India chase down 199 in just 13.2 overs as Abhishek and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smash 133 runs in a record-breaking opening stand
India produced a breathtaking batting display to defeat New Zealand by six wickets in the third T20 International in Wellington on Tuesday, chasing a target of 199 in just 13.2 overs to seal the series with two matches still to play.
Abhishek Sharma led the charge with a blistering 113 off just 38 balls, reaching his fourth T20I century in only 35 deliveries. Teenage opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi provided explosive support with 45 off 21 balls as the pair added 133 runs for the first wicket in just 7.1 overs.
Their assault propelled India to 118 without loss in the powerplay, setting a new record for the highest powerplay total in T20 Internationals. India also reached 50 in just 2.2 overs and brought up their hundred in five overs, leaving New Zealand’s bowlers struggling to contain the onslaught.
Abhishek brought up his half-century in 15 balls and continued attacking almost every delivery. The opening partnership left India needing only 66 runs from the remaining 12.5 overs, effectively taking the contest away from the hosts.
India lost Shreyas Iyer and Sanju Samson towards the end, when the target was within reach, but the brief interruption did little to slow their progress. They crossed the finish line with 40 balls remaining, underlining the gulf between the two sides’ batting performances in the series.
Earlier, New Zealand had posted 198 for three after being asked to bat. Daryl Mitchell anchored the innings with an unbeaten 89 off 52 balls, while Finn Allen contributed 40. Bevon Jacobs added an unbeaten 39 off 23 deliveries, sharing an unbroken 75-run partnership with Mitchell to give the hosts a competitive total.
India’s fast bowlers initially struggled to adapt to the ground’s short square boundaries, with New Zealand reaching 88 for one by the end of the eighth over. Nitish Kumar Reddy, however, broke the momentum by dismissing Allen for 40 with a full, straight delivery in the ninth over.
India’s seamers subsequently tightened their lines and lengths, using reverse swing and targeting the longer straight boundaries to restrict the scoring. Mitchell, after reaching his half-century in 26 balls, found it harder to accelerate and managed 35 runs from his final 26 deliveries.
The disciplined bowling effort set the stage for India’s extraordinary chase. Abhishek and Sooryavanshi then overwhelmed the New Zealand attack, turning a target of 199 into a routine pursuit and securing the series in emphatic fashion.
