Shubman Gill raises his bat and helmet to celebrate scoring a century during the 3rd T20 International cricket match between India and New Zealand in Ahmedabad on February 1, 2023. Photo Credit: AP
Shubman Gill hit a blistering unbeaten maiden century in the shortest format as India beat New Zealand by 168 runs, their biggest ever win in terms of runs, to seal the series 2 in the third and final T20 International here. Did your name from -1. Wednesday.
India’s second biggest margin of victory was their 143-run win over Ireland in Dublin in 2018.
It was also the highest margin of victory between two Full Member teams.
Gill continued his good form and showcased his shots, smashing New Zealand’s bowlers to all parts of the Narendra Modi Stadium, scoring an unbeaten 126 off just 63 balls with 12 fours and seven sixes.
Riding on Gill’s brilliance, India scored 234 for 4 after electing to bat.
New Zealand were never in a mammoth chase as the Indian bowlers put on a cohesive performance to bowl out the visitors for just 66 runs in 12.1 overs, the third-lowest score by the Kiwis in this format.
Captain Hardik Pandya led the bowling department with figures of 4/16, while Umran Malik (2/9), Shivam Mavi (2/12) and Arshdeep Singh (2/16) picked up two wickets each.
On the fifth ball of the first over bowled by Pandya, New Zealand got Finn Allen caught by Suryakumar Yadav.
Left-arm pacer Arshdeep struck his first ball as Devon Conway edged a fuller delivery to Pandya at mid-off.
New Zealand continued to lose wickets as Mark Champman got a faint inside edge that went straight to Ishan Kishan off the last ball of Arshdeep’s over.
Wickets kept falling for New Zealand like cards and Glenn Phillips became the next victim, caught by Suryakumar at slip off Pandya.
It was all over for New Zealand at 13 for 4 after three overs.
Things got worse for New Zealand when Michael Bracewell was clean bowled by Umran Malik’s pace.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner (13) and Daryl Mitchell (35) added 32 runs for the sixth wicket before Shivam Mavi dismissed the former, caught by Suryakumar at the deep mid-wicket fence as the left-hander bowled a short delivery. Tried to hit
Mavi bowled again a ball later, having Ish Sodhi (0) caught by Tripathi at backward point as New Zealand were dismissed for 53 for seven in nine overs.
Thereafter, it was a mere formality for India as the hosts stormed home in style.
Earlier, India did not get off to a good start after electing to bat as Mitchell Santner made a master-stroke decision by handing the second over to Michael Bracewell and the off-spinner regained his captain’s confidence by removing out-of-form Ishan Kishan. repeated. Who was declared LBW on the second ball of the over.
In-form Gill hit two boundaries off Lockie Ferguson in the next over.
Gill was at his ominous best, be it taking hits, drives or pulls to keep his onslaught going.
He hit three fours off Blair Tickner in the fifth over, reducing India’s score to 44 for 1.
Young Rahul Tripathi (44 off 22), who has immense potential but has yet to fire in the series, then hit Ferguson for a four and a six off successive balls to keep the momentum going.
Tripathi pulls Santner over short-fine leg before coming down and lofting the left-arm spinner straight for a six.
Tripathi showed his aggressive style and sent Ish Sodhi over extra cover for his third six of the innings, but fell in search of one too many, dismissing Ferguson at deep square leg in the next ball.
Gill completed his maiden T20 half-century in 35 balls by taking a single off Santner.
While Gill held one end, Suryakumar Yadav (24 off 13) showed glimpses of his class but was brilliantly caught at mid-off by Bracewell in the 13th over as the batsman misjudged his shot.
Gill completed his century on the first ball of the 18th over by hitting Ferguson’s ball over the mid-off fielder for a four.
He lofted Ferguson over midwicket for a six on the next ball.
It was mayhem in the form of skipper Pandya (30 off 17).
But it was Gill who stole the show as he continued with his attacking shots after the ton, finding boundaries as the New Zealand attack looked listless.