatullah Omarzai. Omarzai struck another blow, helped by a stunning catch by Rashid in the deep, to send back Shivam Dube for 14. India raised their 100 in six overs but managed just 79 from the last 60 balls.
India now head to Japan for the Asian Games starting September 19 at Nagoya-Aichi. Afghanistan will send a largely different team to the Asian Games under Darwish Rasooli.
Source: www.aljazeera.com