India Set Powerplay Record, Beat New Zealand by Six Wickets

India beat New Zealand by six wickets in the third T20I in Wellington after scoring 118 without losing a wicket in the first six overs of their chase, a record powerplay total in men’s T20 internationals. India reached the target of 199 in 13.2 overs, taking a 3-0 lead in the five-match series. Openers Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi drove the record start. They scored 26 runs from Jacob Duffy’s opening over, and India reached 100 by the end of the fifth over. The 118-run powerplay surpassed the previous men’s T20I mark reported for Romania, which made 116 against Serbia in 2021. Abhishek led the chase with 113 from 38 balls, hitting 11 sixes. He reached his century in 35 deliveries and was named Player of the Match. India’s opening partnership added 133 runs before Sooryavanshi was dismissed, leaving the side well placed to complete the chase. Sooryavanshi made 45 before Matthew Fisher dismissed him, with Daryl Mitchell taking the catch. Reports differ on whether he faced 19 or 20 balls, so the number of deliveries is not included here. His innings included four fours and four sixes, according to one match report. New Zealand had scored 198 for three in its 20 overs...