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Sun, 10 February 2019
NZ pip India in high-scoring thriller to win T20 series 2-1
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16:02 NZ pip India in high-scoring thriller to win T20 series 2-1
India 208-6 (20 ovs) vs NZ 212-4 | Scorecard
Colin Munro's blazing innings helped New Zealand pip India in a high-scoring thriller by four runs to win the three-match T20 International 2-1, in Hamilton, on Sunday.
Munro blasted 72 from 40 balls to power New Zealand to a huge 212 for four in their 20 overs after they were put into bat.
In reply, India finished on 208 for six as no partnerships flourished in the hug run chase.
Vijay Shankar top-scored with a quickfire 43 from 28 balls, while Dinesh Karthik slammed 33 not out from 16 balls but was unable to steer India to victory.
India needed 16 from the final over for victory but the experienced Tim Southee held his nerve quite well to deny Karthik and Krunal Pandya, who hit 26 not out from 13 balls.
All-rounder Daryl Mitchell took two for 27 after he had scored 19 not out from 11 balls at the end.
15:55 New Zealand outclass India to win T20I series 2-1
India 208-6 (20 ovs) vs NZ 212-4 | Scorecard
Southee to bowl the final over. The first ball is full as Karthik clips it through midwicket as Mitchell at long-on does well to put in the slide and keep it down to two runs.
Karthik then shuffles across his stumps a long way and misses out on a wide delivery.
Karthik then smashes the next ball on the bounce to long-on but he turns down the single to keep strike.
And Krunal, who has smashed 25 from 12 balls, is unhappy with being asked to go back.
Karthik then hits the next ball to the fielder at mid-off and this time he takes the run.
Krunal then hits the fifth ball straight back at the stumps for just a single as the target is out of reach now for India with 11 needed from one ball.
Southee then bowls a bouncer which goes over Karthik and is called a wide.
11 needed off the final delivery as Karthik slams the last ball for a six over the cover region as New Zealand win by four runs, to claim the three-match series 2-1.
15:50 India need 16 from final over for victory
India 197-6 (19 ovs) vs NZ 212-4 | Scorecard
Kuggeleijn to bowl the 19th over. Krunal has a big cross-batted swing off the first ball but fails to connect before he takes one next ball.
Karthik then swings the third ball over the square leg fence for a six to keep India in the hunt.
The pacer goes full as Karthik drives straight, hitting the stumps at the non-striker's end for just a single.
Kuggeleijn then foxes Krunal all ends up with a well-disguised slower ball as he is beaten.
However, he makes up for it as he smashes the last ball straight back over the bowler's head for a six.
15:44 India need 30 from 2 overs for victory
India 183-6 (18 ovs) vs NZ 212-4 | Scorecard
Karthik shows that there is still some life left in India's run chase. He lofts a full delivery from Tickner for a huge six over the long-off fence.
The next ball is short as Karthik goes for the pull but fails to connect and he is unhappy with himself at missing out on some easy runs.
He takes a quick leg bye followed by two singles before Tickner bowls a leg side wide to left-hander Krunal Pandya.
Krunal attempts to swing the fifth ball over the leg side but fails to make connection as the ball goes over the stumps.
Tickner bowls a slower bouncer as Krunal miscues it to midwicket for just a single as the debutant finishes with impressive figures of one for 33 in four overs.
In the next over, Pandya keeps India's hopes alive as he hammers Southee over the off-side for a six.
The next ball is hit fine on the leg side for a four and then slashes the next through the covers for another boundary.
Southee then bowls a good yorker which Krunal digs out to give away just one before Karthik clips the fifth ball to midwicket for another run.
The last ball is again a yorker as Krunal can manage just one.
India are 183 for six in 18 overs, needing another 30 runs from two overs for victory.
15:33 Dhoni and Pandya perish; India in trouble
India 154-4 (16 ovs) vs NZ 212-4 | Scorecard
Pacer Kuggeleijn from the other end. Four singles from the first four balls before the fast bowler strikes with the wicket of Pandya, who is caught in the covers after scoring 21 from 11 balls.
