India beat New Zealand in Guwahati to seal series win as Abhishek Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav finish chase in 10 overs
India clinched a series win over New Zealand in Guwahati after restricting the visitors to 153/9 and then chasing the target in just 10 overs. Abhishek Sharma’s unbeaten 68 off 20 balls and captain Suryakumar Yadav’s unbeaten 57 off 26 powered the chase, with India also taking an unassailable lead in the five-match series.
A T20 that turned into a 10-over chase
India wrapped up a decisive win over New Zealand in Guwahati, completing a rapid chase to seal the series. After two earlier high-scoring matches in Nagpur and Raipur, the Guwahati contest followed a different script: India’s bowlers set the platform by keeping New Zealand to a below-par total of 153 for nine, and the batters then finished the job at extraordinary speed.
Abhishek Sharma starred with an unbeaten 68 off just 20 balls, combining clean striking with relentless intent from the start. Captain Suryakumar Yadav complemented the assault with an unbeaten 57 off 26 balls, ensuring the chase never drifted into uncertainty even after early movement in the innings.
Bowling control, then batting acceleration
The match’s pivot was the first half, where India’s bowlers and fielders kept pressure on New Zealand through regular wickets and disciplined plans. With the target set, India effectively made the contest a sprint—chasing 154 in 10 overs while losing only two wickets, compressing a full T20 chase into what looked like a T10 finish.
The win also confirmed India’s grip on the series, giving them an unassailable advantage in the five-match contest. For India, the performance doubled as a statement on depth and flexibility: the ability to win even when the game shifts away from a pure batting track and demands sharper bowling execution first.
- New Zealand: 153/9.
- India: chased target in 10 overs, 2 wickets down.
- Top scorers: Abhishek Sharma 68* (20), Suryakumar Yadav 57* (26).
In front of a packed Barsapara crowd, India’s combination of early bowling control and late batting power produced a one-sided result—fast, loud and series-defining.