Comprehensive winners in the ODIs (4-1), beaten in the T20Is (2-1). The Indian team departs from the southern hemisphere with a slight feeling of dejection. They though can keep their heads high for the way that they have competed and played all through the 3 months that they spent in Australia and New Zealand. As for the Kiwis, they will be really happy to win the T20I series as it was important that they come back after the nightmare in the ODIs. They will head into the next assignment against a visiting Bangladesh side with confidence. The Men in Blue head back to their homeland and welcome the Aussies for a limited-over series. It has been great fun bringing you all the action. Hope you have enjoyed the coverage as well. Until next time, see ya! Take care and cheers!
Kane Williamson, the winning NZ captain says that it was a really competitive and tough series. Reckons that the Indians were really hard to beat and is happy that they have done so. Feels that the series was a short one and was difficult to turn around stuff quickly if the team once fell behind. He informs that he felt that the best performance was in the 4th ODI and in the first T20I, stating this final game was a matter of keeping their nerve. Finally, when asked whether there will be celebrations tonight before the next series, he declines that saying that the nature of international cricket is that games come in thick and fast and people will be looking to cool off in the little time they get before they welcome Bangladesh. He then goes on to collect the trophy for winning the T20I series. Gets surrounded by his teammates as they pose for the cameras.
India's skipper, Rohit Sharma says that he is disappointed that it didn't go their way. Tells that they fought hard but it was always a tough chase. Credits the Kiwis for bowling well. Mentions that there are a lot of positives coming from this tour. Adds that it's disappointing to lose today but they will learn from their mistakes and move ahead. He is sad that they are going home without the T20I trophy but mentions about the positives they gained from their outing here.
Tim Seifert is the Man of the Series and starts off by saying he is happy to have performed well but the main fact is the team winning, especially in a nail-biting way like that. He also says that it was great to bat at the opening spot and share the partnership with Colin Munro. Signs off by saying he is really pleased about the crowd that has turned up and mentions that it feels good when playing in front of a lot of people.
Colin Munro is the Man of the Match! Says it was touch and go and credits his bowlers for doing a great job. Adds that it's pleasing and he didn't try to do anything different. States that he tried to play his game and pressurized the bowlers.
The pitch was a batting paradise and two relatively-unknown faces in Daryl Mitchell and Blair Tickner were the pick of the bowlers. They hit the right lengths under pressure and ensured they did not go for too much, thus also making sure that the Indians who were cruising at one stage came under pressure and got derailed. Even though Southee's final figures were not too impressive, he bowled the all-important final over and ensured that his team went over the line and won the series 2-1. Earlier in the evening, a brilliant 72 from Munro and good knocks from all the other batsmen who came in to bat ensured that New Zealand get to 212. The total was just above par and it proved to be so in the end. Thus, a brilliant game for the decider and the better team won. Presentations to follow...
What a humdinger here at Seddon Park! The 3-month long sojourn though has come to an end with India losing a rare series. The Kiwi total of 212 was just too much in the end. The Indian chase started with Shikhar Dhawan departing early. Rohit Sharma was joined by Vijay Shankar in the middle and they both took the innings forward. The former was playing second-fiddle as his partner went after the bowling. Shankar fell and was replaced by Pant who then carried on that role but not for long. The required rate meant that both batsmen had to go for big runs but the Indian skipper was just unable to do so. He eventually got out after playing a pretty slow knock in the context of the game. Post that, MS Dhoni went early but Dinesh Karthik and the Pandya brothers tried their best. They did manage to scare the Black Caps but fell just short of the mammoth total. The Kiwi bowlers held their nerve to snatch victory, especially Tim Southee in the last over after going for plenty in his previous one.
19.6SIX! But that won't matter much. NEW ZEALAND WIN BY 4 RUNS! A length delivery outside off, Karthik gets one from the middle of the bat as he powers it over covers for a maximum. The Kiwis are smiling, a series win for them!
19.6Wide! A bouncer and it goes above the head of Karthik as he looks to pull it. The square leg umpire signals to his partner that the ball was too high. The bowler and his skipper do not look too happy.
