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Abhishek’s 113 powers India to 3-0 lead as chase of 199 ends in 13.2 overs
India chased 199 in 13.2 overs to beat New Zealand by six wickets in Wellington and take a 3-0 lead in the five-match T20I series. Abhishek Sharma smashed 113 off 38 balls as India set a men’s T20I powerplay record of 118/0.
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India smashed their way to a series-clinching win over New Zealand in Wellington on Tuesday, chasing 199/4 (13.2) to beat New Zealand’s 198/3 and take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match T20I series.
New Zealand – 198/3 (20 ov)
| Batting | R | B | S/R | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Seifertc Axar Patel b Arshdeep Singh | 2 | 6 | – | – | 33.33 |
| Finn Allenc Naman Dhir b Nitish Reddy | 40 | 25 | – | 5 | 160 |
| Daryl Mitchellnot out | 89 | 52 | 5 | 5 | 171.15 |
| Glenn Phillipsc and b Axar Patel | 17 | 14 | 3 | – | 121.43 |
| Bevon Jacobsnot out | 39 | 23 | 4 | 1 | 169.57 |
Total198/3 (20 ov)
| Bowling | O | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 4 | – | 40 | – | 10 |
| Arshdeep Singh | 4 | – | 33 | 1 | 8.2 |
| Prince Yadav | 4 | – | 44 | – | 11 |
| Axar Patel | 4 | – | 36 | 1 | 9 |
| Nitish Kumar Reddy | 4 | – | 38 | 1 | 9.5 |
India – 199/4 (13.2 ov)
| Batting | R | B | S/R | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vaibhav Sooryavanshic Daryl Mitchell b Matthew Fisher | 45 | 19 | 4 | 4 | 236.84 |
| Abhishek Sharmac Glenn Phillips b Kyle Jamieson | 113 | 38 | 9 | 11 | 297.37 |
| Sanju Samsonb Kyle Jamieson | 18 | 13 | 2 | – | 138.46 |
| Shreyas Iyerc Glenn Phillips b Mitchell Santner | 5 | 10 | – | – | 50 |
| Tilak Varmanot out | 1 | 1 | – | – | 100 |
| Naman Dhirnot out | 4 | 1 | 1 | – | 400 |
Total199/4 (13.2 ov)
| Bowling | O | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacob Duffy | 2 | – | 44 | – | 22 |
| Adam Milne | 2 | – | 33 | – | 16.5 |
| Michael Bracewell | 2 | – | 36 | – | 18 |
| Kyle Jamieson | 3.2 | – | 45 | 2 | 13.5 |
| Matthew Fisher | 1 | – | 23 | 1 | 23 |
| Mitchell Santner | 3 | – | 17 | 1 | 5.7 |
Data last updated: 27 Oct 2026, 4:51 PM IST
The third T20I turned into a one-sided chase almost from the start, driven by a brutal opening stand and a century that left the home attack with nowhere to hide. Abhishek Sharma led the rout with 113 off 38 balls, reaching his hundred in 35 deliveries as India overhauled the target with 40 balls still unused.
New Zealand’s total had looked more than competitive at the break. Daryl Mitchell anchored the innings with an unbeaten 89, and the hosts lost only three wickets across their 20 overs. It did not matter. India’s reply was so fast that the match was effectively settled before the halfway point of the chase.
Abhishek tears up the chase
India’s pursuit began at a sprint and never eased. Abhishek and teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi put on 133 for the first wicket, a partnership that flipped a 199 chase into a simple finish.
Sooryavanshi’s 45 came from 19 balls, and by the time he was dismissed the equation had collapsed in India’s favour. With India already 133 in 7.1 overs, the remaining requirement was modest and the pressure was long gone.
Abhishek, though, kept swinging. His 113 included nine fours and 11 sixes, a display of clean hitting that turned length balls into half-volleys and anything short into a boundary option. India crossed the line at 199/4 in 13.2 overs, sealing the match by six wickets.
The damage was not only on the scoreboard. India rewrote the record book in the first six overs, racing to 118 without loss in the powerplay, a new world mark for the highest powerplay score in a men’s T20I. The chase also featured the fastest team hundred in the format, with India reaching 100 in five overs.
Kyle Jamieson was the pick of New Zealand’s bowlers on a night when there was little control to be found, finishing with 2/45.
Mitchell’s 89 not out gave New Zealand a platform that would usually win T20Is at home, particularly after the hosts batted deep enough to finish at 198/3. India’s bowlers did enough, in context, to keep the total under 200 on a good surface.
Arshdeep Singh was the most economical of the Indian bowlers mentioned from the innings, returning 1/33, while Axar Patel and Nitish Kumar Reddy also took a wicket each.
The bigger problem for New Zealand was what came after. A total pushing 200 was supposed to set up a contest; instead, it became a target that lasted barely more than 13 overs.
Reactions to the innings quickly focused on Abhishek’s pace. Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, who has been involved in the batter’s development, summed up the disbelief in a post on X that mixed praise with humour.
“And I can’t make 100 of 30 or 34 balls 😜 Well played sir @OfficialAbhi04! Great innings aur apne single bhi le liye 🤷🏻♂️ Good stuff on the other end by #VaibhavSooryavanshi! Devastating combination! Hats off to @IamSanjuSamson, playing at no. 3 as a complete team man!” Yuvraj wrote.
The win means India have now taken the first three matches of the series. They won the opening T20I in Christchurch by four wickets after New Zealand made 225/4 and India replied with 230/6. The second match, also in Christchurch, ended with another four-wicket India win after New Zealand posted 180/5 and India reached 181/6.
What comes next in the tour
The T20I series continues despite being decided. The fourth match is scheduled for Auckland on Friday, October 30, followed by the fifth in Hamilton on Sunday, November 1.
After the T20Is, the tour moves into a five-match ODI series from November 4 to November 15, before a two-Test series that begins on November 19.
Away from the main squad, preparations for red-ball cricket are also ticking along. According to reports, Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant are likely to be added to the India A squad for the third multi-day match against New Zealand A in Lincoln as selectors look to give both players game time ahead of the Test series.
For now, the story of this Tuesday in Wellington was simple: New Zealand made 198/3 and still never had a chance once Abhishek got going.
Sources
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