The third and final T20 match of the series between India and New Zealand was played at the Narendra Modi Stadium, with India securing a dominant victory by 168 runs. The win sealed the series for India against the Kiwis.
As it happened
Winning the toss, Indian captain Hardik Pandya decided to bat first, and although India lost an early wicket, they recovered with a strong performance from opener Shubhman Gill.
Gill was in scintillating form, scoring an incredible 126 runs from just 63 balls. He hit seven towering sixes and 12 powerful fours, sending the New Zealand bowlers on a leather hunt. His aggressive innings set the tone for the rest of the Indian innings. Rahul Tripathi and Hardik Pandya also scored 44 and 30 runs, respectively, in support of Rahul. With their contributions, India set a massive target of 234 runs for New Zealand to chase.
However, the chase was a nightmare for the Kiwis. Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh bowled with fire and aggression, destroying the New Zealand top order and leaving them struggling at four wickets down with only 7-runs on the board. Daryll Mitchell tried to steady the ship but could only score 35 runs as the Indian bowlers continued to dominate. Shivam Mavi and Umran Mallik took two wickets each, restricting New Zealand to just 66 runs and securing India’s victory by 168 runs.
This win gave India massive boos,t and they will be looking to continue their winning momentum heading into the upcoming series against Australia. Hardik Pandya was the standout performer for India in this match, with a valuable contribution with both the bat and ball. Shubhman Gill’s impressive century will be the highlight of the match, and he will be looking to continue his form in future matches.
It was a closely contested series, with both teams putting on strong performances. However, it was India who came out on top. The 168-run victory will give the Indian team a lot of confidence and will be hoping to continue their dominant form as they look to establish themselves as one of the top T20 teams in the world.
