Abhishek Sharma hits ton as India beat New Zealand by 6 wickets in 3rd T20 | Cricket
India Clinches T20I Series Against New Zealand with Dominant Performance in Wellington
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — India secured a six-wicket victory over New Zealand in the third match of the five-match T20 International series on Tuesday, successfully chasing down a target of 199 runs. The win guarantees India the series with two matches remaining.
Opening batsmen Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi played a pivotal role, combining for a remarkable 133-run partnership in just 7.1 overs, one of the most explosive partnerships in T20I history. Sharma’s aggressive innings of 113 runs off 38 balls included nine fours and 11 sixes, while Sooryavanshi contributed a swift 45 off 19 deliveries.
The opening duo’s onslaught began with Jacob Duffy’s first over, which yielded 26 runs and set the tone for the innings. By the time Sharma was dismissed by Kyle Jamieson, India had already amassed 178 runs for the loss of two wickets in just 10 overs.
“The key was pretty simple: Vaibhav and I enjoyed our time,” Sharma said after the match. “When we were fielding, we noticed some extra bounce. Vaibhav started off well, and we took the momentum from there.”
Sooryavanshi, who was promoted to open after batting at number three in the previous match, showcased his power-hitting capabilities, significantly contributing to the rapid scoring.
India’s captain, Shreyas Iyer, praised the duo’s performance, stating, “Getting 100 in five overs – I have not seen that before at the international level. Credit where it is due, the way they played was exceptional.”
Earlier in the match, India won the toss and opted to bowl, a strategy that has served them well throughout the series. Bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh exploited the pitch’s seam movement, with Singh claiming the first wicket by dismissing Tim Seifert for two runs.
Seifert’s exit brought Daryl Mitchell to the crease, who forged an 86-run partnership with Finn Allen. Mitchell scored an impressive 89 runs off 52 balls, striking five fours and five sixes, while Allen added 40 runs from 25 deliveries. Bevon Jacobs also contributed with an unbeaten 39 runs from 23 balls as New Zealand finished their innings at 198.
The fourth match of the series is scheduled to take place at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday.