Dinesh Karthik defends the last ball as Kuggeleijn bowls a fantastic over, giving away just four singles, while picking up a wicket.
India are losing their way as they slip to 145 for five in 15 overs, needing another 68 runs from five overs for victory.
Mitchell deals India with the killer blow as the claims the big wicket of Dhoni, who aims to loft it down the ground but is caught at long-on for two.
This is highly unlikely of Dhoni, who likes to take the match till the end but with the asking rate growing to 14 per over, he had no option but to go for his shots.
Dinesh Karthik chances his arm but he manages to clear mid-off for two runs before he pulls the next ball for a six.
India are 154 for six in 16 overs, needing 59 runs from four overs for victory.
15:27 Rohit out for 38; India in trouble
India 141-4 (14 ovs) vs NZ 212-4 | Scorecard
Pandya keen to attack as he hits Mitchell over midwicket for a four before he hits the next ball back over the bowler's head for a six.
But Mitchell claims the important breakthrough with the wicket of Rohit, who flashes at a wide delivery and gets an edge to be caught behind after scoring 38.
India have been reduced to 141 for four in 14 overs, needing another 72 runs from six overs for victory.
15:19 Pant falls for 28; India lose 3rd wicket
India 128-3 (13 ovs) vs NZ 212-4 | Scorecard
Pant dealing in sixes as he lofts Sodhi straight down the ground for a maximum followed by two singles.
The last ball is hammered over the leg side for the second six of the over as Pant races to 23 from six deliveries, including three sixes.
At the halfway mark, India are 108 for two in 10 overs, needing another 105 runs from 10 overs for victory.
Pacer Tickner comes back into the attack. Rohit takes one on the off-side before Pant hits the next ball behind square for two runs and then takes one.
Rohit then plays a nice drive through the covers for two runs followed by a single as Tickner concedes just seven.
Daryl Mitchell comes into the attack and he concedes just five singles in his first over as the Kiwis look to frustrate Pant and build some pressure.
The pressure pays off as Pant looks to attack Tickner but is caught at midwicket as he looks to swing it over the leg side.
Pant walks back after an entertaining cameo of 28 from 12 balls.
Hardik Pandya announces himself in grand style, pulling the first ball he faces for a six.
15:01 Shankar out for 43; India lose 2nd wicket
India 92-2 (9 ovs) vs NZ 212-4 | Scorecard
Santner comes back into the attack. He bowls another good over, giving away just five runs, including a wide.
Spin from both ends as leg-spinner Ish Sodhi comes in from the other end. He also looks to keep up the pressure with some tight bowling, conceding just two singles from the first three balls.
Shankar breaks the shackles with back to back sixes off the leg-spinner. He despatches a wide full delivery over the cover fence and slog sweeps the next to make it two sixes in a row.
Sodhi nearly scalps Shankar with a flighted delivery which turns sharply as the right-hander attempts the cut but is beaten.
Shankar continues his attack as he lofts Santner over the covers for a four. But the bowler has the last laugh as he gets the wicket of Shankar, who is caught at deep midwicket after a quickfire 43 from 28 balls.
Rishabh Pant wastes no time in getting going. He sweeps the first ball he faces, from Santner, behind square on the leg side for a four before he swings the last ball over midwicket for a six.
14:49 Rohit, Shankar rally India after early wicket
India 57-1 (6 ovs) vs NZ 212-4 | Scorecard
Debutant Blair Tickner comes into the attack as Southee is taken off after just one over as the Kiwis juggle with the bowlers early on.
Rohit picks one from the first ball before Shankar is beaten twice in a row, looking to hit it out of the ground.
He then turns one off his hips for two runs to midwicket before Shankar finally connects as he carves Tickner over the fielder at short thirdman for a four and then takes one off the last ball.
Southee comes back into the attack. Shankar tries to run the first ball to the vacant thirdman fence but can't beat the fielder inside the circle before he manages just a single.
