India continued their winning runs in New Zealand, choking their hosts for a seven-run win in the fifth T20 International.
The win has given India a rare 5-0 series whitewash in the shortest format concluded on Sunday.
Their bowlers were again impressive on Sunday with ever-reliable pacer Jasprit Bumrah, sharing seven wickets among them for 25 in match-changing 7.2 overs that restricted the Kiwis to 156 for nine while defending 163 for three.
After conceding just 12 runs in his four overs, Bumrah removed three batsmen, bowling block-hole deliveries during death overs.
After being elected to bat, India’s total was built around stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma’s 60-run.
Despite efforts from Tim Seifert (50) and Ross Taylor (53) to get a consolation win, the hosts again fell near the finish line, leaving them without a win in their last five games.
India has therefore set a record of whitewashing opponents in away T20 series. This country won for the first time all five-match rubber. Recall that the closest India had got to was the games series beating the West Indies 3-0 in 2019 and Australia 3-0 in 2016.
Having suffered a 4-0 loss, the host looking for a consolatory win started poorly as India reduced them to 17 for three in the fourth over.
Bumrah removed Martin Guptill (2) via lbw, while Sundar bowled out Colin Munro (15). Tom
Although Bruce’s run-out didn’t help the matter, Taylor and Seifert put on 99 runs for the fourth wicket, raising New Zealand’s hope of an improbable win.
In the game, Seifert reached half-century with 29 balls courtesy of five fours and three sixes while Taylor also got his 50 in 42 balls, hitting five fours and two sixes.
With KL Rahul leading in the absence of injured Rohit Sharma, New Zealand took 34 runs off Shivam Dube in the 10th over. Rahul later made some changes, leading to him bringing back his frontline pacers, who etched out wickets.
After the corrective measures were taken, Navdeep Saini (2-23) removed Seifert while Daryl Mitchell (2) was bowled out with a searing yorker by Bumrah.
India ended the host’s chase after Shardul Thakur (2-38) removed Mitchell Santner (6) in the 17th over. Manish Pandey, with an excellent running catch, dismissed the batsman while Ish Sodhi’s 16 runs off ten balls, which provided some fireworks was not enough.
Rohit, who batted at number three, retired hurt after injuring his left calf whilst hitting a six after facing 41 balls, from which he hit three fours and three sixes.
Captain of the side, Virat Kohli, was rested with Rohit standing in while New Zealand’s skipper, Kane Williamson failed to recover on time and Tim Southee stood in for him once again.
After losing Rohit and Rahul, India’s innings was impacted, making them lose all momentum on a slowing wicket.
Shreyas Iyer failed to push the score beyond the 170-mark after smacking 33 off 31 balls, including one four and two sixes while Manish Pandey scored 11 not out off four balls, with a four and a six to secure the win for Indi.
Written by: Oladipupo Mojeed
