India beat NZ by 8 wickets in 3rd T20I, clinch series

Riding on blistering knocks by opener Abhishek Sharma (68 n o, 20b, 7x4, 5x6) and skipper Suryakumar Yadav (57 n o, 26b, 6x4, 3x6), India registered an emphatic eight wickets victory over New Zealand, in the third T20I at  Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Sunday. In the process, India sealed the series 3-0 with two matches to spare.

Chasing a victory target of 154, India romped home only in 10 overs by loosing just two wickets. Ishan Kishan (28, 13b, 3x4, 2x6) also played a cameo and stitched together a good partnership with Abhishek after Sanju Samson departed without opening his account.

Abhishek Sharma has entered the record books, smashing the second-fastest half-century by an Indian. Abhishek smashed his fifty in just 14 deliveries.

Earlier, wrist-spinner Ravi Bishnoi (2/18) marked his return with a superb spell alongside the experienced duo of Jasprit Bumrah (3/17) and Hardik Pandya (2/23) as India tightened the screws on New Zealand, restricting them to an under-par 153/9.

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Glenn Phillips (48) was the highest scorer for the visitors and he was supported by Mark Chapman (32). Bishnoi finished with impressive figures of 2 for 18, maintaining relentless control through the middle overs after Suryakumar Yadav opted to bowl first.

India struck early inside the powerplay, putting the visitors on the back foot and reducing them to 36/3. The Kiwis could never recover from the initial blows and were eventually restricted to 153/9 in the stipulated 20 overs.