Home
India T20I captain Shreyas Iyer was left stunned by the record-breaking display by Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the run chase of 199 in the third T20I against New Zealand at Hnry Stadium, Wellington. Pushing Sanju Samson to no.3 spot, Sooryavanshi opened the innings alongside Abhishek. They went berserk in the powerplay overs, putting 118 runs on the board. The duo broke the record for the highest powerplay overs score in T20I history.
ADVERTISEMENT
The previous record was held by Romania with 116 for no loss against Serbia in 5.4 overs. Among full-member nations, Australia had scored 113/1 against Scotland in Edinburgh in 2024.
This was the second time India have scored 100 or more runs in powerplay overs in the format. Earlier this year, India had posted 100 for no loss against Afghanistan.
Iyer wonders how Abhishek-Sooryavanshi pulled it off
Iyer was stunned by the batting display. He revealed that the pitch wasn’t easy to bat on, but the openers blew the Kiwi attack away.
“Absolutely stunning. It was pleasing to the eyes the way they played strokes. Also, when Sanju and I, we went to bat, the ball was seaming, and I was like, how did they manage this? It was simply mind-boggling,” he said in the post-match presentation.
“Honestly speaking, getting 100 in 5 overs, I've never seen that before, especially at the international level. And definitely tops it.”
ALSO READ: Abhishek Sharma breaks Virat Kohli’s record for most T20 tons by India batter with 113 in Wellington
The mayhem-filled powerplay overs
In the absence of Ishan Kishan, Sooryavanshi got another chance. He started the innings with a boundary and then hit a six off Jacob Duffy. Abhishek hit a six too and Duffy bowled it too short, conceding five wides. He went for 26 runs in the opening over, the joint-most expensive opening over in T20I history.
Adam Milne opened the bowling from the other end. Abhishek hit him for two sixes and a four. Skipper Mitchell Santner introduced Michael Bracewell into the attack, hoping that the off-spin would trouble Abhishek. But he did not even flinch. Bracewell was hit for two fours and a six by Abhishek. Sooryavanshi smashed a six as well, making it a 21-run over.
Then, it was Kyle Jamieson's turn in the absence of Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry. Abhishek did not spare him either and raced to his half-century from just 15 balls. He hit two sixes and as many fours in the over. Milne got a chance to make up for the expensive over, but he couldn't. Sooryavanshi hit a six, took a single and then Abhishek hit two fours to take India's score to 100. This turned out to be the fastest team 100 in T20Is.
After an expensive first over, Duffy was given another chance too. Sooryavanshi welcomed him back with two consecutive fours. After two dot balls, he smashed a four and a six to finish the powerplay overs as India broke the world record.
Fisher strikes, Santner drops Abhishek’s catch
The fielding restrictions being lifted did not discourage a free-flowing Abhishek. Bracewell got the ball and was hit for two more sixes. The partnership was broken by Matthew Fisher, who was playing his first T20I in six months. Fisher broke the partnership with Sooryavanshi's wicket. He scored 45 runs from just 19 balls, including four sixes and as many fours. Abhishek hit Fisher for two sixes in the same over. Fisher would've dismissed Abhishek as well, but Santner dropped a tough chance. Abhishek was batting on 92 when he got a reprieve.
Abhishek departs after belligerent ton
Santner introduced himself into the attack and did not concede a single boundary in the over. In the 10th over, Abhishek reached his fourth T20I ton from 35 deliveries. He followed it up with a couple of sixes against Jamieson before getting caught by Glenn Phillips. He departed after scoring 113 runs from just 38 deliveries, featuring nine fours and 11 sixes. India were 178/2 when he returned to the dressing room.
199 chased down in just 13.2 overs
Skipper Iyer arrived at the crease and no boundary was scored for next 11 deliveries. Santner continued to bowl and got rid of Iyer with a full toss. He contributed just five runs from 10 balls. In the next over, Samson got bowled by Jamieson for a 13-ball 18. Naman Dhir finished the run chase with a boundary as India registered a six-wicket win with 40 balls to spare to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-T20I series.40 is the most number of balls remaining in a successful T20I run chase of 190 or more among full-member nations.
This was Iyer’s first T20I series win as captain in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia).
India's bowling display
After Iyer won the toss and opted to bowl first, Bhuvneshwar troubled both openers, conceding just three runs in the first over. Arshdeep Singh got the wicket of Tim Seifert and went for just two runs in his first over. Finn Allen launched a brutal onslaught and was backed by Daryl Mitchell. New Zealand were 58/1 after the powerplay overs.
Nitish Kumar Reddy broke the third-wicket partnership in his first over. In the ninth over, he dismissed Allen for a 25-ball 40. In the 11th over, Daryl hit Reddy for a four and a six to reach his half-century from 26 balls. Axar Patel dismissed an in-form Phillips, caught and bowled for a 14-ball 17.
Daryl and Bevon Jacobs took New Zealand's score to 198/3. Daryl scored 89 runs from 52 balls, including five sixes and five fours. Jacobs hit four fours and a six in his 23-ball 39.
Changes in Kiwi pace attack for 4th T20I?
The fourth T20I is scheduled to be played on October 31 at Auckland’s Eden Park. New Zealand are set to make changes to their bowling lineup. Ferguson will be available. Duffy and Milne may get benched, as Blair Tickner and Josh Clarkson will join the side. Also, Jamieson will leave to prepare for the ODI series. Nathan Smith is another pace-bowling option.
ADVERTISEMENT