Rohit wants India to make most of the Powerplay as he comes down and drives Southee through the covers for a four. The next ball is short and wide as Rohit guides it past short thirdman for another boundary as India reach 49 for one in five overs.
Pacer Kuggelejin comes back into the attack. Shankar fails to make connection with the first ball as he is hit on the pads before he lofts the next over mid-off for a four.
A single to Shankar before Rohit gets a leading edge for two runs to raise the 50-run stand for the second wicket from just 29 balls.
India are 57 for one in six overs, needing another 156 runs from 14 overs for victory at an asking rate of over 11.
14:34 India lose early wicket after NZ post 212
India 29-1 (3 ovs) vs NZ 212-4 | Scorecard
New Zealand open the bowling with spin as Mitchell Santner is handed the new ball.
Shikhar Dhawan smashes the second ball for a boundary through the covers to get off the mark in style before he takes one and Rohit picks one.
Santner strikes in his very first over with the wicket of Dhawan, who attempts the slog sweep but is caught at deep midwicket for five.
Vijay Shankar comes in at No. 3 and Santner fires the first ball down the leg side and it keeps going for five wides before he beats the batsman last ball.
Tim Southee from the other end. Rohit hits the first ball to thirdman for a single and Shankar gets off the mark with a single on the leg side.
Rohit then opens the face of the bat and guides a wide delivery square on the off-side for a four before he keeps strike with one from the last ball.
Fast bowler Scott Kuggelejin comes into the attack as Santner is taken off despite taking a wicket in the first over.
Three singles from the first three balls before Shankart flicks it over the leg side for a four and then hammers the last ball straight down the ground for another boundary.
14:09 Munro's blast powers New Zealand to 212
NZ 212-4 (20 ovs) vs India | Scorecard
Colin Munro blasted a quickfire half-century to power New Zealand to a huge 212 for four in the series-deciding third T20 Intenational against India in Hamilton.
Put into bat, Munro gave New Zealand the perfect start as he smashed 72 form 40 balls, putting on 80 runs for the opening wicket with Tim Seifert, who hit a quickfire 43 from 25 balls.
There were contributions throughout from the Kiwi batsmen with Kane Williamson hitting 27 from 21 balls, Colin de Grandhomme slamming 30 from 16 balls and Daryl Mitchell contributing with a brisk 19 from 11 balls, while Ross Taylor made 14 from seven balls.
For India, Kuldeep Yadav was the standout bowler in a high-scoring contest, with excellent figures of two for 26 in four overs.
The two Pandya brothers -- Hardik and Krunal -- had an off-day with the ball as they combined conceded 98 runs from their eight overs.
Put into bat, Munro gave New Zealand the perfect start as he smashed 72 form 40 balls, putting on 80 runs for the opening wicket with Tim Seifert, who hit a quickfire 43 from 25 balls.
There were contributions throughout from the Kiwi batsmen with Kane Williamson hitting 27 from 21 balls, Colin de Grandhomme slamming 30 from 16 balls and Daryl Mitchell contributing with a brisk 19 from 11 balls, while Ross Taylor made 14 from seven balls.
For India, Kuldeep Yadav was the standout bowler in a high-scoring contest, with excellent figures of two for 26 in four overs.
The two Pandya brothers -- Hardik and Krunal -- had an off-day with the ball as they combined conceded 98 runs from their eight overs.
14:06 De Grandhomme out for 30 but NZ set for huge total
NZ 212-4 (20 ovs) vs India | Scorecard
Bhuvneshwar, who has two overs in hand, comes back. He starts with a full toss which de Grandhomme hits over the off-side for a four. The next ball is short and this time the right-hander slashes it over point for another boundary.
Three singles from the next three balls before Mitchell hits a full toss straight back over the bowler's head for the third four of the over.
A poor over from Bhuvneshwar as he missed his radar while trying to bowl the yorkers and ended up gifting the Kiwi batsmen quite a few full toss.
Hardik Pandya comes back into the attack. He sees another catch dropped off his bowling as Rohit makes a valiant effort in the covers but is unable to hold on following a full length dive.
