In what can be termed as a fascinating game of cricket, the men in blue went onto clinch their maiden T20I series win in New Zealand.With India leading the 5-match T20 series with 2-0, the Indians had an outstanding opening partnership, thanks to the courtesy of ‘Hitman’ Rohit Sharma (65 from 40) and KL Rahul (27 from 19).
After winning the toss, the Kiwis put India to bat.What seemed like a 190+ score, India was restricted to 179/5, after fall of Rohit Sharma and Dube in one over.With Virat Kohli playing a decent hand, and Ravindra Jadeja’s 10 from 5 balls, India managed to cross the 175-mark.
The New Zealand openers began well and putting 43 for none at the end of 5 overs.
Guptill got out after he was holed in the deep, trying to cut a Shardul Thakur.Munro fell in the next over, stumped by Rahul.
What followed then was a sheer class from Kane Williamson (95 from 48 balls).
Mohammad Shami bowled the last over, with NZ needing 9 from 6 balls.Ross Taylor sent the first ball into midwicket stands for six, and took a single the next ball.Williamson almost finished the, before getting out for the 3rd ball, leaving 2 to win from the next 3 balls.
Then the drama followed with Seifert failing to make the connection for the 4th ball of the over.Ross Taylor ran through for a bye for the next ball, with 1 required off the last ball.
Trying to go for the glory shot, Ross dragged a fuller length on to his stumps, leaving the match tied.
The super over saw an ordinary opening from New Zealand, scoring 2 singles from first balls.The next four balls went for 13, with Williamson hitting a six and four, and Guptill sending the last ball to four.Bumrah who had a bad day conceding 45 of his 4 fours, gave away 17 in the super over.
With Indian openers coming in for the super over, only 3 were conceded from the first two deliveries, thanks to some good bowling from Southee.New Zealand missed a run-out opportunity in the very first ball, and India managed a second.
Rahul scored a boundary, and took a run, leaving Rohit Sharma at the striker’s end, with 10 to win from 2 balls.
Rohit Sharma heaved one to six towards the midwicket area, before launching the final ball above the long-offs head for a biggie.
What seemed like a cakewalk win for New Zealand, thanks to a brilliant show put-up by their captain Kane Williamson, ended as a win for India, with Rohit hitting two sixes, with 10 required from the last 2 balls.Rohit Sharma was awarded the man of the match.