Kane Williamson starred for New Zealand – first in the actual play and then in the super over – but Rohit Sharma’s decisive back-to-back sixes handed India a thrilling win in the third T20I played at Hamilton’s Seddon Park on Wednesday, 29 January.
Tied finishes continue to haunt the Blackcaps, as they lost their third game to a super over finish in a little more than six months. This too, proved to be a series defining result, with India taking an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-game affair.
India win!
Rohit Sharma hits the final two balls for six to win the game ? #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/CXFdI9chHl
— ICC (@ICC) January 29, 2020
When Ross Taylor hoicked Mohammed Shami for a six over deep mid-wicket on the first ball of the final over of New Zealand innings, it all looked over for Virat Kohli’s men. The hosts needed three off five, with two of their most experienced men at the crease, and Williamson, the protagonist of the chase up to that point, batting on 95 off 47. A single was followed by the skipper’s dismissal, who edged one in an attempt to guide it over the keeper’s head.
Read – KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer star after bowlers outclass New Zealand
Shami managed to go past Tim Seifert’s blade on the next two attempts, with the batsmen scampering through for a bye to bring it down to a run required off the final ball. Taylor attempted a slog to a full-ish length delivery, only to inside edge it onto his stumps to leave the scores tied.
Williamson keeping New Zealand in the hunt here!
He brings up his 11th T20I fifty from only 28 balls ? #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/tsUQzbCAPT
— ICC (@ICC) January 29, 2020
Williamson, who had struck eight fours and six sixes in actual play, took Jasprit Bumrah for a six and a four in the super over, before Martin Guptill’s last-ball boundary completed the 17-run effort. Tim Southee conceded just eight off the first four balls against Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul to leave India to get 10 off the final two. Rohit however, held his nerves to strike two consecutive soaring sixes, one over cow corner and the other over long-off, to seal the deal.
Earlier, openers Rohit Sharma (65) and KL Rahul gave India a solid start of 89 from nine overs, after being put in to bat. Rohit, who had managed scores of seven and eight in his previous two outings, launched an early onslaught, striking three sixes and two fours off Hamish Bennett in the last over of the power play. Rahul too looked fluent for his 27 but Colin de Grandhomme removed the right-hander to give New Zealand an opening.
FIFTY for Rohit Sharma ?
The opener brings up his 20th T20I half-century with a maximum! Can he convert this into a big one?#NZvIND pic.twitter.com/sUnjgTZ8RW
— ICC (@ICC) January 29, 2020
That somewhat slowed India’s progress as they managed only 25 off the next five while losing Rohit and Shivam Dube, the latter of whom had been promoted to no.3. Kohli steadied India with a 27-ball 38, before Manish Pandey and Ravindra Jadeja’s late blitz took the score to 179/5 at the completion of 20 overs.
Martin Guptill and Colin Munro gave a brisk start to the chase, adding 47 in 5.4 overs before falling in quick succession to Shardul Thakur and Ravindra Jadeja respectively. Williamson though kept the run-rate under control with some eye-catching strokes, and outscored Mitchell Santner, Colin de Grandhomme and Ross Taylor during the course of the innings. That however, wasn’t enough to prevent the agonizing fate.
The fourth T20I of the series will be played at Wellington’s Westpac stadium on Friday, January 31.
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