19.5Hits the stumps at the other end! It's around off, Krunal smashes it straight back and it collides with the sticks at the non-striker's end. Only a run again. Well tried India, but probably it wasn't meant to be.
19.4Hangs back to pump a length ball over mid off but fails to do so. Finds the fielder inside the ring and this time he crosses for a run. Two sixes now needed to take it to a Super Over unless there are any extras.
19.3Didn't run! Fuller in length and outside off, Karthik hammers it down to long on and turns down the run. Krunal there almost ran two on his own. Poor chap. Is DK not aware of Pandya's hitting prowess?
19.2Tough, tough call that! A yorker outside off and Karthik looks to come inside the line and ramp it but then seeing the ball to be outside off, he decides to not play at it. DK leaves it and looks for a wide but it is not given as he was too close to the ball.
19.1Full on the pads here, Karthik flicks it away in the gap to deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs. Great fielding under pressure there.
16 needed off 6 balls. This is tense. Dinesh Karthik is there on strike. Straightaway his heroics in the Nidahas trophy final come in our minds. India needed 12 in the last over then. Can they get 16? Southee to bowl the pressure over...
18.6SIX! That is the best result if you are an Indian fan. A length ball outside off and Kuggeleijn errs on the last ball. Krunal gets the middle of the bat on that one and deposits it way over long on. The previous two balls were slower ones and the Indians had missed out. This one at 144 kph goes the distance. Scott finishes his night with figures of 4-0-37-1. 197/6
18.5Slower one! Terrific bowling. Krunal Pandya swipes across the line but misses the ball completely. 22 off 7 now.
18.4Slower one on middle, Karthik mistimes his drive straight back down the ground. Hits the stumps at the bowler's end and picks up a single.
A discussion between the bowler and his captain now. Third man and fine leg have come in. So the bowler has to keep it nice and straight now.
18.3SIX! That has gone a mile! Karthik is special! A length ball and really pacy, Dinesh rocks back and has enough time to deposit the ball way back over the rope at deep backward square leg.
18.2Hitting the deck hard here is Scott and Pandya can only mistime this one towards wide long on for a run.
18.1Length ball on the pads, Krunal looks to flick it away but misses the ball. Gets hit on the pad. Knows he missed out there and looks angry with himself. DK walks to his partner and calms him down.
Scott Kuggeleijn to bowl the 19th over.
17.6Finishes brilliantly does Southee. Just 3 runs off the last 3 balls. A good yorker and Krunal can only jam it out towards point for a single. 18 runs off this over and the equation is 30 off 12 balls now. 183/6
17.5Fuller length ball on middle, DK flicks it away to deep square leg for a single.
Massive two balls coming up... India would like a boundary.
17.4Good yorker! Over the wicket from Southee and gets this in the blockhole. Pandya can only keep this one out towards the off side and gets a single.
17.3FOUR! 15 off three balls! A full toss outside off, Krunal opens his arms and thwacks it over covers for a cracking boundary. He is turning it on.
17.2FOUR! Inside edged for four. The Indians will not mind how they come as long as they do. A length ball outside off, Krunal goes for the slog but gets an inside edge that runs past Sodhi for a boundary to fine leg. Needed a dive there from Ish.
17.1SIX! Wide outside off and Krunal reaches out and lifts it way back into the stands over deep cover for a maximum. Pressure on the bowler.
17.1Wide! Way outside off to start with. Signalled a wide by the umpire.
Tim Southee is back on. Huge over this, India need a big one here.
16.6Completely miscues his shot. Tries to fetch a short ball from outside off and pull it over the leg side. Since it's a slower one, he mistimes it towards mid on. A run taken, 11 from the over. 48 off 18 balls, a big task ahead for India. 165/6
16.5Slower one, on a length and angling away, Pandya is foxed by the slowness off the delivery. He is too early into the swing of his bat and misses completely.
16.5Wide! Short again, it's down the leg side, Krunal tries pulling but misses.
16.4Short and punched through covers for one.
