Highlights: India beat Afghanistan in the third T20I, in Bengaluru, after two Super Overs, to sweep the series 3-0.
India had already taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match T20I series. Predictably, both teams made several changes to their XIs. India drafted in Sanju Samson, Kuldeep Yadav, and Avesh Khan, while Afghanistan fielded a new-look bowling attack.
However, India were soon in tatters against Fareed Ahmad after Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bat at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Fareed’s figures, 3-20, are the best for Afghanistan against India across formats.
Rinku Singh joined Rohit at 22-4. They were not separated, and eventually put together the highest T20I partnership for India to lift their side to 212-4. Rohit’s 69-ball 121 not out (11 fours, 8 sixes) was his fifth T20I hundred – a world record – while Rinku remained unbeaten on a 39-ball 69 (2 fours, 6 sixes).
In response, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (50 in 32 balls) and captain Ibrahim Zadran (50 in 41) added 93 for the opening wicket in 61 balls. Mohammad Nabi slammed a 16-ball 34, and after his dismissal, Gulbadin Naib (55 not out in 23 balls) kept the chase going.
With 11 to score off three balls, Naib hit Mukesh Kumar for a six and ran two twos to push the match into the Super Over.
Naib was run out while taking on Virat Kohli’s arm in the Super Over, bowled by Mukesh, but Gurbaz and Nabi took Afghanistan to 16-1. Rohit hit Azmatullah Omarzai for consecutive sixes in response before retiring out with two to score off the last ball. Yashasvi Jaiswal ran a single to ensure a second Super Over.
Rohit walked out again – perhaps not in accordance with the ICC Playing Conditions – and Fareed struck twice to restrict India to 11. Ravi Bishnoi then dismissed Nabi and Gurbaz in the space of three balls to seal the match.
Rohit was named the Player of the Match and Shivam Dube the Player of the Series.
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