100 T20Is: Captain Eoin Morgan’s special century and his fellow achievers

The Dublin-born batsman, who has scored 2,306 runs in 99 T20I games at 30.34, will join the likes of Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik, India opener Rohit Sharma and New Zealand’s middle-order batsman Ross Taylor

Skipper Eoin Morgan is all set to become the first England men’s team player to play 100 T20 Internationals when his side take on India during the third match at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Tuesday. 

The Dublin-born batsman, who has scored 2,306 runs in 99 T20I games at 30.34, will join the likes of Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik, India opener Rohit Sharma and New Zealand’s middle-order batsman Ross Taylor in the 100-match club. mid-day.com looks at how these men fared in their landmark T20I.  

Shoaib Malik: July 2, 2018 v Australia, Harare (Score: 13)
Pakistan’s Shoaib Malik had the honour of becoming the first player in men's cricket to feature in 100 T20 Internationals. He also holds the record of playing most T20I matches (116). But the landmark contest against Australia was a nightmarish game for the Pakistan all-rounder. 

Batting first in the second game of the tri-series (which also included hosts Zimbabwe) at Harare, Pakistan were reeling at 24-4 in the seventh over. No. 5 batsman Malik and Asif Ali tried to get their team back in the game with 23-run standoff 21 balls before the former’s innings ended on 13 after a horrible mix-up while going for the second run. Pakistan were bowled out for just 116. In reply, Australia chased the target with nine wickets and 55 balls to spare.

Rohit Sharma: November 7, 2019 v Bangladesh, Rajkot (Score: 85)
Rohit Sharma is the only Indian batsman to feature in 100 or more T20I games. The opening batsman achieved this feat during the second match against Bangladesh at Rajkot. The Mumbai man celebrated the occasion with a match-winning 43-ball 85. He came into the T20 series having scored three hundreds in three Tests against South Africa. Rohit fell for just nine during India’s loss in the first match at Delhi, but the dashing batsman rose to the occasion with a big knock in Rajkot. Batting first, Bangladesh cruised to 78-1 in 10 overs. But the spinners brought India back into the contest by restricting visitors to 153-6 in 20 overs. 

In reply, India got off to a flying start with openers Rohit and Shikhar Dhawan (31) putting on 118 runs off just 65 balls with the former doing much of the scoring. Man-of-the match Rohit’s 85 was laced with six fours and as many sixes. India won by eight wickets and 26 balls to spare to level the three-match series 1-1.

Ross Taylor: February 2, 2020 v India, Mount Maunganui (Score: 53)
New Zealand’s Ross Taylor achieved his 100-match feat—in T20Is and Tests—against India - in February 2020. Taylor became only the second New Zealander, after Suzie Bates, to feature in 100 T20Is. The right-handed middle-order batsman marked the occasion with a fine half-century (53), but his effort went in vain as India went on to win the thrilling contest.

Electing to bat, the visitors posted 163-3 in the allotted 20 overs, thanks to a 41-ball 60 by stand-in skipper Rohit. At 116-3 in the 13th over, New Zealand were in for an easy victory, but the hosts made a mockery of the chase, losing six wickets for just 25 runs. India won the game by seven runs to seal a 5-0 whitewash, their first T20I series win in New Zealand. 

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