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WATCH: Abhishek Sharma leaves English bowlers stunned to notch up second fastest T20I fifty for India

Indian cricket star Abhishek Sharma smashes fifty off just 17 balls during the final T20I match against England at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday

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Abhishek Sharma smashes second fastest fifty for India in T20I cricket

Abhishek Sharma Photograph: (x)

Young batting sensation Abhishek Sharma blazed to a terrific half-century during the final T20I in Mumbai against England on Sunday. The 24-year-old smashed his half-century off just 17 balls. This was the second fastest fifty by an Indian batter in T20I cricket. Yuvraj Singh, who is Abhishek’s mentor, scored the fastest fifty for India in just 12 balls that came against England in the 2007 T20 World Cup. 

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Jos Buttler won the toss and put India into bat as both sides made one change. Mark Wood came in for Saqib Mahmood, who had bowled a triple wicket maiden last game. India replaced Arshdeep Singh with Mohammed Shami, with Shivam Dube retaining his spot in the team amidst concussion speculations. 

The first over of the game saw 16 runs being scored as Sanju Samson began the game with a pull shot for six against Jofra Archer. The final two balls of the over produced one four and one six. Samson was out in the fifth ball of the second over as he pulled Mark Wood straight into Archer’s waiting hands at the square leg boundary.

Abhishek Sharma show leaves England bowlers stunned 

Tilak Varma came out to replace Samson but it was Abhishek Sharma who stole the show. In the third over, Sharma unleashed his wrath on Archer with one four and two sixes to move to 23 runs from 10 balls. In the next over, Mark Wood was smashed for two successive fours and one six as India got to the fifty mark in just 3.5 overs. 

The first ball of the fifth bowled by Jamie Overton was hit over the long-off region for a huge six. In the second ball of the over, Sharma hit the bowler straight over his head to reach his fifty off just 17 balls. Tilak Varma also got into the groove with one four and one six in the same over as India raced to 80 runs from five overs. 

The next over produced 15 runs as Abhishek Sharma hit Liam Livingstone for a boundary in the first ball. Tilak Varma ended the over with two fours to put India on course for a huge total on the board. 

Sanju Samson Abhishek Sharma
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