India recorded a comprehensive victory in the third and final T20 match of their series against New Zealand. The team put in an outstanding performance to secure an emphatic win and clinch the series 2-1.
Batting first, India posted a total of 179 runs on the board after losing three wickets. Skipper Virat Kohli top-scored with a brilliant 77-run knock while KL Rahul added 32 runs. In reply, New Zealand crumbled under pressure and were all out for a meagre 66 runs. Deepak Chahar was the pick of the bowlers with a four-wicket haul.
The second T20 had ended in a tie, but this time around, India left nothing to chance and outplayed New Zealand in all departments. With this win, India have become the first team to win a T20 series in New Zealand, and have affirmed their status as one of the dominant forces in international cricket.
With a remarkable comeback in the second game, Team India tied the three-match T20I series against New Zealand at 1-1. The series finale will be played on Wednesday, February 1, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, between Hardik Pandya’s squad and the Black Caps. The series will be won by the winner of the match. After Australia and South Africa, New Zealand hopes to become only the third side to defeat India in a T20I series on their own soil.
India was able to secure a narrow six-wicket victory with only one ball remaining in the spin-friendly conditions of Lucknow, even though they were only chasing a target of 100 runs. The match made history as both teams failed to hit a single six throughout the entire game. Fans and both squads are hoping for a much better batting track at the Narendra Modi Stadium for the third ODI, which has traditionally seen plenty of runs. India’s start to the series was not the best in Ranchi, as they failed to reach the target of 177 runs and lost by 21 runs.
The main worry for India is the poor performance of Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan as openers in the T20I series. Despite Gill’s impressive record of 360 runs in three ODI games against New Zealand prior to this series.
India has dominated the home season thus far, winning both ODI and T20I series against Sri Lanka, and the ODI series against New Zealand. They aim to end with a T20I series win over the Kiwis on Wednesday.
“Touring teams seem to all struggle these days and here we go again” – Ian Healy stated.
