IND vs ENG: In a spectacular display of cricket, India hammered England by 150 runs in the fifth and final T20I, taking the series 4-1. The star of the match was Abhishek Sharma, whose explosive 135 off 54 balls led India to a massive total of 247/10. His performance earned him the Player of the Series award and shattered many records, leaving the English bowlers helpless.
With this win, India ensured the highest-ever T20I score against England and continued their reign in the format.
England’s Collapse: Bowled Out for Just 97 Runs in IND vs ENG 5th T20
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England’s reply to India’s massive total was pathetic, as they got bowled out for just 97 runs in 10.3 overs. Only two England batsmen crossed double figures. Phil Salt scored 55 runs from 23 balls for England. The rest of the team could not face the bowlers of India. Mohammed Shami, who had not appeared in any international game after a gap of 444 days, got the important wicket of Ben Duckett with 0 runs.
Varun Chakraborty played an important role with two wickets. These include England’s skipper Jos Buttler, who could score only 7 runs. In reply, Ravi Bishnoi and Varun Chakraborty also struck wickets regularly. England were bowled under pressure and couldn’t make the difference in scores.
Abhishek Sharma’s First Hundred
This match was memorable for Abhishek Sharma with his whirlwind knock. His innings of 135 runs with 13 sixes and 7 fours, took him to become the top scorer for India in T20 internationals.
At the same time helped him enter into the record book of Indian six-hitters for an innings, his century was completed within just 37 balls and made it the second-fastest hundred for any Indian, which is only two balls shy of the record made by Rohit Sharma. He had already raced to his fifty in just 17 balls, the second-fastest half-century for an Indian.
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Sharma’s aggressive approach put the English bowlers on the back foot from the start and at times dominated key bowlers like Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse. His stunning six over the bowler’s head on a ‘low-full-toss’ delivery from Overton was one of the many highlights of his innings. Abhishek and Tilak Verma, who made 24 runs, shared a fast 115-run standoff just 43 balls. Shivam Dubey also helped Sharma with a quick 30 runs off 18 balls.
India’s Record-Breaking Total
India scored 247, their highest ever against England in T20Is, surpassing their previous best of 224/2 in Ahmedabad in 2021. Abhishek’s wayward knock counted more than half of India’s total runs. Even though there were good knocks from the other batsmen along with Tilak Verma and Shivam Dubey, Sharma’s knock took the game away from the tournament winners.
England’s Miseries: Bad batting and timely breakthroughs
All was a complete contrast for England’s batting. Early wickets, including Ben Duckett’s and Jos Buttler’s, put them in a terrible position. There was only one bright spot in Phil Salt’s blistering knock of 55, though. It was never going to be enough to chase down India’s daunting target. Jacob Bethell (10) was the second and final batsman to reach double digits as Indian bowlers kept taking wickets regularly.
Three-wicket haul for Mohammed Shami led to a breakthrough in breaking up the England batting line-up; he, too, showed strength on international pitches. Sharma and his men hardly let the English team inch toward the target that they set before them.
A Historic Victory for India
India completely dominated England in the last T20I and dominated all departments to complete a comprehensive 150-run victory. Abhishek Sharma’s absolute, spectacular century will be one of the best T20 innings produced over the last couple of decades, and this win further heightened India’s edge in the format.
With the T20 series now behind them, both teams will now look forward to an exciting three-match ODI series, where India will be looking for consistency.
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