Netizens were overwhelmed with India’s Super Over win over Afghanistan in the third and final T20I in Bengaluru, a win that helped the Men in Blue complete a series sweep.
India overcame Afghanistan in a Super Over thriller in the third T20I in Bengaluru on Wednesday. Sportzpics
Team India defeated Afghanistan in the third T20I in Bengaluru via a Super Over after the scores of both teams were tied at 212 at the end of the game. At one stage, the Men in Blue never seemed in a position to score in excess of 150, let alone 200, but a 190-run stand between Rohit Sharma and Rinku Singh led the Men in Blue to 212/4 from 20 overs. This was after the hosts were reduced to 22/4 following quick dismissals of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shivam Dube and Sanju Samson.
In reply, Afghanistan got off to a positive start, with openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran forging a 93-run stand before the former was dismissed for 50 in the 11th over. Zadran, who also scored a fifty, also followed suit in the 13th over, and so did Azmatullah Omarzai (0) as well.
However, Gulbadin Naib (55*) and Mohammad Nabi (34) forged a 56-run stand to keep the visitirs alive and eventually take them to 212/6.
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A Super Over followed, but it was not one, but two Super Overs. That was because both teams ended the first Super Over at the same score. Afghanistan were the first to bat, and Gurbaz and Nabi collected a boundary each as they posted 16 on the India got off to a confident start with Rohit hitting two maximums, but he eventually retired out when Jaiswal got the strike. Rinku Singh was the next batter at the non-strikers’ end, but Jaiswal just couldn’t take India over the finish line as he got just a single after heaving across the line.
Another Super Over followed. India would go onto score 11 in this one while batting first, with Rohit hitting a four and a six. The Men in Blue then brought in spinner Ravi Bishnoi to bowl he Super Over this time, and that did wonders, with Bishnoi seeing off Gurbaz and Nabi within the first three deliveries.
Netizens were seemingly overwhelmed with the result and some of them couldn’t contain the excitement on what transpired. Here are a few reactions:
An entertaining treat for all cricket fans! With the rare occurrence of 2 super overs, this match was a thriller to the very end.
Congratulations team India @BCCI for a 3-0 victory against Afghanistan in the T20I series. @ImRo45’s captaincy, century and partnership with… pic.twitter.com/sIxsxM7IHA
— Thakur Arun Singh (@ThakurArunS) January 17, 2024