India's Abhishek Sharma celebrates his century against New Zealand during the 3rd T20I in Wellington on Tuesday (October 27). Photo: BCCI
3rd T20I: Here's full list of India’s records in win over NZ; Abhishek smashes 38-ball 113
Abhishek, the world's top-ranked T20 batter, reached his half-century in just 15 balls. His century was completed in 35 balls.
India broke records as they cruised to a six-wicket victory over New Zealand in the third T20 International in Wellington on Tuesday (October 27) to took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
Abhishek Sharma smashed a 38-ball 113 with nine fours and 11 sixes. Abhishek and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (45 off 19; 4x4, 4x6) made mincemeat of New Zealand’s bowling attack, hammering 133 for the first wicket in 7.1 overs. India chased down 199 in just 13.2 overs.
New Zealand had made 198 for three after being put in to bat for the third game in a row. Daryl Mitchell top-scored for the hosts with an unbeaten 89.
Abhishek smashes 50 off just 15 balls
Abhishek, the world's top-ranked T20 batter, reached his half-century in just 15 balls. His century was completed in 35 balls, and he struck his now-famous meditation pose to celebrate even as the opposition team and the spectators were left dazed by his power-hitting.
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India thus completed a hat-trick of T20I series wins on New Zealand soil, having won 5-0 and 1-0 in 2020 and 2022 respectively.
The match as a contest was killed by Abhishek and Sooryavanshi in the first over itself, which was bowled by Jacob Duffy and yielded 26 runs for India.
Mitchell returns to form
Earlier, Mitchell roared back to form with a scintillating 52-ball-89 but Indian bowlers did well at the death to restrict New Zealand to 198 for 3 in 20 overs.
India captain Shreyas Iyer won his third toss and once again asked the Black Caps to bat first. Pacer Arshdeep Singh (1/33 in four overs) quickly removed Tim Seifert, who was guilty of playing an indiscreet shot, as India got off to a perfect start.
However, Finn Allen (40 off 25 balls) and Mitchell added 86 for a counter-attacking second-wicket stand.
Allen started with a couple of sixes off Bhuvneshwar Kumar (0/40 in four overs), who continued to search for the perfect length that has eluded him in all the games so far.
The only over in which he looked good was his last and 18th of the New Zealand innings. He was able to consistently pitch the block-hole deliveries in that over, something that would give him confidence for the remaining games of the five-match series.
Jacobs hits 39 not out
Allen first smashed Bhuvneshwar over long-on and then pulled him over deep mid-wicket even as Mitchell found his rhythm with the willow.
While Allen wasn't exactly scoring off each delivery, he did hit a third six, fetching one from outside the off-stump of a Prince Yadav delivery and carting it over square leg.
Mitchell, at the other end, got some cheeky boundaries, including a ramp shot off Prince.
It was Nitish Kumar Reddy (1/38 in four overs), who finally got the breakthrough when Allen didn't get the elevation while trying to deposit him wide off long-on. Naman Dhir sprinted 10 yards and took a smart low catch.
The in-form Glenn Phillips (17) was removed by Axar (1/36 in four overs). He took a sharp return catch, but the highly-rated Bevon Jacobs (39 not out off 23 balls) joined Mitchell to add 75 runs for the fourth wicket in eight overs.
Mitchell hit some lusty blows - five maximums in all - apart from five fours.
Full list of records broken by India during the third T20I
Highest Powerplay score in T20I history: India smashed 118/0 in the first 6 overs. (Previous best by Romania, 116/0 against Serbia in 2021). Previous highest by a full member of ICC was 113/1 by Australia against Scotland in 2024.
Fastest team 50 (Full member): India scored 50 in just 2.2 overs. Joint-fastest in the world with Papua New Guinea (Vs Vanuatu, 2019) and Romania (Vs Serbia, 2021), both in 2.2 overs.
Fastest team 100: India raced to 100 in just 5 overs. Previous best – 100 in 5.2 overs by Romania against Serbia in 2021.
Abhishek Sharma’s 4th T20I Century: He now holds the joint-second most T20I centuries for India along with Suryakumar Yadav (4). The leader is Rohit Sharma with five tons.
Fastest T20I run chase of 190+ with most balls to spare: India chased down New Zealand’s target of 199 in just 13.2 overs, with 40 balls to spare. This is the most record by a full member with most balls to spare while chasing 190-plus. However, the world record is 42 balls by Estonia against Cyprus while chasing 192.
Brief scores: New Zealand 198/3 in 20 overs (Daryl Mitchell 89 not out, Finn Allen 40; Arshdeep Singh 1/33, Axar Patel 1/36) lost to India 199/4 in 13.2 overs (Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 45, Abhishek Sharma 113; Kyle Jamieson 2/45) by six wickets.