There is a famous saying of Julius Caesar:
“Vini, Vidi, Vici.”
It was exactly what happened yesterday at the Wankhede Stadium. Abhishek Sharma single-handedly destroyed the English pace and spin attack and went on to score 135 runs of just 54 balls. “Vini, Vidi, Vici” means I came, I saw, and I conquered. Yuvraj Singh’s student Abhishek Sharma did just that and hit 13 sixes in the match. The most by any Indian batsman in the international arena. Let’s see the records he created and broke in the fifth T20 against England.
India’s batting unit dethroned England
The ‘Fictitious Fairly Tale of Wankhede’ began when England won the toss and elected to bowl first. Sanju Samson hit the first ball of the match to the deep midwicket boundary for a six. Jofra Archer who is usually seen as a torcher for the batsman was scorched this time. Sanju’s short stay ended with another pull shot that landed straight in the hands of Jofra Archer. Mark Wood took his wicket and Sanju Samson walked to the pavilion after a quick 16.
Tilak walked in when India was 21-1. Abhishek Sharma’s intent was clear as he charged down the ground and hit Jofra Archer for a four to the long off region. He deposited the 5th and 6th ball of the over a little further way to the long off boundary for two sixes. Then, Tilak Varma joined the party but Abhishek Sharma started hitting sixes like singles. It looked like Yuvraj Singh was swinging at Stuart Broad at one point. The sixes kept coming and Jos Buttler was helpless.
India hit 95-1 in the powerplay (6 overs) and this is the highest powerplay score for India. Adil Rashid got hit again for two sixes by Abhishek in the 7th over and it looked like there was no stopping this Gayle-like power hitter. In the 8th over Livingstone tried his luck but Abhishek also gave him the you-can-bowl-anywhere-I’ll-hit-a-six treatment and cleared two more sixes in the over.
Tilak Varma edged one to the keeper trying to clear one to the third man region. India lost its 2nd wicket at 135. Suryakumar Yadav came to the crease and witnessed the brilliant hundred of Abhishek Sharma. It came in just 37 balls, one of the fastest in T20 international cricket. Just 24 years old but this is Abhishek’s second T20 international century. Surya went sky-high once again and got over for just 2 which now is a concern for the batter but not much for the skipper himself.
Shivam Dube came in and squashed a quick 30 off 13 balls and gave his wicket to a well-timed bouncer from Brydon Carse. MI captain Hardik walked in and hit a beautiful six and got out for just 9 when he tried to clear the mid-on boundary with a flick. Rinku came in when India was 193-5 and he started blasting as well but he too went for 9 as he was plumb in front of these stumps by Archer.
Abhishek didn’t stop hitting sixes and hit 3 more sixes after scoring the century and got out on 135. India couldn’t make it to 250+ but the damage was already done from the hitting intent displayed by Abhishek Sharma. India scored 247 runs for 9 wickets in their twenty overs.
England’s fightback but not enough
Phil Salt started the innings powerfully with two fours and a six in the first three balls of the innings. But Hardik Pandya bowled 4 consecutive dots in the second over. At that stage England were 23-0 in the second over. The very next ball of Mohammed Shami in his second over was a wicket ball. He took the wicket of Ben Duckett for a duck.
Except Phil Salt, everyone lacked the needed spice and got out in a hurry. Jos Buttler got out to Varun, mishitting to long off to Tilak Varma. Ravi Bishnoi took the wicket of Harry Brook when he tried to sweep him & Varun Chakravarthy took a good catch in the mid-wicket boundary. Livingstone lived dangerously and got out to Varun for 9 when Rinku took a beautiful catch in the long-on boundary. Phil Salt edged one past Shivam Dubey’s first ball and Dhruv Jurel took an easy catch. Phil Salt made 55.
Abhishek Sharma took a wicket on his first ball as he dismissed Brydon Carse for just 3 runs. Varun took another splendid catch in the long on region. It was clearly Abhishek’s day as he got another wicket in the over when he dismissed Jamie Overton in the 5th ball of the over. Suryakumar Yadav took a brilliant catch and showcased his athleticism.
Shivam Dube took another wicket as he flicked off the bails of Bethel when he tried to hit him over the mid-wicket boundary. Shami took the wicket of Adil Rashid and Mark Wood in 2 balls and England got all out for just 97, not even crossing the three-figure mark.
India won by a mammoth 150 runs and sealed the series 4-1. Man of the Match award was given to Abhishek Sharma while Varun Chakravarthy won the Man of the Series award.
Also Read: IND vs ENG : Aakash Chopra Slams Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma For Playing 1 Ranji Trophy Match Each