Wellington: Abhishek Sharma produced a stunning knock of 113 runs off just 38 balls as India beat New Zealand by six wickets in the third T20I on Tuesday. Chasing 199, India reached the target in only 13.2 overs to take an unassailable lead in the series.
New Zealand had a big total to defend, but Abhishek made the chase look easy. He attacked from the beginning, finding gaps in the field and clearing the boundary with ease. The hosts struggled to find a way to stop him as the Indian opener kept the scoreboard moving at a rapid pace.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was equally aggressive at the other end. The young batter scored 45 off 19 balls, giving India the perfect start. The pair raced past 100 runs in just five overs, putting New Zealand under pressure early in the chase.
Sooryavanshi’s innings came to an end at 45, but Abhishek continued to dominate. His century came off just 38 deliveries and put India firmly in control. The rest of the batting line-up had little to do as India completed the chase with four wickets down.
The victory was India’s third straight win in the series, leaving New Zealand with no chance of turning the contest around.
Daryl Mitchell Keeps New Zealand in the Fight
Earlier, India won the toss and chose to bowl first. New Zealand lost Tim Seifert for just two runs, but Finn Allen provided some momentum with 40 off 25 balls.
Daryl Mitchell was the standout batter for the hosts, scoring an unbeaten 89 off 52 deliveries. Bevon Jacobs also remained unbeaten, making 39 from 23 balls as New Zealand finished their innings at 198.
Glenn Phillips, who had been in good form, managed 17 runs before getting out. For India, Arshdeep Singh, Axar Patel and Nitish Kumar Reddy took one wicket each.
New Zealand had put up a challenging score, but their bowlers could not contain India’s opening pair. Abhishek’s aggressive batting quickly shifted the match in India’s favour.
Fourth T20I Set for Auckland
India and New Zealand will meet again in the fourth T20I at Eden Park in Auckland on October 30. With the series already secured, India will look to continue their winning run, while New Zealand will aim to make a comeback.
For India, the third T20I was all about Abhishek’s remarkable innings. His 113 off 38 balls, along with Sooryavanshi’s quick 45, turned a target of 199 into a comfortable win and sealed the series in style.