16.3Back of a length delivery following the batsman down the leg side, Krunal hangs back and plays it at the last moment towards point for one.
16.2Walks across the stumps to a short ball but fails to get it away. He is hit on the body as the ball deflects in the gap on the leg side. They cross for a leg bye as DK cries in anguish. That must have stung.
16.1SIX! High...high...and handsome! Just stand and delivery. Uses his long reach to attack that ball and spanks it over extra cover for a maximum. Good start to the over.
Blair Tickner is back on.
15.6On the middle stump line and slower. Karthik is early into his shot as he looked to swipe this off the front foot. The ball takes the outside edge and goes towards third man for a single. Lucky for DK, if he had missed that one he would have been struck in front. 9 runs off this Mitchell over and the equation is now 59 off 24 balls. 154/6
15.5Outside off on a length and some away movement! Karthik looks to work it away on the on side coming down the track but is beaten due to the movement. Rare to see this, especially in the 16th over. Karthik, hence has a surprised look on his face.
15.4SIX! This one has disappeared. India won't go down without a fight. Mitchell bowls it short around middle and off, Karthik shuffles across to get inside the line and then pulls it all the way over deep backward square leg for a biggie. He has made a reputation of a finisher of late and the Men in Blue will be hoping for some heroics from DK!
15.3Just over mid off! Karthik goes aerial this time to a length ball and manages to loop it over Southee. He does well there to prevent the boundary by putting in a slide near the rope. A couple taken.
Krunal Pandya walks in to bat now.
15.2OUT! High in the air and easily taken by Southee at long on. The Kiwis see the end of Dhoni and this is a sight that will hurt the Indian fans. A length ball and MS Dhoni goes for the huge one over long on. Does not get all of it and the ball goes higher rather than far. Holes out at long on. India losing their way now in the chase, still need 68 in 28 balls. Mitchell has really bowled well today in the context of the game, 2 wickets for him so far.
15.1Length ball outside off, Dhoni pushes it away to extra cover.
14.6Pacy, 143 kph on the top of off stump. Dinesh defends this one towards the off side. Dot ball to end a successful and almost a game-changing over for the Kiwis. Just 4 runs and a wicket off it in the end. 145/5
Dinesh Karthik walks in next, at number 7.
14.5OUT! Bizarre dismissal. Ball is flying, bat is flying, the former is caught which matters the most for the Kiwis. Kuggeleijn digs in a short ball on off at 144 kph, hurries up the batsman with his strong pace. Hardik tries to pull but the bat slips from his hands as it makes contact with the top edge and balloons towards mid off. Kane Williamson moves swiftly across to his right from extra cover and takes the catch safely. The little cameo from Pandya is over but India needed more from him.
14.4Stays back to a length ball and hits it through covers for another single in this over.
14.3Good delivery. Full and around off, angling in at 145 kph, Hardik forces it back past the non-striker and the long on fielder makes a sliding stop. A run added to the total, New Zealand won't mind that.
14.2Fractionally short in length outside off, served from wide of the crease, Dhoni remains on the back foot and cracks it to sweeper cover for a single.
14.1Width on offer outside off, Pandya slashes it over cover-point for one.
Time for Mahendra Singh Dhoni? Oh yes, he is in there with India in need of big power-hitting from him. Also, Scott Kuggeleijn is back into the attack now.
13.6OUT! Huge wicket in the context of the game. Rohit was looking out of sorts but everyone knows how dangerous he can be. A good length ball wide of off stump and Sharma goes chasing. The ball takes the outside edge and goes to Seifert who takes a simple catch. No special Hitman show today and New Zealand pick up another wicket. The Indians need 72 runs in 36 balls. 141/4
13.5Yorker length ball outside off, Hardik reaches out but can only get a single to deep cover for a single. Lets out a grunt after hitting it, maybe he was not too happy about missing that one.
13.4SIX! Waits for the ball and smashes this one straight back into the sightscreen. A slower ball from Daryl, Hardik waits and waits before he uses his bottom hand and deposits this one over the rope straight back behind the bowler.