Hardik then bowls it full on the stumps as Mitchell clips it over midwicket for a boundary and then gets one from the next ball.
De Grandhomme miscues the pull shot as Hardik bowls the slower bouncer but it falls safely for three runs followed by one.
Bhuvneshwar makes the breakthrough dismissing the dangerous Colin de Grandhomme, who throws his bat at a wide yorker but gets an edge and is caught behind after a quickfire cameo of 30 from 16 balls.
Ross Taylor gets off the mark with two runs through the covers and then takes one.
Mitchell then top edges the pull shot which falls in the gap between fine leg and square leg and goes for a four to bring up New Zealand's 200.
Khaleel to bowl the final over. He starts with a short ball which Taylor pulls over the square leg fence for a six but is then beaten by a wide full delivery.
Taylor then comes down the track but misses out a full toss bowled wide off the stumps.
Taylor then pulls the fourth ball to deep midwicket for a single before Mitchell takes one next ball.
Taylor ends the innings in style, pulling the last ball for a boundary to take the Kiwis to a huge 212 for four in their 20 overs.
13:49 Williamson out for 27; NZ 3 down
NZ 167-3 (16 ovs) vs India | Scorecard
Khaleel comes back into the attack. The first ball is short and goes wide as Williamson slaps it through the covers for a four and then picks two runs to midwicket.
Williamson then drills the third ball through the covers for another boundary before the pacer gets revenge.
Williamson is foxed by the slower ball as he top edges the pull shot and is caught at fine leg for 27 from 21 balls.
Krunal comes back into the attack and continues to go for runs. Daryl Mitchell takes a single from the first ball before de Grandhomme smacks a length ball off the stumps over midwicket for a six.
Krunal realises his mistakes as he immediately switches to wide outside the off-stump as de Grandhomme carves it over point for two runs and then plays a similar shot for a four over point.
Krunal goes for 16 in his final over to finish with expensive figures of 54 runs from four overs.
13:34 Munro out for 40-ball 76; NZ lose 2nd wicket
NZ 140-2 (14 ovs) vs India | Scorecard
Kuldeep comes back and he makes the breakthrough with the crucial wicket of Munro. The left-hander goes for the slog sweep but fails to make proper connection and is caught by Hardik at long-on, who vents out his frustration after taking the catch.
Munro walks back after an entertaining innings of 76 from 40 balls, having hit five sixes and six fours.
Good bowling from Kuldeep as he bowled it a bit slower and made Munro fetch it from wide outside of off-stump, resulting in the miscue.
Colin de Grandhomme shows his intent immediately as he plays an aggressive shot first up, getting a thick edge which goes over point for two runs before he sensibly taps the next to long-off for one.
Williamson retains strike with a single from the last ball.
13:29 Munro on the attack; NZ set for huge total
NZ 135-1 (13 ovs) vs India | Scorecard
New Zealand take the sensible route by not trying anything fancy against Kuldeep, as they are content to just pick the singles against the spinner, who has caused the Kiwis problem with some turn.
Williamson gets a thick outside edge as he plays away from his body but it goes past the short thirdman fielder for a four.
The last ball goes straight on as Williamson is beaten again trying to defend the last ball.
Hardik comes back into the attack in place of his brother Krunal, who has been hit for 38 runs in his three overs.
Hardik is unlucky not to pick a wicket off the first ball as Munro, on 60 from 33 balls, gets a top edge trying to pull a slower bouncer but Khaleel at square puts down a simple catch.
More sloppy fielding from India as this time Vijay Shankar at deep midwicket slides but lets the flick from Munro go through to gift the Kiwis a boundary.
Munro making the Indians pay already as he then blasts a full delivery right back over the bowler's head for a six.
Pandya tries the quicker bouncer as Munro gets the top edge but Kuldeep running to his right makes the dive but is unable to get the ball to give away a four.
Munro slaps the last ball down to long-on for a single to retain strike as he races to 76 from 38 balls, with a strike rate of 200.
