Abhishek Sharma's 35-ball ton powers India to series-clinching win over NZ

India's Abhishek Sharma celebrates his hundred (AP/PTI)

Abhishek Sharma produced a breathtaking display of power-hitting, smashing a 35-ball century as India defeated New Zealand by six wickets in the third T20I in Wellington on Tuesday to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.The left-handed opener hammered 113 off just 38 deliveries, striking 11 sixes and nine fours as India chased down New Zealand's target of 199 in only 13.2 overs, with 40 balls to spare.Sharma received explosive support from 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as the pair tore into the New Zealand attack from the outset. Jacob Duffy conceded 26 runs in the opening over, followed by 17 and 21 in the next two as India raced to 64 without loss in three overs.The onslaught intensified as India plundered 20 runs in the fourth over, 16 in the fifth and another 18 in the sixth to finish the Powerplay at a staggering 118 without losing a wicket. Sharma reached his fifty off just 15 balls.Matthew Fisher eventually broke the opening stand in the eighth over, dismissing Sooryavanshi for a blistering 45 off 19 deliveries, including four sixes and four fours. However, Sharma continued his assault alongside Sanju Samson, taking India to 156/1 after eight overs.

After a relatively quiet ninth over, Sharma brought up his century off 35 balls against Kyle Jamieson in the 10th over. He eventually fell to Jamieson for 113 off 38 deliveries, but India were already firmly in control.The chase briefly lost momentum as Shreyas Iyer and Samson departed towards the end. India, however, comfortably crossed the finish line in 13.2 overs to register a commanding victory.Jamieson claimed two wickets, while Fisher and Mitchell Santner took one apiece.

None of New Zealand's bowlers managed to keep their economy rate below 12 runs per over.Mitchell, Jacobs lift New Zealand to 198/3Earlier, Daryl Mitchell's unbeaten 89 off 52 balls helped New Zealand post 198/3 after India opted to bowl. Bevon Jacobs provided a brisk finish with 39 off 23 deliveries as the pair added an unbeaten 75-run stand for the fourth wicket.New Zealand lost Tim Seifert early, with Arshdeep Singh dismissing the opener for two.

Finn Allen and Mitchell then rebuilt the innings, putting together 86 runs before Nitish Kumar Reddy removed Allen for 40 off 25 balls, an innings featuring five sixes.Glenn Phillips, playing his 100th T20I, could manage only 17 before Axar Patel dismissed him in the 12th over. Mitchell and Jacobs subsequently ensured the hosts finished with a competitive total, although India's bowlers restricted the scoring in the latter half of the innings.Arshdeep, Axar and Nitish picked up a wicket each, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar went wicketless.India rewrite the record booksIndia's emphatic chase ranked among the quickest successful pursuits of a target of at least 190 in T20 cricket. Their 199-run chase, completed with 40 balls remaining, was second on the all-team list behind Estonia's successful pursuit of 192 against Cyprus in 2024, which left 42 balls unused.

Among full-member nations, it surpassed India's previous record against New Zealand in Raipur earlier this year, when they chased 209 with 28 balls to spare.Sharma's century, completed in 35 balls, also placed him among the fastest centurions in T20Is involving full-member teams. He had previously struck a 30-ball hundred against Afghanistan in Delhi earlier in 2026.The opening partnership between Sharma and Sooryavanshi was equally remarkable, scoring at a run rate of 18.13, the highest for a century stand by openers involving full-member teams in men's T20Is.