In the third test between South Africa and Australia: Jones and Alex Carey pair strengthens Australia's position despite losing four wickets

The Indian team demonstrated powerful play against New Zealand in Wellington, completely suppressing the attack of the Kiwi bowlers. Abhishek Sharma played an explosive innings, scoring 113 runs off 38 balls, while Vaibhav Suryavanshi added 45 runs from 19 balls. India managed to reach the target of 199 runs in just 13.2 overs, losing four batsmen in the process.

Thanks to this victory, the Indian team secured an undeniable 3-0 lead in the five-match T20 series.

When chasing the target of 199 runs, Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Suryavanshi immediately put pressure on the New Zealand bowlers. Both players managed to score 133 runs in the first 7.1 overs, setting an aggressive run rate of 18.13. This rate is the highest among all opening innings in Mains T20 International matches where over 100 runs were scored.

In his innings, Vaibhav scored 45 runs, utilizing 4 fours and 4 sixes. His performance ended when Matthew Fisher took a brilliant catch.

After this, Abhishek continued his aggressive style, scoring 113 runs off 38 balls.

Abhishek's innings included 11 sixes. He approached his personal record for the most sixes in a single T20 International innings for India. Previously, in 2025, he hit 13 sixes against England in Mumbai, and in 2026 against Afghanistan in Delhi—11 sixes. Now, playing against New Zealand, he hit another 11 sixes.

Abhishek is now in the list of players who have hit 10 or more sixes in a single Mains T20 International innings for the third time. In this ranking, Ranbir Singh from Australia leads with five innings, while Abhishek has three. Chris Gayle and Aaron Finch have achieved this feat twice.

Considering all Mains T20 matches, Abhishek has achieved this feat seven times. In this list, Chris Gayle tops the charts with 18 innings. Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Ranbir Singh each have five such innings.

With this century, Abhishek Sharma reached 11 centuries in Mains T20 cricket. In this list, Chris Gayle is at the top with 22 centuries, Babar Azam has 13, and Abhishek has 11. Following him are Quinton de Kock, Virat Kohli, and David Warner, each with 10 centuries.

In the Mains T20 International ranking for centuries, Abhishek has four centuries. The leaders in this list are Glenn Maxwell and Rohit Sharma, both with five centuries. Ranbir Singh, Phil Salt, Suryakumar Yadav, and Abhishek Sharma each have four centuries.

Abhishek completed his century in 35 balls. This is his personal best in Mains T20 International for the fastest century among full teams, which he set in 2026 against Afghanistan in Delhi in 30 balls. This list also includes Sikandar Raza and Finn Allen, who scored a hundred in 33 balls.

India scored 118 runs in the first six overs during the powerplay without losing any batsmen. According to the data presented, this is the highest figure among teams that scored over 100 runs in the powerplay in Mains T20 International. Previously, Romania scored 116 runs without loss against Serbia.

India reached the 50-run mark in just 2.2 overs and crossed the 100-run barrier in five overs. Both achievements meet or exceed the records for the fastest fifty and one hundred in Mains T20 International. Earlier, in 2026 in Delhi against Afghanistan, India also scored 100 runs without losing a wicket in the powerplay.

In the match against New Zealand, the Indian team continued to display its aggressive play.

India reached the target of 199 runs in 13.2 overs, meaning there were 40 balls remaining in the match. Successfully chasing a target of 190 runs or more with balls remaining is one of the most outstanding moments in the history of Mains T20 cricket. In this list, Estonia reached the target of 192 runs against Cyprus in 2024, leaving 42 balls. India's chase of 199 runs ranks second on this list. India's previous record in this aspect was set against New Zealand in Raipur, where 209 runs were scored with 28 balls remaining.

Earlier, New Zealand, having lost the toss, came out to bat and scored 198 runs in 20 overs, losing three batsmen. Daryl Mitchell played without getting out, scoring 89 runs, and Finn Allen made 40 runs off 25 balls. For India, Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel took one wicket each. In response, India scored 199 runs in 13.2 overs, losing four batsmen. Kyle Jamieson of New Zealand took two wickets, but the aggressive start by Abhishek and Vaibhav tipped the scales in favor of India.

