Samson smashes fastest fifty as India crush Afghanistan by seven wickets to seal T20I series

Sanju Samson produced a blistering 57 off just 22 balls while Nitish Kumar Reddy returned 3/24 as India swept aside Afghanistan by seven wickets in the second T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday, taking an unassailable lead in the three-match series. Chasing 160, India raced to the target in only 14.5 overs after Samson and Abhishek Sharma (39) tore into the Afghan attack during a devastating powerplay. Earlier, Reddy struck with the first delivery of each of his three overs as India restricted the visitors to 159 for eight despite a late recovery led by Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan.

Samson tears apart attack

Afghanistan’s decision to begin with spin from both ends failed spectacularly as Abhishek attacked Mujeeb Ur Rahman for two boundaries in the opening over and then pulled Nabi for six. Samson joined the assault, taking Azmatullah Omarzai for 20 runs in the fifth over before the two Indian batters hammered Nabi for 27 in the next. By the end of the mandatory powerplay, India had surged to 82 for one, effectively breaking the back of the chase.

Rashid Khan finally removed Abhishek in the seventh over, but Samson continued attacking and completed the fastest T20I fifty of his career from only 20 deliveries. The 31-year-old struck seven fours and four sixes during an innings built around clean timing and aggressive strokeplay. He pulled Rashid for another six before attempting a lofted drive and finding Nabi, giving the Afghanistan captain his second wicket. Ishan Kishan then ensured India remained firmly in control with an unbeaten 38 off 23 balls. Shreyas Iyer made 11 before Rashid dismissed him, with Ibrahim Zadran holding the catch after initially fumbling at slip. Rashid finished with 3/36, but India had already done enough damage to make the result inevitable.

Reddy strikes repeatedly

Earlier, Jasprit Bumrah opened India’s bowling effort with a maiden before Arshdeep Singh removed Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a second successive duck in the series. Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran responded aggressively, striking Bumrah for consecutive boundaries and attacking Arshdeep as the visitors recovered to 41 for one after six overs.

The innings changed once Reddy entered the attack. With Afghanistan having crossed 50, he struck with his very first delivery as Zadran, who made 37, found Ravi Bishnoi at deep midwicket. Bishnoi then removed Sediqullah Atal for 12, reducing Afghanistan to 59 for three. Reddy again struck from the opening ball of his next over, inducing a top edge from Gulbadin Naib that Samson safely collected. Afghanistan’s middle order struggled to build momentum as India conceded only 64 runs between overs seven and 14, leaving the visitors at 105 for six after 15 overs.

Rashid, Nabi fight back

Afghanistan found some late resistance through Nabi and Rashid, who added 48 from 28 balls and pushed the total towards respectability. Nabi struck Bishnoi for a four and a six, while Rashid attacked the Indian seamers and collected 16 runs from an Arshdeep over with two fours and a six. Their counterattack briefly raised hopes of a stronger finish after the middle-order collapse.

Bumrah ended Nabi’s stay for 20 in the 19th over before Reddy maintained his unusual first-ball success by dismissing Rashid for 28 with the opening delivery of the final over. Noor Ahmed struck a six from the final ball to lift Afghanistan to 159 for eight, only three runs more than their total in the opening T20I. It was nowhere near enough. In front of 24,215 spectators in Delhi, Samson and Abhishek ensured the chase was effectively settled within six overs as India wrapped up both the match and the series in emphatic fashion.