Abhishek hits 35-ball ton as India hammer New Zealand
India beat New Zealand by six wickets in the third T20, chasing 199 in just 13.2 overs to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. Abhishek Sharma’s explosive innings and a record-breaking start with teenage opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made a competitive-looking target seem straightforward.
Abhishek scored 113 from 38 balls, including nine fours and 11 sixes, reaching his century in 35 balls. Sooryavanshi made 45 from 19 as the pair added 133 in seven overs, and India’s 118-run powerplay set a record for international T20s. New Zealand had made 198-3, led by Daryl Mitchell’s 89 from 52 balls and Finn Allen’s 40 from 25.
In short
- Abhishek Sharma hit a 35-ball century.
- India chased 199 in 13.2 overs.
- India lead the series 3-0.
Explained simply
T20 cricket is the shortest regular international format: each side bats for up to 20 overs, and the team with the most runs wins. A five-match series is played as a set of games, with the overall result decided by how many each team wins.
India and New Zealand are two of the leading international cricket teams. India’s batting line-up includes Abhishek Sharma, an attacking top-order batter, while New Zealand’s includes Daryl Mitchell, who can score quickly and build an innings. The powerplay is the opening six overs, when fielding restrictions give batters more room to attack.
Fast scoring can make a target difficult to defend, even when a team has made a substantial total. A 3-0 lead means India have already won more matches than New Zealand can win in the remaining two, so the series outcome is settled.