Wellington, Oct 28:
Abhishek Sharma produced a breathtaking batting display, smashing 113 off just 38 balls as India defeated New Zealand by six wickets in the third T20 International on Tuesday to clinch the five-match series with two games to spare.
Chasing a challenging target of 199, India raced to 199 for four in just 13.2 overs. Abhishek’s explosive innings featured nine fours and 11 sixes, as he reached his century in only 35 deliveries. He was named Player of the Match for his match-winning effort.
The left-handed opener found an equally aggressive partner in 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who hammered 45 off 19 balls. The pair added 133 runs for the opening wicket, setting the tone for a remarkable chase. Their assault helped India score 118 runs without losing a wicket in the powerplay, setting a new record for the highest powerplay total in men’s T20 Internationals.
Sooryavanshi eventually fell after providing a flying start, but Abhishek continued to dominate the New Zealand attack. His dismissal for 113 did little to affect India’s momentum, with the remaining batters completing the chase comfortably.
Earlier, New Zealand posted 198 for three in their 20 overs after being asked to bat. Daryl Mitchell led the hosts with an unbeaten 89 off 52 balls, while Finn Allen contributed 40. Bevon Jacobs remained unbeaten on 39 as New Zealand set India a formidable target.
India’s bowlers managed to contain the scoring to some extent in the middle overs, with Arshdeep Singh, Axar Patel and Nitish Kumar Reddy claiming a wicket apiece. However, the total proved insufficient against India’s aggressive batting approach.
The victory gives India an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series, following their wins in the first two matches. The fourth T20I will be played in Auckland on Friday, October 30, with India looking to extend their winning run.
Abhishek’s remarkable century and the record-breaking powerplay once again underlined India’s attacking approach in the shortest format, leaving New Zealand with little room to recover in the series.