Shillong: India clinched the three-match T20 series Tuesday after a seven-wicket win over Afghanistan in New Delhi. Sanju Samson led the charge with a blistering 57 off 22 balls. Nitish Kumar Reddy dismantled the Afghan batting lineup with three wickets for 24 runs.
Reddy struck on the first ball of every over he bowled. He dismantled the top order alongside Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh. Bumrah opened with a maiden. Arshdeep sent Rahmanullah Gurbaz packing for his second straight duck. Afghanistan recovered to 41 for one in the powerplay. Ibrahim Zadran managed 37 runs before falling to Reddy. The visitors struggled in the middle overs. They reached 105 for six after 15 overs despite a 48-run stand between Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan. The tourists finished at 159 for eight.
India chased the target in 14.5 overs before 24,215 fans at the Arun Jaitley stadium. Samson and Abhishek Sharma smashed 82 runs in the powerplay. Abhishek scored 39 before Mujeeb Ur Rahman ended his run. Samson blasted seven fours and four sixes to reach his fastest fifty in 20 balls. Afghanistan tried opening with spin, but the tactic backfired.
Rashid Khan eventually caught Samson off his own bowling. The spinner also removed Shreyas Iyer. Ishan Kishan stayed unbeaten on 38. Reflecting on the dominance, the team emphasized the quality of the display. Samson noted, "Ishan Kishan and skipper Shreyas Iyer then came together." India remains in control of the series.
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