Abhishek Sharma's 35-ball century powers India to series win in New Zealand

Abhishek Sharma struck a blistering 113 off 38 balls as India thrashed New Zealand by six wickets in the third T20 International in Wellington on Tuesday, sealing the five-match series with two games to spare.

Chasing 199, India reached the target in 13.2 overs with 40 balls left, finishing on 199 for 4. The left-hander brought up his hundred in just 35 balls, hitting 11 sixes and nine fours before he was dismissed by Kyle Jamieson in the 10th over.

Explosive powerplay

Abhishek and teenage opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi took the New Zealand attack apart from the start. India raced to 118 without loss at the end of the six-over powerplay, leaving the home side with little room to fight back. Sooryavanshi made 45 off 19 balls, with four sixes and four fours, before falling to Matthew Fisher in the eighth over.

Jamieson picked up two wickets, while Fisher and captain Mitchell Santner took one each, but none of the New Zealand bowlers could contain the scoring rate.

Mitchell's effort in vain

Earlier, India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and chose to field. New Zealand posted 198 for 3, built around an unbeaten 89 off 52 balls from Daryl Mitchell. Finn Allen contributed 40 off 25 balls and Bevon Jacobs added a quick unbeaten 39 off 23. Arshdeep Singh, Axar Patel and Nitish Kumar Reddy took a wicket each. Glenn Phillips, playing his 100th T20I, was out for 17.

New Zealand were without frontline pacers Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson, while India were missing Ishan Kishan, who was ruled out with a strain.

Series sealed

India had won both earlier matches in Christchurch by four wickets, and Tuesday's result gave them an unassailable 3-0 lead. The fourth match is scheduled at Eden Park in Auckland on October 30, followed by the final game at Seddon Park in Hamilton on November 1.

For India, the win underlines the depth of the new-look T20 side, with young openers setting the tone and the team chasing big totals with ease on New Zealand pitches.