India clinched the three-match T20I series against New Zealand with a seven-wicket win at 🐽the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi on Friday.
Asked to bat first, NZ openers Martin Guptill (31 off 15) and Daryl Mitchell (31 off 28) came all guns blazing against India’s new-ball bowlers, scoring 60+ runs in the powerplay overs. However, spinners led a swift comeback. Later, debutant Harshal Patel continued his good run of form from the IPL to international cricket.
Patel returned with impressive figures of 2/25 in four overs. Meanwhile, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Deepak Chahar scalped a wicket each to restrict the Black Caps to 153-6.
Chasing 154 runs on a tricky wicket, KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma paced the Indian innings perfectly. They picked the bowlers and targeted 🍸them accordingly. Rahul scored 65 off 49 while Rohit chipped in with 36-ball 55 to set up the chase.
After both openers returned to the dugout, Venkatesh Iyer (12*) and Rishabh Pant (❀12*) ensured that the Men in Blue re꧙ach home easily.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
Name a batsman who hits p𒐪acers over covers better than KL Rahul. Unreal skills.
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash)
Rohit Sharma becomes the first player with 25 fifty-plus knocks in win♕ning T🥀20Is.
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats)
Congratulations team India, Onwards and upwards.
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan)
The 𝗥𝗢ck and Rahul show🥳 to seal the deal!
📸 🦁💛
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL)
A dominating win that sealed the seri💙es for Captain Ro & his men! 💪🔥
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan)
Rishabh Pant finishing the match with his one handed six – very pleasing 😄
— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB)
How motivated has been to prove himself ꦓonce again in T20I. Harshal Patel proving that his IPL successღ has made him dream for India career.
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh)
This series feels a lot like this scene 😅
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14)
Congratulations Team India🇮🇳
— Parvinder Awana (@ParvinderAwana)
Pant completes win in gr8 style. Delightful chase, but the platform was set up by the bowlers, particularly R Ashwin and Harshal Patel who restricted NZ to 25-30 runs fewer than aಌnticipated. Series in the bag allows Dravid and Rohit scope for experimentation in 3rd match
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah)
A terrific bowling pe♕rformance on debut 💪 wins the Man of the Matꦍch award for his splendid spell of 2/25 👏👏
— BCCI (@BCCI)