Abhishek Sharma smashes 113 off 38 balls as India crush New Zealand in Wellington to seal T20I series

India beat New Zealand by six wickets in the third T20I at Hnry Stadium in Wellington on Tuesday, chasing 199 with 40 balls remaining to take an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. Opener Abhishek Sharma scored 113 off 38 balls, with nine fours and 11 sixes.

Abhishek and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who was moved up to open, put on 100 in just five overs. India finished the six-over powerplay on 118 for no loss, a record powerplay total for any T20I where ball-by-ball data is available, ESPNcricinfo reported. The previous record was Romania’s 116 for no loss against Serbia in 2021.

Abhishek reached his fifty in 15 balls and his hundred in 35, his fourth T20I century, before he was caught at deep midwicket off Kyle Jamieson. Sooryavanshi made 45 off 19 before Matthew Fisher had him caught at long-on with his first ball, leaving India 133 for 1 in 7.1 overs.

India lost captain Shreyas Iyer and Sanju Samson in quick succession with the target almost in reach, but finished the chase in the 14th over.

Earlier, Iyer won the toss for the third match in a row and chose to bowl. New Zealand made 198 for 3, built around an unbeaten 89 off 52 balls from Daryl Mitchell. Finn Allen made 40 and Bevon Jacobs 39 not out. Arshdeep Singh took 1 for 33 in four overs.

India had gone 2-0 up with a win in the second T20I in Christchurch, as The Indian Idiot reported. The fourth and fifth matches are still to be played.