In the second match of the series between South Africa and Australia, taking place in Gqeberha, it is expected that Steve Smith will be able to take the field on the final day. Due to neck strain, Smith was unable to play late on the fourth day. Nevertheless, Australian coach Andrew McDonald expressed confidence that the 37-year-old star batsman would be ready to play on the fifth day.

Australia's situation in the ICC World Test Championship match is extremely difficult. South Africa declared the first innings, scoring 425 runs for the loss of 9 wickets. In response, the Australian team scored only 99 runs and was forced to play a follow-on. By the end of the fourth day, the Australians had scored 156 runs in the second innings, losing 4 wickets, and still need to score 170 runs to overcome the deficit against South Africa.

In the first innings, Smith scored the most runs for Australia—28 runs, and during this period he also reached 11,000 runs in Test cricket. However, after being hit by Kagiso Rabada, his head and neck jerked sharply backward, after which he looked visibly displeased. During the second innings, it was also noticed in the dressing room that a neck support pillow was placed around Smith's neck.

Coach McDonald told the ICC that physiotherapists are working on Smith, and he will play the next day (Thursday). According to McDonald, it is an injury that will not prevent Smith from playing the entire innings, but after the first innings, he required more time than expected. He also noted that even when fully healthy, Smith sometimes changes his technique, but this time he could not realize his potential in the game to the fullest.

By the end of the fourth day, Travis Head was on 87 not out, and fast bowler Scott Boland played for 2 runs. There is a possibility that Smith will take the field on Thursday if the first wicket falls. Australia also has an experienced opening batsman Alex Carey, whose innings has not yet taken place.

McDonald believes that his team can come out of this difficult situation and save the match. The Australian coach added that if the team fails, they will approach the next match in Cape Town with new preparation. He admitted that this is a serious blow to the team, but the ability to recover from difficult circumstances has always been a strength of this team.

Currently, Australia leads this Test series 1-0, so the attempt to draw the second match is of great importance to them, while South Africa aims to level the series.

The South African off-spinner, Simon Harmer, achieved a remarkable feat in the second match of the series against Australia, entering history books. Harmer scored an impressive 82 runs, thereby breaking Dale Steyn's 18-year record.

He reached this result at a time when the South African team was in a difficult situation and desperately needed a big partnership. On Tuesday, the third day of the match played at Centurion Park in Gqeberha, Harmer faced 91 deliveries, scoring 10 fours and one six.

This figure is the highest for a South African batsman batting at number 9 or lower against Australia in Test matches. The previous record was 76 runs, set by Dale Steyn during a match in Melbourne in 2008.

In the first innings, South Africa lost six wickets for 110 runs. Following this, captain Temba Bavuma and Marco Jansen stabilized the game, adding 132 runs for the seventh wicket. Jansen departed after scoring 85 runs, after which Harmer supported Bavuma. Both players formed a crucial partnership on the eighth wicket, accumulating 183 runs.

This is the second-largest partnership on the eighth wicket or lower in South African history. The record is currently held by Marco Boucher and Pete Symcox, who scored 195 runs against Pakistan in 1998.

For his part, captain Temba Bavuma demonstrated exceptional patience and technique under pressure, scoring 179 runs off 334 balls, including 18 fours and one six. When the team score was only 12 runs with two wickets down on the first day, Bavuma took responsibility and prevented the innings from collapsing.

Simon Harmer had the opportunity to earn his first hundred in Test matches, but Marnus Labuschagne dismissed him. After South Africa fell victim to Mitchell Starc, they declared the innings closed at 425/9. By the end of the third day, Australia had scored three runs for the loss of one wicket. Kagiso Rabada dismissed Nick Maddinson, preventing him from scoring any runs.