SCORECARDCOMMENTARY
IND WON
T20
IND beat NZ by 7 wickets
Man of the Match - Krunal Pandya
NZ
158-8
20.0/20 Ovrs
162-3
18.5/20 Ovrs
IND
India in New Zealand, 3 T20 International Series, 2019 |2nd T20I |2/8/2019
Eden Park, Auckland
Eden Park, Auckland
Commentary
- So that's all that we have from Auckland. We are now set to go to Hamilton with the series alive and all to play for. Only a day's gap between the games and New Zealand will have to pick themselves and come back just like India did today. Join us for the coverage of the third and final T20I of this tour that will begin at 2000 local (0700 GMT) on the 10th of February. Till then, take care and cheers!
- India skipper, Rohit Sharma, says he's really pleased to see how they bowled to start with and then were clinical with the bat. Feels that there's quality in the side but they executed their plans well in this game, so is happy about that. Adds that it's important to understand the mistakes they made, learn from them and play with a clear mind. Reckons that the final game in Hamilton will be a tough one, but is relishing the challenge and looking forward to winning the series there.
- New Zealand skipper, Kane Williamson, says it will always be difficult to replicate the performance from Wellington. Mentions that they should have been smarter with the bat and got to about 180-190. Reckons that the start for India took the game away from them. Continues saying that they are fully aware of the good things they've done, but are also cautious of the bad ones and they will work on them. Applauds the crowd in Eden Park as they always provide a fantastic atmosphere. Ends by saying that the decider will be a good one and hopes his team can deliver.
- Man of the Match, Krunal Pandya, says he feels nice to contribute to the team's win. States that the dimensions of the ground here are different to Wellington, so you have to adapt which he did. Adds that there's everything to play for in Hamilton and he is looking forward to it.
- As for the Kiwi bowling, there was not much to speak about. They tried hard but the total was just too less for them to defend in the end. The Indian batters played them smarter and did not give them as many opportunities as they did in Wellington. Earlier on in the evening, Kane Williamson won the toss and chose to bat but a triple-strike from Krunal Pandya early on in the innings put their innings off track. Even a 77-run stand for the 5th wicket could not help them enough as the death bowling of the away team was also on point. In the end then, 158 was considered a very easy total to chase and that's what it proved to be. A clinical job from India. Presentations to follow...
- FINALLY! India have a win in T20Is in New Zealand. It was always going to be difficult for the Kiwis to defend this score of 158 on the small ground. And it proved to be exactly the same way here as the Indians have reached the target in a canter with 7 balls to spare. The chase started in a brilliant fashion for the Men in Blue when stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma smashed the bowlers to all parts in the Powerplay as his partner Shikhar Dhawan gave him good company. The Hitman reached his fifty and immediately fell but by that time, he had ensured that his team was in a very comfortable position. Dhawan and Shankar too fell in an attempt to finish things off quickly but that did not hamper the visitors as Dhoni joined forces with Pant and finished things off for the touring team.
- 18.54S Kuggeleijn to R Pant, FOUR! All over. Kuggeleijn delivers it very full and outside off, it's hammered down the ground by Pant and that wraps things up for India. VICTORY BY 7 WICKETS and the Men in Blue keep the series alive at 1-1 as we go to Hamilton.
- 18.40S Kuggeleijn to R Pant, Another dot ball! Bouncer on middle, Rishabh is beaten by the bounce and pace.
- 18.30S Kuggeleijn to R Pant, Fuller length ball on middle, pushed away to mid-wicket who makes a diving stop. The wait continues...
- 18.21S Kuggeleijn to MS Dhoni, No, he doesn't. A shorter ball on middle, Dhoni looks to pull it away and does so but the ball goes off his arm and behind the stumps for a single.
- MS Dhoni on strike. Can he finish things off in style? If he does, this crowd will go bonkers...
- 18.11S Kuggeleijn to R Pant, Slower ball on the middle and leg stump line, Pant swivels and turns it away fine on the leg side for a single.
- END OF OVER 18 | 8 Runs & 0 Wkt | IND 156/3
- Scott Kuggeleijn to bowl the 19th.
- 17.62L Ferguson to MS Dhoni, Comes from 'round the wicket and angles across a length ball outside off. Dhoni stays back and threads it through covers for another two. Only 3 needed.
- 17.50L Ferguson to MS Dhoni, Fullish and angling in on off, Dhoni is on the front foot as he pushes it back to the bowler.
- 17.42L Ferguson to MS Dhoni, Bang! Short and wide outside off, Dhoni whacks it square of the wicket on the off side and collects another brace in this over.
- 17.31L Ferguson to R Pant, Slower delivery, on a length around middle, Pant walks across and paddles it down towards short fine leg for a run.
- 17.21L Ferguson to MS Dhoni, A yorker outside off, Dhoni squeezes it out to point for one.
- 17.12L Ferguson to MS Dhoni, Fullish and whipped behind square leg for a couple of runs.
- END OF OVER 17 | 14 Runs & 0 Wkt | IND 148/3
- Lockie Ferguson is back on.
- 16.61Tim Southee to MS Dhoni, Oh, God! The screws are coming off the New Zealand train here. A length ball outside off, Dhoni pushes it to point and sets off for a quick single but decides against the run in the end. The fielder has a shy at the non-striker's end where Pant had backed up a long way but misses the stumps. There is no cover for the throw and an overthrow is taken. Needless from the Black Caps.
- 16.52Tim Southee to MS Dhoni, On the hips this time, pushed away to deep mid-wicket and in the gap for a couple of runs.
- 16.41Tim Southee to R Pant, Very full outside off, driven down to long on for a single by Pant.