13.3FOUR! In the air... but in the gap as well. Hardik must have had his heart in the mouth for a moment there. A low full toss and Pandya whips it away but does not get it too cleanly. The ball flies to the left of deep mid-wicket, luckily for India and goes past the rope on a bounce for a boundary.
13.2Another good low full toss on middle, Rohit hits it all along the ground to deep mid-wicket for a single.
13.1Full toss on the pads, flicked away to deep mid-wicket for a single.
12.6Length outside off once more, Hardik drives off the back foot to mid off and sets off for a single. The fielder goes for a shy at the keeper's end but misses. 8 runs off the over and a wicket also. 128/3
12.5Another slower one, this time on a length and outside off. Pandya defends this time back to the bowler.
12.4Length ball outside off, on a slower pace. Pandya looks to drive but is foxed by the speed of the ball. Misses it completely.
12.3SIX! He has come in with a license to hit. Short in length around off, Pandya jumps inside the crease to get on top of the ball and pulls it enormously over mid-wicket.
Hardik Pandya is promoted up the order.
12.2OUT! The first international wicket for Tickner and it has come off a full toss. The pressure was building and Pant in a bid to hit out has given it straight to the fielder at mid-wicket. A full toss outside off, Rishabh looks to slog that over cow corner but does not get the elevation. Kane Williamson takes a smart catch and this wicket has come at a really important time. The Indians still need 92 in 46 balls.
12.1Very full and Sharma cannot get under that one. The ball goes along the ground to long on for a single.
11.6Full toss on middle, Rohit can only hit it back to long on for a single. A really good over for the hosts this, 5 runs off it in the end. 120/2
11.5Good yorker outside off, driven hard but straight to long off and Pant only gets a run.
11.4Length ball outside off, Rohit goes all in as he looks to smash this one out of the ground. The ball goes off the inside edge and towards fine leg for a single.
11.3Wide outside off and again slower, Rishabh connects the drive this time but it goes only as far as cover where Williamson makes a good tumbling stop.
11.2Very slow outside off, 100 kph. Pant is beaten for pace as he goes for the drive.
11.1Slower ball on middle, pushed with soft hands onto the off side for a single by Rohit.
Daryl Mitchell is now on.
10.6Short and wide outside off, Rohit cuts it aerially towards deep cover for a run. Keeps strike. 115/2
10.5Slower bouncer outside off, Sharma looks to pull this one away but is way too early into the shot.
10.4Good shot! A fuller length ball outside off and Rohit leans into his drive to the right of deep cover. Couple taken till the fielder cleans up.
10.3On the pads once more, worked away to deep backward square leg for a single.
10.2Short of a length on middle, pulled away to deep square leg for a couple of runs by Pant. Already onto 25 from just 7 balls.
10.1Short and wide outside off, pushed away to deep point for a single by Rohit.
Blair Tickner is back on now.
9.6SIX! Pant just loves spinners! Goes with the turn on this occasion. Attacks it with all his might, fetches it from outside off and launches it over long on. 16 from the over again. India well on track in this big run chase. 105 needed off 60 balls. 108/2
9.5Played to the point region by the batsman. One run added to the total.
9.4Flatter and outside off, Rishabh hits it firmly through the line and Williamson runs across to his left from extra cover to make a tumbling stop. They cross for a hesitant run.
9.3Sodhi pulls his length back and lands it short on middle, Pant pulls but finds the short fine leg fielder.
9.2SIX! Packs a punch! Sodhi lands it very full outside off, Pant orchestrates his raw power there. Absolutely butchers it over long off for a biggie.
9.2Wide! Loopy and down the leg side, Pant fails to flick and it has been wided by the umpire.
9.1Tossed up ball around leg, Rohit turns it off his pads to mid-wicket and runs the first run hard. Looks for the second but the fielder has come in quickly from the deep to collect the ball.
