*Abhishek Sharma’s 38-ball 113 decimates New Zealand in 3rd T20I
*India chase down 199 in just 13.2 overs, take unassailable 3-0 series lead
Wellington: Abhishek Sharma unleashed a breathtaking assault with a 38-ball 113 as India thrashed New Zealand by six wickets in the third T20I to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series here on Tuesday.
The world’s top-ranked T20 batter struck a 35-ball century, including a 15-ball half-century, as India chased down 199 in just 13.2 overs. The visitors raced to 100 in five overs, with Abhishek and 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (45 off 18 balls) adding 133 in seven overs for the opening wicket.
Abhishek smashed 11 sixes and nine fours before being dismissed, while Sooryavanshi hit four maximums as India registered a record powerplay score of 118.
Earlier, Daryl Mitchell struck a scintillating 89 off 52 balls to guide New Zealand to 198 for three. Finn Allen contributed 40 off 25 balls, sharing an 86-run stand with Mitchell.
India’s bowlers pulled things back at the death, with Arshdeep Singh taking one wicket for 33 runs and Nitish Kumar Reddy claiming one for 38. Axar Patel also picked up a wicket as New Zealand were restricted to a total that proved woefully inadequate against India’s explosive batting.
India thus registered their third consecutive T20I series win in New Zealand, following 5-0 and 1-0 victories in 2020 and 2022 respectively.
