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Abhishek Sharma smashes 79 runs as India beats England by 7 wickets in first T20

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Abhishek Sharma smashes 79 runs as India beats England by 7 wickets in first T20
Sport

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Abhishek Sharma smashes 79 runs as India beats England by 7 wickets in first T20

2025-01-23 01:03 Last Updated At:01:12

KOLKATA, India (AP) — Abhishek Sharma scored a 20-ball half-century as India beat England by seven wickets Wednesday in the first T20 of their five-match series.

India's opener smacked five fours and eight sixes, scoring 79 off 34 balls, as he blasted the English bowling to all parts at the historic Eden Gardens. India scaled the target in only 12.5 overs, finishing with 133-3, in reply to the visitors’ 132 all out.

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India's Abhishek Sharma bats during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

India's Abhishek Sharma bats during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

England head coach Brendon McCullum plays with a soccer ball before the start of the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

England head coach Brendon McCullum plays with a soccer ball before the start of the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

England head coach Brendon McCullum plays with a soccer ball before the start of the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

England head coach Brendon McCullum plays with a soccer ball before the start of the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

England's captain Jos Buttler, second right, watches as India's captain Suryakumar Yadav tosses the coin ahead of first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

England's captain Jos Buttler, second right, watches as India's captain Suryakumar Yadav tosses the coin ahead of first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

India's captain Suryakumar Yadav, left, greets England's captain Jos Buttler after the coin toss for the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

India's captain Suryakumar Yadav, left, greets England's captain Jos Buttler after the coin toss for the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

India's Abhishek Sharma, center, and batting partner Tilak Varma run between the wickets to score during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

India's Abhishek Sharma, center, and batting partner Tilak Varma run between the wickets to score during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

England's captain Jos Buttler celebrates after scoring fifty runs during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

England's captain Jos Buttler celebrates after scoring fifty runs during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

England's captain Jos Buttler plays a shot during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

England's captain Jos Buttler plays a shot during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

England's captain Jos Buttler plays a shot during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

England's captain Jos Buttler plays a shot during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

India's Abhishek Sharma, right, celebrates after scoring fifty runs during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

India's Abhishek Sharma, right, celebrates after scoring fifty runs during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

India's Abhishek Sharma reacts as he walks off the field after losing his wicket during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

India's Abhishek Sharma reacts as he walks off the field after losing his wicket during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

India's Abhishek Sharma, left, plays a shot during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

India's Abhishek Sharma, left, plays a shot during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

England's Jofra Archer reacts as he fails to take the catch of India's Abhishek Sharma during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

England's Jofra Archer reacts as he fails to take the catch of India's Abhishek Sharma during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

India's Abhishek Sharma plays a shot during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

India's Abhishek Sharma plays a shot during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

This was after India had won the toss and put England to bat. Mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy picked 3-23 in four overs. Seamers Arshdeep Singh (2-17) and Hardik Pandya (2-42) picked a brace each, while left-arm spinner Axar Patel also took 2-22.

Sharma topped his previous quickest half-century (24 deliveries) against South Africa last November.

Sanju Samson had provided a quick start with 26 off 20 balls, including four fours and a six, but he fell to Jofra Archer’s short bowling.

Archer (2-21) provided the only stern test for Indian batters — skipper Suryakumar Yadav was out caught for a three-ball duck and Tilak Varma was also in trouble against the short stuff.

But Varma stayed put at one end, while Sharma took the English attack to the cleaners at the other.

Sharma smacked Mark Wood, then Adil Rashid, and later Jamie Overton — striking at 200-plus through his innings.

Sharma scored at 232.35 in all as he put on 84 off 42 balls with Varma for the third wicket — Varma only contributed 15 runs in there.

He miscued a shot off Rashid near the end, as Pandya helped finish things for India.

Earlier, Arshdeep Singh provided a fiery start to put England in early trouble at 17-2. He dismissed openers Phil Salt (0) and Ben Duckett (4) in successive overs.

Skipper Jos Buttler resisted with 68 runs off 44 balls — including eight fours and two sixes. He put on 48 off 28 balls with Harry Brook, the only decent partnership from the English lineup.

Buttler was untroubled against pace or spin, with the latter especially troubling English batters. Chakravarthy wreaked havoc as Brook played on off a googly.

