Abhishek Sharma produced a breathtaking 12-ball fifty while skipper Suryakumar Yadav continued his sublime touch with another attacking half-century as India waltzed through the chase in just 10 overs to seal an eight-wicket win over New Zealand in the third T20I, sealing the five-match series 3-0 here on Sunday.
Chasing a modest 154, India turned the contest into a one-sided exhibition of power-hitting with Abhishek remaining unbeaten on a blistering 68 off 20 balls (7×4, 5×6) and Suryakumar smashing an equally fluent 57 not out off 26 deliveries (6×4, 3×6).
The duo stitched together an unbroken 102-run stand for the third wicket in just 40 balls to finish the game with 60 deliveries to spare. Earlier, wrist spinner Ravi Bishnoi marked his return with a superb spell alongside the seasoned duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya as India strangled New Zealand with disciplined bowling to restrict them to an under-par 153/9.
Abhishek’s assault was particularly stunning as the left-hander raced to a 12-ball fifty — the second fastest by an Indian in T20Is, just two balls slower than his mentor Yuvraj Singh — as he dismantled the New Zealand attack with fearless intent.
India, however, had an early hiccup as Sanju Samson’s struggles at the top continued as he was dismissed for a golden duck. Matt Henry’s first delivery brushing the thigh pad before crashing into the off-stump.
Samson’s scores in the series now read 10, 6 and 0, putting further pressure on his spot with Ishan Kishan making a strong case with his explosive batting. If that setback worried the hosts, Abhishek and Ishan quickly erased them. Ishan, fresh from his match-winning 76 in Raipur, launched Henry for two sixes and a four in a single over, showcasing his imperious pull and lofted drives.
Abhishek, who had fallen for a duck in the previous game, soon joined the carnage, dancing down the track to hammer Jacob Duffy and collecting 16 runs in an over. India’s powerplay score swelled to 94/2 — their second-best ever, just one short of the 95 they had posted against England — effectively putting the result beyond doubt.
Ishan fell for a brisk 28 off 13 balls. But there was no respite for New Zealand. Suryakumar slipped seamlessly into top gear, piercing gaps at will and improvising with his trademark scoops and flicks as Abhishek continued to clear the ropes with ease.
The pair toyed with the field and bowlers alike, wrapping up the chase in ruthless fashion to underline India’s dominance and secure an unassailable series lead. Playing for India after nearly a year, Bishnoi, who came in for rested Varun Chakravarthy, grabbed the opportunity with both hands, returning impressive figures of 2 for 18 while maintaining relentless control through the middle overs.
