Picture : Twitter / BCCI
India have won the five match T20 series against New Zealand at Hamilton by super over. The loss for New Zealand brought back their 2019 ICC World Cup final loss in super over to England .
It was a sensational end to the match as both sides were tied at total of 179 . India 179/ 5 ( 20 overs), New Zealand 179 / 6 ( 20 overs).
Earlier New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson won the toss and asked India to bat first. Rohit Sharma was aggressive and powered India to total of 179 with a brilliant 40 ball 65 . K L Rahul ( 27 ), Skipper Virat Kohli (38) were the other scorers.
The Kiwis needing to win to keep the series alive . They managed to some what restrict India. Tim Southee 0/39 ( 4 overs), Hamish Bennett 3/ 53 ( 4 overs) was expensive, Mitchell Santner 1/ 37 ( 4 overs), Ish Sodhi 0/ 23 ( 4 overs), Colin de Grandhomme 1/ 13 ( 2 overs)
In reply , New Zealand , Martin Guptill ( 31) after a start fell . Colin Munro struggled for his 14. But the innings of the match came from New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson. Hitting his 11th T20 fifty, Williamson was simply brilliant and threatened to take the match away from India. It was masterly knock 95 ( 48 balls) . Innings studded with eight fours and six sixes. The moment he fell in the last over the Kiwis choked. Colin de Grandhomme wasted 12 balls for his 5. Ross Taylor was bolwed when they needed 1 off 1 of the bowling of Mohammed Shami. The scores were tied at 179 / 6 . The result was now on the super over to decide the series.
India were belwo par on the field and bowling was bit off the mark. Jasprit Bumrah’s frustration while he was bowling was seen as he went for many runs. The figures said it all. 0/ 45 ( 4 overs). Not many a time Bumrah as figures like this. Mohammed Shami 2/ 32 ( 4 overs) his last over kept India in the match. Yuzvendra Chahal 1/ 36 ( 4 overs), Ravindra Jadeja 1/ 23 ( 4 overs), Shardul Thakur 2/ 21 ( 3 overs)
In the Super Over , New Zealand sent skipper Kane Williamson and Martin Guptill. Jasprit Bumrah was the bowler. In a off day Bumrah conceded 17 runs.
Needing 18 to win , India sent openers Rohit Sharma and K L Rahul . Time Southee, the experienced bowler simply collapsed under pressure. After conceding 2 runs. K L Rahul hit him for a four. Then Rohit Sharma smashed a mighty six to get India back . Needing four off the last ball. Southee struggled for his length and Sharma ,a good batsmen not likely to miss, smashed a towering six to power India home to sensational win. The joy in skipper Virat Kohli’s face said it all.
India were clearly the superior side in the T 20 series where as New Zealand looked listless. Now it is battle for pride in the remaining T20 matches for the Kiwis.
