Blitzkrieg fifties by Abhishek and Suryakumar guide India to series win with victory in third T20I match

With the T20 World Cup just days away, Team India sent a clear warning to their rivals, crushing New Zealand by eight wickets in the third T20I here at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium. The comprehensive victory also sealed the five-match series 3-0 in India’s favour, leaving the BlackCaps reeling.

While the Suryakumar Yadav-led side was handed an early setback in their chase when Matt Henry dismissed Sanju Samson in the very first ball of the second innings, opener Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and the skipper made sure that the team wasn’t affected by the blow and led the hosts to a brilliant victory.

The trio was ruthless and aimed to hit every ball they faced as the white Kookaburra soared across the ground, with India finishing off the chase before even drinks were taken.

Abhishek and Kishan shared a 53-run partnership in just 19 balls before the latter was dismissed, scoring an explosive 13-ball 28, hitting three fours and a couple of sixes.

But what followed next was absolute carnage as Abhishek and Suryakumar lit up the stadium and unleashed the beat within. While the opening batter hit the second-fastest fifty ever by an Indian, the skipper continued his fine form with the bat, sending positive signs heading into the World Cup as defending champions.

Abhishek remained unbeaten, scoring 68 off just 20 deliveries, while Surya remained unbeaten at 57 off 26 deliveries, helping India to chase down an average target in just 10 overs.

Earlier, bowlers Jasprit Bumrah, Ravi Bishnoi, and all-rounder Hardik Pandya turned the game against New Zealand on its head as the BlackCaps collapsed to 153/9 in 20 overs.

India began strongly, restricting New Zealand to 36/3 in the powerplay. Hardik Pandya made an immediate impact, helping Harshit Rana remove Devon Conway (1) in the first over with a brilliant diving catch and then picked Rachin Ravindra (4) himself after taking charge of the second over. Jasprit Bumrah followed by dismissing Tim Seifert (12) on his first delivery, giving India three early wickets.

Glenn Phillips and Mark Chapman tried to rebuild with boundaries in the middle overs as Kuldeep Yadav and Shivam Dube conceded runs, failing to stem the flow. However, Ravi Bishnoi broke the partnership, bowling Chapman (32) through a well-flighted googly and later removing Phillips (48), triggering a batting collapse.

Pandya struck again to remove Daryl Mitchell (14), while Bumrah’s fiery spell claimed Kyle Jamieson (3) and Mitchell Santner while Matt Henry (1) was run out as the visitors barely survived through the innings.

Meanwhile, speaking about his remarkable innings, Abhishek said after the match, “That’s what my team wants from me and I just want to execute all the time.

“But obviously, it’s not easy to do it every time, but I think it’s all about mental as well and the atmosphere you get around your dressing room as well.

“That’s more than impossible for anyone (to break Yuvraj’s fastest T20 fifty record), but still, you never know. Any batsman could do it because I think all the batters have been batting really well in this series as well and going forward, it’s going to be fun.”

On hitting a six off the first ball again, he added, “I wouldn’t say it’s like I want to go from the first ball. It’s just the instinct I get in between the wickets.

“I think about the bowler if he wants to get out on my first ball, then what he could bowl to me and that’s always there in my mind and I just want to play on that ball.”

Explaining his innovative footwork, Abhishek stated, “If you see that, that’s all about the field placement because I never step out to the leg-side if I don’t get fielding on ... there’s a leg side, because if I get room for myself, then I have the whole ground off-side for me. So, that’s always in my mind. I just want to play with the field.”

Agencies

Brief Scores:

New Zealand 153/9 in 20 overs (Glenn Phillips 48, Mark Chapman 32; Jasprit Bumrah 3-17, Ravi Bishnoi 2-18) lost to India 155/2 in 10 overs (Abhishek Sharma 68, Suryakumar Yadav 57; Matt Henry 1-28, Ish Sodhi 1-28) by eight wickets.