In a thrilling and low-scoring match where both the teams failed to hit a single maximum, India won by 6 wickets on Sunday. With this win, the Men in Blue leveled the three-match series. The match was played in Lucknow where electing to bat first, New Zealand posted their lowest ever score against India. However, India were also struggling to chase down 100 as the match went down to the last over.
India’s spinners impressed on a rank turner to restrict New Zealand to 99/8, their lowest total against the hosts. The Kiwi team registered its lowest score against India in 2021 with 111 runs and 126 runs in 2020.
with a sharp turning pitch, hardik pandya After starting the bowling himself, it was decided to use spinners from both ends in the powerplay. wrist spinner Kuldeep Chahal (1/17) and Yuzvendra Chahal (1/4), playing a T20 together after some time, took a lot out of the Lucknow surface, while finger-spinner Washington Sundar (1/17) produced another good spell.
Chahal was left licking his face after the first ball of his opening spell. It was a ripper that pitched over leg stump before hitting the outside edge of Finn Allen’s bat. The opener later missed two balls in an attempt to reverse sweep and the ball hit his back foot and hit the stumps.
New Zealand were soon reduced to 35 for three in the seventh over when the dangerous Glenn Phillips missed a straight ball from Deepak Hooda in an attempt to reverse sweep the part-time off-spinner.
New Zealand’s batting was deep but none of the batsmen were able to impose themselves on the testing pitch. Pacers Arshdeep Singh, who has been guilty of bowling too many no balls lately, and Shivam Mavi were used only in the death overs.
When it comes to India’s batting, the attacking intent soon fades as India keep losing wickets. The Indian openers lost three quick wickets in the form of Ishan Kishan. Shubman GillAnd Rahul Tripathi left early.
An in-form Washington Sundar was run out after miscommunication with Suryakumar. Although Suryakumar and Hardik Pandya stabilized the innings, India needed 6 runs from the last 6 balls. Suryakumar hit a four and relieved the pressure by winning with 1 ball to spare.
India Playing XI:
Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan (w), Rahul Tripathi, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (c), Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Shivam Mavi, Kuldeep YadavYuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh
New Zealand Playing XI:
Finn Allen, Devon Conway(w), Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner(C), Ish SodhiJacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Blair Tickner