NEW DELHI: A popular Sanju Samson blitz eluded the legion of fans, but their disappointment was quickly forgotten thanks to centurion Ishan Kishan's sensational shot-making as India posted a huge 271 for five against New Zealand in the fifth and final T20I on Saturday.

Kishan (103 off 43 balls, 6x4, 10x6), who struck his maiden hundred in the format, and skipper Suryakumar Yadav (63 off 30 balls, 4x4, 6x6) treated the Kiwi bowlers with utter disdain during a 137-run third wicket stand which came in just over 10 overs.

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Openers struggle but middle order takes charge

Openers Samson (6) and Abhishek Sharma (30 off 16 balls) could not provide the big start India hoped for. Samson, failing for the fifth successive time in the series, now faces serious questions ahead of the T20 World Cup as he fell to pacer Lockie Ferguson. Sharma gave a solid start but extra pace from Ferguson got the better of him.

India recovered quickly through Suryakumar and Kishan after a relatively quiet power play phase that ended at 54 for two. Kishan, who had missed the fourth T20I with a minor injury, looked completely in rhythm, punishing the Kiwi bowlers with his fast hands and nimble footwork.

Kishan dominates with a record-breaking century

The left-hander began his assault with a four and a six off Ferguson and the runs continued almost without pause. Kishan brought up his fifty in 28 balls with a four off Ish Sodhi. Suryakumar, who also completed 3000 T20I runs in the innings, went past the milestone in two fewer balls with a six off Jacob Duffy.

Kishan was severe on Sodhi, scoring 29 runs in the 12th over with a sequence of big-hits reading 4, 4, 4, 6, 4, 6. Suryakumar was dismissed in between, stumped by Tim Seifert off Mitchell Santner.

Kishan reached his hundred in 42 balls with a six off Santner taking him to 97 and the next shot taking him past the milestone. He celebrated with jumps and a hug from Hardik Pandya. His second fifty came off just 14 balls.

The Kishan show ended when he was caught at square leg by Glenn Phillips off Duffy. Pandya’s late blitz of 42 off 17 balls helped India cross the 250-run mark for the fourth time in T20I history.

(With PTI Inputs)