• India rack up record T20I total to sweep series

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    Opener Sanju Samson’s blistering century helped India hammer Bangladesh in the final T20I on Saturday to sweep the series 3-0 after they posted the format’s highest total by a Test-playing nation.

    The hosts scored 297-6, to go past Afghanistan’s 278-3 against Ireland in 2019. The Indian total is the second highest in all T20Is after Nepal’s 314-3 against Mongolia at last year’s Asian Games in China.

    Samson hit 111 of 47 balls – his first T20I ton – studded with 11 fours and eight sixes after India elected to bat first in Hyderabad.

    In reply, Bangladesh managed 164-7 to go down by 133 runs in what was former captain Mahmudullah Riyad’s last T20I for the nation.

    Mahmudullah made eight before he fell to speedster Mayank Yadav and walked off with a smile and pat on the back by India skipper Suryakumar Yadav.

    Najmul Hossain Shanto’s Bangladesh, who came on the India tour at the back of a two-Test sweep in Pakistan, were outplayed by the hosts as they lost the earlier Test series 2-0.

    Samson, a wicketkeeper-batsman, stood out as he hammered leg-spinner Rishad Hossain for five straight sixes in an over en route to his ton in 40 balls.

    He put on 173 runs for the second wicket with Suryakumar, who hit 75 off 35 balls, but his knock was overshadowed by his partner’s blitz and the mammoth total.

    Samson finally fell to Mustafizur Rahman and walked back to a standing ovation by the weekend crowd.

    Suryakumar fell in the next over by Mahmudullah, who announced his retirement from the format ahead of the second match.

    But there was more punishment in store for Bangladesh as new batsmen Hardik Pandya (47 off 18 balls) and Riyan Parag (13-ball 34) kept up the charge with regular boundaries.

    India surpassed their previous best total of 260-5 against Sri Lanka in 2017 as they scored at nearly 15 runs an over.

    Bangladesh were never in the chase but wicketkeeper-batsman Litton Das (42) and Towhid Hridoy (63*) attempted to put up a fight.

    Leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi took three wickets including Litton and Najmul in his four overs.

    India’s Test team, led by Rohit Sharma, will now host New Zealand in a three-match series starting next week with the opener in Bengaluru.

    © Agence France-Presse

    Photo: BCCI

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    Simon Borchardt