A match that was by any means not for the faint-hearted saw India taking it in the ‘super over’. Hitman Rohit Sharma who joined the party late on New Zealand tour became the difference between the two sides in the super over.
Put on to bat by New Zealand India had a flying start courtesy ‘Hitman’s’ 65 of 40 balls. Sharma took Hamish Bennett under the hammer. He scored 27 runs of his 2nd over. However, Bennett had the last laugh as he got Sharma caught by Tim Southee of his bowling.
Apart from Sharma nobody clicked for India except Virat Kohli’s 38 off 27 balls. The men in blue managed to get 179/5 in their allotted 20 overs. The Kiwis also came all guns blazing in what was a ‘do or die’ game of the series for them. Martin Guptill fired it up with 31 off 21 balls before the hosts lost both the openers in quick successions.
Captain Kane Williamson anchored New Zealand’s innings. His innings of 95 put the team on the verge of making it 2-1 in the series. However, on a day when Jasprit Bumrah had a rare failure, Mohammed Shami came to the party.
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Defending 9 runs of the last over Shami was hit for a six of the first ball by Ross Taylor. Saving 3 runs off the remaining 5 balls Shami first sent Williamson back and then dismissed Taylor of last ball with 1 run required for the win.
In the ‘Super Over’ the poor show for Bumrah continued as Guptill and Williamson smashed 17 off his 6 balls. Chasing 18 in the super over India had Rohit and KL Rahul on the crease. With 10 runs needed off the last 2 balls, Sharma sent both the deliveries from Southee off the park.
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India now has unbeaten 3-0 lead in the 5-natch T20I series. This is also the first T20I series win for India in New Zealand. The remaining two matches of the series would be played on Friday and Sunday respectively.
