In an electrifying display of skill and precision, England's Saqib Mahmood made history during the fourth T20I against India in Pune on Friday (Jan 31). The match, which was crucial for the series outcome, saw Mahmood deliver a spellbinding over that left everyone awe-struck.
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| Image Credits: ProBatsman |
Mahmood, stepping in for Mark Wood, took the new ball and immediately made an impact in the 2nd over in India's innings. In what would become a historic over, he dismissed three key Indian batsmen - Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, and Suryakumar Yadav - without conceding a single run.
This performance not only marked the first time an English player had bowled a triple-wicket maiden in T20 Internationals but also the first time any bowler had achieved this feat against India in the format.
The drama unfolded in the second over of India's innings. Samson fell first, caught at deep square leg off a short delivery. Varma's attempt to counter-attack resulted in an edge to third man, where Jofra Archer completed a sharp catch. The over was capped off with the dismissal of the Indian captain, Suryakumar Yadav, who played a shot straight to cover. This left India reeling at 12/3, putting immense pressure on the rest of the Indian batters to come.
With their top order dismantled early, the middle and lower order were thrust into the spotlight under immense pressure to stabilize the innings. The loss of three wickets in one over not only disrupted the batting lineup but also forced a strategic rethink from the Indian team, who now had to rebuild from a precarious position.
This early setback put the Indian batsmen on the back foot, making every subsequent delivery a test of their resilience and skill, significantly influencing the match's outcome.
