India applies spin choke to level series against New Zealand
Indian Cricket team (Source: AP Newsroom)
India got better off BlackCaps this time around when they won the game with 6 wickets in the final over after restricting them to just 99 runs at Ekana Stadium, Lucknow to level the series 1 each.
Kiwi struggle with everything
After choosing to bat first on a sluggish wicket, New Zealand lost both their openers Finn Allen and Devon Conway inside the first four overs with score being 28. To be precise, they could never really break the shackles once Yuzvendra Chahal and Washington Sundar entered the fray.
None of the batters in the entire side played with the flow as countering the turning deliveries proved way more difficult. Skipper Mitchell Santner was the highest run-getter putting up 19 while consuming 23 deliveries as they could only manage 99 runs while losing eight wickets.
Kuldeep Yadav (Source: AP Newsroom)
Arshdeep Singh was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets while others barring Shivam Mavi bagged one wicket each. Meanwhile, the visitors failed the clear the ropes during the entire game as they ended the innings with just six fours.
India barely makes it home
In pursuit of just 100, the score started to look too big as the ball turned square right from the first delivery. Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan found scoring tough as the Indian juggernaut weren't able to middle the ball.
Skipper Santner was leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that they bring the match down to the wire. Gill departed for 11 while Kishan ran himself out for 19 leaving Men in Blue at 46 for two. Rahul Tripathi came and went scoring 13 with the home side still requiring 50 in less than 10 overs.
Washington Sundar got into a mix-up with Suryakumar Yadav and lost his wicket for 10. As many as five spinners were employed by the Kiwi side to remain in the match while there were nine bowlers who were brought in to bowl.
However, with six required off six balls, the match was sealed by the duo of SKY and captain Hardik Pandya in the penultimate delivery of the game.
Brief Score:
New Zealand: 99/8 (20 Overs)
Mitchell Santner 19* (23), Mark Chapman 14 (21);
Arshdeep Singh 2/7 (2), Yuzvendra Chahal 1/4 (2)
India: 101-4 (19.5 Overs)
Suryakumar Yadav 26* (31), Ishan Kishan 19 (32);
Michael Bracewell 1/13 (4), Ish Sodhi 1/24 (4)
Match Result: India won by 6 wickets
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