8.6SIX! Second boundary of two balls he has faced. This is incredible batting by someone who has just walked out. A flighted ball on middle, Pant comes down the track and deposits this one deep over mid-wicket for a maximum. Santner's good wicket over has been destroyed by the 10 runs at the end, 16 off it totally. 92/2
8.5FOUR! Pant is up and running. A flatter one on the pads, Rishabh sweeps the first ball he faces away wide of short fine leg. No fielder back there ensures it's a boundary.
8.4Flatter one on middle, pushed to cover-point for a run.
Rishabh Pant arrives.
8.3OUT! Four and then a wicket. Shankar was just picking up his pace but has to depart now. This ball was not short enough but Shankar went for the sweep initially. He tries to adjust and then hit it over mid-wicket hence does not get true connection. The ball goes only as far as de Grandhomme in the deep who running to his right takes a really good catch. Santner strikes and it is a good time to pick up a wicket.
8.2FOUR! What a brilliant use of the bottom hand there. An arm ball going down the leg side, but Shankar makes room and scoops it over the cover region. Beats the fielder in the deep and picks up four.
8.1Short and wide outside off, pushed away off the back foot to deep cover for a single by Rohit.
7.6Shout for a caught behind! Flatter and shorter outside off, Shankar tries to play the square cut but misses. The keeper collects the ball, Sodhi turns to appeal but the umpire is not interested. 14 from the over. 76/1
7.5SIX! Bang! Shankar is pressing on the accelerator. A googly landing full on off, Vijay kneels and smokes it over mid-wicket for a biggie.
7.4SIX! Wow, that is a shot of high quality! Full and floated one again by Sodhi, Shankar reaches out for it and thumps his lofted shot over covers for a biggie.
7.3Play and a miss! A leg spinner landing wide outside off, Vijay throws his bat at it but is beaten by the away spin.
7.2Leans into the drive and forces it through covers for a single.
7.1Floated full ball on middle, eased down the ground to long on for one.
Ish Sodhi to have a go now.
6.6A full toss on off, Shankar fails to send it into the stand. Mistimes his attempted shot in the air over extra cover and it falls safely in the deep. A single to end the 5-run over. Good one by Santner! 62/1
6.5Pushed to the cover region by the batsman. One run added to the total.
6.5Wide! Too wide outside off, Rohit makes a leave.
6.4Arm ball on middle, Sharma brings a straight bat down in defense.
6.3Walks down the track to a full ball and lofts it over wide mid off for a run.
6.2Darts in a flatter and shorter ball on off, Shankar punches it back and the bowler moves across to his left to stop the ball.
6.1Full and flighted on off, driven square of the wicket on the off side for a single.
Mitchell Santner is back on.
5.6Uppish! Spears in a full ball on middle at 146 kph, Rohit mistimes his drive in the air but it has gone in the gap at extra cover. A single to end the over, 57/1 in the Powerplay. 57/1
5.5Bunts a length ball down to mid off and shouts no as Shankar comes down the track eyeing a run.
5.4Edgy! A sharp delivery, full and on middle at 149 kph, Rohit tries to flick but it takes the leading edge and runs through the gap between short third man and point for a couple of runs. 50-run stand comes up!
5.3A low full toss outside off, Shankar drives but fails to pierce the gap at covers well. A single is taken.
5.2FOUR! Up and over! Another slower delivery, short and wide outside off, Shankar reaches out for it and hits it firmly over mid off. Not timed properly but still a boundary. 50 up for India!
5.1Slower one to start the over. Full and on middle, angling down, Shankar tries to flick but fails to make any connection. He is hit on the pads, a stifled appeal follows but nothing from the umpire. Missing leg easily.
Scott Kuggeleijn is back on.
4.6FOUR! Two in two! Smart shot from the Hitman. The last one was all about power and this one was about touch. A fuller length ball outside off, Rohit seeing third man up guides it fine of short third man for a boundary. 49/1
4.5FOUR! Rohit dances down the track and smashes this ball wide of mid off. Beats the infield and picks up a boundary. Needed that one.
4.4Length ball on top of middle, pushed hard and uppishly once more by Shankar to long on. A run is picked up.
4.3Short of a length on middle, Rohit swivels and pulls it away towards deep square leg for a run.