13:22 Munro blasts 28-ball fifty, NZ off to a flier
NZ 110-1 (11 ovs) vs India | Scorecard
Krunal, who went for 20 runs in his first over, comes back and this time he does a good job as he concedes just four singles in his second over.
Kuldeep gets some sharp turn as Williamson is beaten all ends up before he takes a single.
Munro reads the googly early as he slog sweeps Kuldeep over the square leg fence for a six and then takes one.
Kuldeep produces another beauty to beat Williamson, who was shaping up to defend and sees the ball spin past the edge. Wicketkeeper Dhoni again whips off the bails as the appeal is referred to the TV umpire but Williamson's foot has not moved at all.
At the halfway mark, New Zealand are on course for a huge total as they race to 96 for one in 10 overs.
Munro continues his attack as he slog sweeps Krunal over midwicket for a six to race to bring up his fifty in style, from 28 balls, as the Kiwis also race past the 100-run mark, in the 11th over.
Singles from the next four balls before Munro smashes the spinner over the cover region for a four to get 14 from the over.
NZ are going at 10 per over as they race to 110 for one in 11 overs.
13:11 Kuldeep strikes; Seifert out for 25-ball 43
NZ 83-1 (8 ovs) vs India | Scorecard
Munro gets some good timing as he plays a nice drive off an overpitched Pandya delivery for a four and then takes one on the leg side.
Hardik tries the slower ball but Seifert has spotted it early as he lofts it over the long-off fence for a six.
Two singles from the last two balls as Hardik concedes 13 runs from his second over.
The two Pandya brothers in total have conceded 42 runs in three overs.
A desperate India introduce Kuldeep Yadav into the attack. He starts off in perfect fashion as Munro is beaten first ball before he takes one.
Seifert tries to reverse Kuldeep but is beaten and he survives the leg before shout.
The right-hander is then beaten all ends up by the googly as he tries to defend and Dhoni whips off the bails in a flash.
The stumping appeal is referred to the TV umpire and a close decision goes in India's favour and commentator Simon Doull is unhappy with the ruling. 'Clearly the third umpire is not seeing what we are seeing,' he says.
Kane Williamson laps the first ball fine for two runs to get off the mark and then takes a single.
13:00 Seifert, Munro give NZ a flying start
NZ 66-0 (6 ovs) vs India | Scorecard
Hardik Pandya comes into the attack in place of Bhuvneshwar. Two singles from the first two balls before Munro clubs a length ball over midwicket for a four.
The next ball is a full toss as the left-hander clips it through midwicket for two runs and then inside edges the next ball.
The last ball is a bouncer as Munro is content to duck under it.
Pandyas from both ends now!
Spin introduced in the Powerplay as Krunal Pandya is called into the attack to bowl the sixth over.
Munro swings the second ball over midwicket for a six as New Zealand race past the 50-run mark, in the sixth over.
He comes down the track again and this time he lofts it over the cover region for a four forcing captain Rohit and senior pro Dhoni to have a long chat with the bowler.
The next ball is short as Munro cuts it to deep point for a single.
Seifert again walks across his stumps and sweeps a full toss over the square leg fence for a six as 18 come from the first five balls.
The last ball is short as Seifert goes back and cuts it past point for two runs as Krunal goes for 20 in his first over.
New Zealand are off to a flier as they race to 66 for no loss in six overs, with Seifert smashing 36 from 20 balls, while Munro has hit 29 from 16 balls.
12:52 New Zealand off to a good start
NZ 38-0 (4 ovs) vs India | Scorecard
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to open the bowling for India, while Tim Seifert and Colin Munro are the two openers for the hosts.
Seifert flicks the first ball through the leg side for two runs to get off the mark before he takes one next ball.
Munro takes no time to warm up as he comes down and clobbers Bhuvneshwar over the long-on fence for a six to get off the mark in smashing fashion.
Two more singles as Bhuvi goes for 11 runs in the over.
Left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed to bowl the second over. Two singles from the first two balls before Seifert lofts the pacer over the off-side for a four followed by two more singles as New Zealand are off to a good start.
