Normally, 198 would give a home side a tough chance in T20 cricket. However, in Wellington, New Zealand barely had time to think of having enough runs when they were soon overwhelmed by Abhishek Sharma.
India won six wickets in 13.2 overs and went unbeatable in the series to reach 199 in just 13.2 overs. The 113 off 38 balls from Abhishek was the best of what he could have done and still the scale of the victory would also indicate how New Zealand’s plans were cleared from the way of the Indian combination.
The hosts were stumped when Abhishek started playing aggressively. He made three figures from 35 balls, hit 11 sixes and exceeded a strike rate of 297. It was his fourth T20I century, which came after a format in which his scoring rate invariably puts opposition bowlers under pressure.
The problem New Zealand had was that the attack was from all directions. Abhishek scored 133 runs in 7.1 overs while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (promoted to open) scored 45 from 19 deliveries. India posted 118 in the Powerplay only to set a new record for the highest Powerplay score in a Full Member vs Full Member match.
In the avalanche it became evident how costly even slight inaccuracies in length and line can be. Adam Milne, Michael Bracewell and Kyle Jamieson all gave up big chunks and New Zealand didn’t bat first with Mitchell Santner until India had reached 156. The rate requirement was no longer a significant barrier by that time.
The home side had something to build around earlier in the match with Daryl Mitchell’s goal. His unbeaten 89 off 52 balls made with five fours and five sixes helped New Zealand to finish on 198 for 3. Finn Allen scored 40 and the Indian bowlers were able to get a bit more control later in the innings as they looked for yorker lengths and directed the hitters to longer straight boundaries from Wellington.
The end of Allen’s term of office was significant in that regard and Tim Seifert was also cut early by Nitish Reddy’s side. But Mitchell wouldn’t stop scoring and his performance would have been the news in a more competitive contest.
Rather the match was a showcase of India’s batting class and attacking spirit. With a few late wickets, the remaining batters chased down a brilliant Sooryavanshi’s 100 and delivered with Abhishek’s outstanding century.
With two more games in hand, India’s win spells the end of the series. New Zealand will have to come up with a much better answer with the ball to avoid seeing the rest of the series unfold the same way.
Brief scores: India 199/4 in 13.2 overs (Abhishek Sharma 113, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 45) and New Zealand 198/3 (Daryl Mitchell 89*, Finn Allen 40) in the 25th over. India won by six wickets.
