India pulverise Bangladesh by 133 runs to sweep T20I series 3-0; Samson sparkles with maiden ton

Hyderabad: India pulverised Bangladesh by 133 runs in the third and final T20I to sweep the series 3-0 here on Saturday. India recorded the highest-ever T20I total of 297 for to seal the outcome of the final match in the series. It was also the second-highest total in recognized matches of the shortest format of the game.

In reply, Bangladesh lost wickets regularly. Though they scored at nearly 10 an over in the first half of their run chase, their fight eventually fizzled out. Bangladesh managed 164/7 in their 20 overs with Towhid Hridoy top-scoring with 63 not out.

Brief Scores:

India: 297/6 in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 111, Suryakumar Yadav 75, Riyan Parag 34, Hardik Pandya 47; Tanzin Hasan Sakib 3/66) beat Bangladesh 164/7 in 20 overs (Litton Das 42, Towhid Hridoy 63 not out; Mayank Yadav 2/32, Ravi Bishnoi 3/30) by 133 runs.

India began with a pillaging maiden T20 International hundred by Sanju Samson, which turbo-charged India to a record-breaking score, their highest total in the format. India’s previous highest T20I total was 260 for 5 made against Sri Lanka in 2017 in Indore.

India was channelised by Samson (111, 47 balls, 11x4, 8x6), who hammered the second fastest T20I century by an Indian after Rohit Sharma (35 balls), and Suryakumar Yadav (75, 35 balls, 8x4, 5x6), scoring 173 runs during an electrifying second wicket stand.

It is quite tough to put to shade an innings of Suryakumar in T20Is, but Samson did that with a knock of rare brilliance. Perhaps, stung by the modest outings in the first two matches of this series, Samson strode out with purpose.

The changed attitude found an immediate on-field expression as the right-hander pummelled pacer Taskin Ahmed for four consecutive fours -- two cover drives and as many flicks -- in the second over of the innings.

It was the perfect teaser for the blockbuster action that unfolded in the next 10.3 overs. No bowler was spared during the batting extravaganza that was based on the single-minded and simple philosophy of naked aggression.

It was so glaring in the 10th over when leg-spinner Rishad Hossain came to bowl. Hossain erred in line and length and Samson creamed him for five consecutive sixes.

But the most stunning shot in Samson’s innings was a six off the backfoot off pacer Mustafizur Rahman. The Kerala man, waiting deep inside the crease, judged the slower ball to perfection, and whacked it over extra cover for a maximum, eliciting a quick shake of head from the bowler.

Soon, he brought up his hundred off 40 balls with a boundary off off-spinner Mahedi Hasan and celebrated with a roar and punch before getting melted into a tight embrace by his captain.

Suryakumar too had his own moment when he smashed Tanzim for three fours and a six while reaching his fifty in 23 balls.

But both the batters fell in rather quick succession. Samson was jettisoned by Mustafizur’s well-directed bouncer and Suryakumar became Mahmudullah’s last T20I victim, giving a simple catch to Rishad in deep.

But by then India had reached 206 for three in the 15th over.

That itself is a daunting total but Hardik Pandya (47, 18 balls, 4x4, 4x6) and Riyan Parag (34, 13 balls, 1x4, 4x6) flogged the dead horse to milk a further 70 runs for the fourth wicket as India reached a massive total. (PTI)