After going for runs in his opening over, Bhuvneshwar makes a good comeback in his second, as he concedes just three runs, including a wide.
He starts with a yorker before he attempts a slow bouncer which goes down the leg side and is called a wide.
The next ball is a perfect yorker which Munro defends and he digs out the next ball which is again a yorker, for a single to mid-off.
Three more yorkers to follow as Seifer defends the first two and then keeps strike with a single from the last ball.
Seifert decides to break the shackles as he goes after Khaleel. He makes room and tries to loft Khaleel over the off-side but fails to make proper connection. Vijay Shankar from point makes a stunning effort as he runs back and dives full length and gets his hands to it but fails to hold on and it goes over for a four.
He then shuffles across and scoops a full delivery over short fine leg and it goes all the way for a six.
Singles from the next two balls before Khaleel clips the ball behind square for another four.
Khaleel goes for 16 in his second over as New Zealand race to 38 for no loss in four overs.
12:12 India elect to bowl vs NZ; Kuldeep replaces Chahal
India captain Rohit Sharma has won the toss and elected to bowl in the series-deciding third T20 International in Hamilton.
The visitors have made one change with left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav replacing leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal.
Meanwhile, New Zealand have also made change with Blair Tickner making his debut as he replaces fellow pacer Lockie Ferguson.
The three-match series is level at 1-1 after India were outclassed by 80 runs in the opening T20 International before they bounced back to win the second match by seven wickets.
11:27 Confident India face gutsy Kiwis in series decider
Welcome to the coverage of the third and final T20 International between New Zealand and India in Hamilton on Sunday.
Rohit Sharma's men will be aiming to become the first team to win a T20 International series in New Zealand when the two sides clash in the final match.
The past three months have made for a memorable phase for the Indian cricket team, who won their first Test and bilateral ODI series in Australia followed by the biggest one-day series win in New Zealand.
A first T20 series victory in New Zealand will be the icing on the cake for the Men in Blue, who have far exceeded expectations during their three-month sojourn in this part of the world.
India will do well to remember the nightmare they had endured during the fourth ODI at this venue where they were shot out for 92 in the wake of some quality swing bowling from Trent Boult.
India played the same XI in the first two games and in all likelihood, will maintain continuity unless there are some niggles.
In case the team management gives change a thought, it could be a like for like replacement with Kuldeep Yadav coming in place of Yuzvendra Chahal as the wrist spinner.
Rohit, who hit a quicktire 29-ball 50 in the previous match, will look to continue his good form with the bat.
With Shikhar Dhawan for company, a good opening will solve half the problems for the visitors as it has been the case during the last four years.
The middle-order has also shown solidity with the experience of Mahendra Singh Dhoni and the exuberance of Rishabh Pant combining well as was evident in Auckland.
Rohit Sharma's men will be aiming to become the first team to win a T20 International series in New Zealand when the two sides clash in the final match.
The past three months have made for a memorable phase for the Indian cricket team, who won their first Test and bilateral ODI series in Australia followed by the biggest one-day series win in New Zealand.
A first T20 series victory in New Zealand will be the icing on the cake for the Men in Blue, who have far exceeded expectations during their three-month sojourn in this part of the world.
India will do well to remember the nightmare they had endured during the fourth ODI at this venue where they were shot out for 92 in the wake of some quality swing bowling from Trent Boult.
India played the same XI in the first two games and in all likelihood, will maintain continuity unless there are some niggles.
In case the team management gives change a thought, it could be a like for like replacement with Kuldeep Yadav coming in place of Yuzvendra Chahal as the wrist spinner.
Rohit, who hit a quicktire 29-ball 50 in the previous match, will look to continue his good form with the bat.
With Shikhar Dhawan for company, a good opening will solve half the problems for the visitors as it has been the case during the last four years.
The middle-order has also shown solidity with the experience of Mahendra Singh Dhoni and the exuberance of Rishabh Pant combining well as was evident in Auckland.
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