4.2Hit slightly uppishly towards long on. Single taken as the fielder throws the ball back in a really quick time.
4.1On a length outside off, Shankar pushes it away to the point region.
Tim Southee is back from the other end.
3.6Short of a length outside off, Shankar stands tall, pushes it away to deep cover for a single. Keeps strike. 38/1
3.5FOUR! A length ball outside off and Shankar looks to lift it down the ground but ends up slicing it in the air over backward point. Into the fence on a bounce. Almost six that one.
3.5Wide! Tickner goes for the bouncer but the ball goes well over the head of the batsman and he is penalized.
3.4Straighter this time on the pads, flicked away to deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs by VS.
3.3Another play and a miss! A fuller one just outside off and a bit of shape away. Shankar is beaten and it goes to the keeper.
3.2Short and outside off, Shankar looks to pull it away but extra bounce causes it to beat the bat.
3.1Starts off with a slower one on length on top of middle, Rohit turns it straight to fine leg and runs through. The fielder looks to run the batsman out at the bowler's end but the throw is well off target. Sharma then tries to turn and steal another run but loses his balance and eventually they donn't go for it.
Debutant Blair Tickner to bowl now.
2.6FOUR! Quicker you bowl, faster you travel. Scott clocks 150 kph this time. Lands it on a length around middle and Vijay muscles it down the ground for a boundary. 11 from the over! 29/1
2.5Kuggeleijn is cranking it up. Touches 148 kph on the speed gun and bowls it on a length outside off. Shankar plays it down from the crease to short third man.
2.4FOUR! You cannot bowl on the pads of the Indian batsmen. Scott commits that sin and Shankar once again uses the pace of the bowler to flick it behind square leg for a boundary. Right from the middle of the bat!
2.3Bowls a slower one this time, on a length around off at 119 kph, Rohit quietly dabs it wide of short third man and takes one.
2.2Sharp delivery, around off on a length at 146 kph, Shankar just uses the pace and runs it down to third man for a single.
2.1Fuller and on middle, Sharma flicks it through square leg for a run.
Bowling change. Scott Kuggeleijn to have a go now...
1.6Fuller one outside off, Rohit drives it down the ground to long off for a single. Keeps the strike. 18/1
1.5FOUR! Well controlled. A length ball outside off, Sharma just opens the face of the bat and runs it fine of third man for a boundary. Deft.
1.4Good yorker! A full one on middle and Rohit keeps it out by bringing his bat down in the nick of time.
1.3Fuller one on off stump line, Vijay works this away towards deep mid-wicket for a single.
1.2Length ball outside off, Shankar gets behind the line of the ball and defends it.
1.1Wide outside off, Rohit dabs it down to third man for a single.
Tim Southee to bowl from the other end.
0.6Short and wide outside off, Shankar looks to cut it away but fails to put bat on ball. 11/1
0.6FIVE WIDES! An arm ball gone wrong. Santner bowls this one down the leg side and the keeper cannot take that one. It goes to the fence for a boundary. Bonus runs for India.
Vijay Shankar walks in at number 3.
0.5OUT! Dhawan falls cheaply. A flatter one on middle, Dhawan looks to sweep it away but fails to keep it down. The ball goes in the air towards deep square leg and Daryl Mitchell comes running forward to take a brilliant tumbling catch. There was a slight bobble but he does well to hold on in the end. A massive wicket for the Kiwis early on in the chase.
0.4Short and flat on the middle stump line, Rohit pushes it wide of mid off and gets off the mark with a single.
0.3Flatter on the pads and pushed to long on for a single by Shikhar.
0.2FOUR! Boundary number one of the chase. Short and wide outside off, punished by Dhawan as he cuts it away through cover-point for a boundary.
0.1Fuller and flatter one outside off, Dhawan reaches out and pushes it back to the bowler.
The players and the umpires make their way out to the middle. Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan as usual to open for the Indians. Surprise, surprise. Mitchell Santner has the new ball for the Kiwis. 213 to win, who will? Let's play...