Abhishek Sharma’s 35-ball century powers India to T20 series win

Abhishek Sharma smashed a 35-ball century as India chased down New Zealand’s 199 in just 13.2 overs in Wellington, winning the third T20 by six wickets and taking an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

Sharma made 113 from 38 balls, hitting nine fours and 11 sixes. He and 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi put on 133 for the first wicket in seven overs, including a record 118 runs during the powerplay for an international T20 innings.

Sooryavanshi scored 45 from 19 deliveries before falling in the eighth over. Sharma reached his fifty from 15 balls, then was dismissed with 21 runs still needed. India’s middle order completed the chase without difficulty.

New Zealand had posted 198-3, led by Daryl Mitchell’s 89 from 52 balls and Finn Allen’s 40 from 25. Kyle Jamieson took two of India’s four wickets, while captain Mitchell Santner returned the hosts’ most economical figures, with 1-17 from three overs.

Sharma’s century came five balls slower than his own record for India’s fastest T20 hundred, made against Afghanistan the previous month. India now lead the series 3-0 with two matches remaining; the T20s are followed by five one-day internationals and two Tests.