Abhishek Sharma hits 39-ball century as India beat New Zealand in third T20I

India beat New Zealand by a big margin in the third match of the five-match T20 series on Tuesday, with opener Abhishek Sharma's blistering innings setting up the win and bringing him several records.

New Zealand had set India a target of 199. Abhishek attacked the New Zealand bowlers from the very first ball, and India reached the target comfortably on the strength of his batting.

Abhishek scored 113 off just 39 balls. He reached his fifty in only 15 balls and his hundred in 35. At the other end, Vaibhav Suryavanshi made 45. Together they broke the back of the New Zealand attack.

With this innings, Abhishek also broke a record held by former captain Suryakumar Yadav. Abhishek is now the first batsman in T20 cricket to score 50 or more the most times at a strike rate above 200. It was the 14th time in his T20 career that he has made a score of 50 or more at a strike rate above 200. Suryakumar had done so 13 times. Abhishek has now gone past him.

Playing for India, Abhishek has so far scored 14 half-centuries in 70 matches. This record too now stands in his name. His performance against New Zealand shows that his form in T20 cricket continues.

The list of batsmen with the most T20 centuries is also worth a look. Glenn Maxwell and Rohit Sharma lead it with five each. Phil Salt, Suryakumar Yadav and Abhishek Sharma have four each.