Liam Livingstone was unable to read his spin as well — out for a two-ball duck. Jacob Bethell fell to Pandya for seven runs, as England was down to 83-5 in 11.5 overs.

Patel ran through the lower order and despite Buttler’s fighting half-century, England finished with an under-par score at the high scoring venue.

The second T20 will be played in Chennai on Saturday.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

India's Abhishek Sharma bats during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

India's Abhishek Sharma bats during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

England head coach Brendon McCullum plays with a soccer ball before the start of the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

England head coach Brendon McCullum plays with a soccer ball before the start of the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

England head coach Brendon McCullum plays with a soccer ball before the start of the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

England head coach Brendon McCullum plays with a soccer ball before the start of the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

England's captain Jos Buttler, second right, watches as India's captain Suryakumar Yadav tosses the coin ahead of first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

England's captain Jos Buttler, second right, watches as India's captain Suryakumar Yadav tosses the coin ahead of first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

India's captain Suryakumar Yadav, left, greets England's captain Jos Buttler after the coin toss for the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

India's captain Suryakumar Yadav, left, greets England's captain Jos Buttler after the coin toss for the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

India's Abhishek Sharma, center, and batting partner Tilak Varma run between the wickets to score during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

India's Abhishek Sharma, center, and batting partner Tilak Varma run between the wickets to score during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

England's captain Jos Buttler celebrates after scoring fifty runs during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

England's captain Jos Buttler celebrates after scoring fifty runs during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

England's captain Jos Buttler plays a shot during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

England's captain Jos Buttler plays a shot during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

England's captain Jos Buttler plays a shot during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

England's captain Jos Buttler plays a shot during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

India's Abhishek Sharma, right, celebrates after scoring fifty runs during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

India's Abhishek Sharma, right, celebrates after scoring fifty runs during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

India's Abhishek Sharma reacts as he walks off the field after losing his wicket during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

India's Abhishek Sharma reacts as he walks off the field after losing his wicket during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

India's Abhishek Sharma, left, plays a shot during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

India's Abhishek Sharma, left, plays a shot during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

England's Jofra Archer reacts as he fails to take the catch of India's Abhishek Sharma during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

England's Jofra Archer reacts as he fails to take the catch of India's Abhishek Sharma during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

India's Abhishek Sharma plays a shot during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

India's Abhishek Sharma plays a shot during the first T20 cricket match between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

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Swiss skier Franjo von Allmen in line to win downhill gold at world championships

2025-02-09 19:48 Last Updated At:20:00

SAALBACH-HINTERGLEMM, Austria (AP) — Swiss skier Franjo von Allmen was in line to win the men’s downhill at the Alpine skiing world championships on Sunday after the top-ranked racers completed their runs.

Von Allmen beat second-placed Vincent Kriechmayr of Austria by 0.24 seconds.

His Swiss teammate Alexis Monney was 0.31 behind in third.

Defending champion Marco Odermatt was fifth, two days after the Swiss star won gold in the super-G.

The 23-year-old von Allmen is competing in his first worlds. He has yet to win a downhill on the World Cup circuit but finished runner-up three times this season and won a super-G in Wengen.

Results were not official yet because lower-ranked skiers were still coming down the course.

AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing

Switzerland's Marco Odermatt reacts with dejection at the finish area of a men's downhill race, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Switzerland's Marco Odermatt reacts with dejection at the finish area of a men's downhill race, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Switzerland's Marco Odermatt speeds down the course during a men's downhill race, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

Switzerland's Marco Odermatt speeds down the course during a men's downhill race, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

Switzerland's Alexis Monney celebrates at the finish area of a men's downhill race, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Switzerland's Alexis Monney celebrates at the finish area of a men's downhill race, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Austria's Vincent Kriechmayr speeds down the course during a men's downhill race, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

Austria's Vincent Kriechmayr speeds down the course during a men's downhill race, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

Fans hold a banner for Switzerland's Franjo von Allmen at the finish area of a men's downhill race, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Fans hold a banner for Switzerland's Franjo von Allmen at the finish area of a men's downhill race, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Switzerland's Franjo von Allmen is airborne during a men's downhill race, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

Switzerland's Franjo von Allmen is airborne during a men's downhill race, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

Switzerland's Franjo von Allmen celebrates at the finish area of a men's downhill race, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Switzerland's Franjo von Allmen celebrates at the finish area of a men's downhill race, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

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