Sanju Samson Stars as India Beat Afghanistan by Seven Wickets in 2nd T20I
Sports correspondent: Imran Sohail
Sanju Samson produced a spectacular 57 off just 22 balls as India defeated Afghanistan by seven wickets in the second T20 International on Tuesday to seal the three-match series.
India chased down Afghanistan’s target of 160 in only 14.5 overs at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
The third and final T20I will also be played at the same venue on Thursday.
Samson Leads India’s Fast Chase
India made an explosive start to their run chase as openers Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson added 88 runs from just 6.2 overs.
Abhishek continued his aggressive approach, scoring 39 from 19 deliveries after his impressive 82 in the opening match.
Samson then took control of the innings, hitting four boundaries in an over from Azmatullah Omarzai before taking 27 runs from Mohammad Nabi’s over with two sixes and two fours.
The experienced batter reached his half-century in only 20 balls. He was dismissed two deliveries later by Nabi after making 57 from 22 balls, including seven fours and four sixes.
“It’s the nature of the format, the nature of how India have been playing their cricket,” Samson said. “We are reigning T20 world champions.”
Rashid Khan Dismisses Abhishek
Afghanistan eventually got the important wicket of Abhishek Sharma.
Rashid Khan removed the left-hander one ball after Abhishek had hit him for a six. The young opener had also scored 82 in India’s seven-wicket victory in the first T20I.
India captain Shreyas Iyer was dismissed for 11, but Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma ensured there were no further problems.
Kishan remained unbeaten on 38, while Varma finished on 15 not out. The pair added an unbeaten 40-run partnership to complete the chase.
Afghanistan Post 159-8
Earlier, India’s bowlers restricted Afghanistan to 159-8 from their 20 overs.
Nitish Kumar Reddy was the standout bowler, taking 3-24 from three overs.
Jasprit Bumrah opened the bowling with a maiden over, while Arshdeep Singh soon provided India with an early breakthrough by dismissing Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a duck.
Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran struggled to accelerate and scored 37 from 33 deliveries. He shared a 51-run partnership with Sediqullah Atal, who made 12 from 15 balls.
Reddy dismissed Zadran, who was caught at deep mid-wicket, before Ravi Bishnoi removed Atal. Gulbadin Naib was then dismissed by Reddy.
Nabi and Rashid Provide Late Boost
Afghanistan’s lower order added some valuable runs toward the end of the innings.
Mohammad Nabi scored 20, while Rashid Khan provided late momentum with 28 from just 16 deliveries.
Reddy completed his three-wicket haul by dismissing Rashid with a slower delivery in the final over.
Afghanistan had also managed only 156-8 in the first T20I, leaving them with another modest total against India.
Afghanistan Look to Improve Before Final T20I
Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran admitted that his team needed to show greater intent with the bat.
“We thought about the things on how to improve from 150-160; we should go with the right intent to score 200 and 200 plus, and we didn’t apply that,” Zadran said.
He added that the team would review its performance and look to improve in the final match.
India now have an unassailable 2-0 lead, while Afghanistan will aim to finish the series with a victory when the teams meet again on Thursday in New Delhi.
