IND vs NZ, 2nd T20I: As it happened...
India are poised for their third T20I series triumph in five years but would be wary of a strong fightback from the usually plucky New Zealand when the two sides clash in the second game of the three-match series today in Rajkot.
Over 20 | Score 157/7
New Zealand beat India by 40 runs in 2nd T20I, level series 1-1
19.3 over: WICKET! Dhoni c Santner b Boult 49(37)
Dhoni falls one short of his fifty. Another soft dismissal.
Over 19 | Score 148/6 (Bhuvneshwar Kumar 1; MS Dhoni 43)
Good over for India, 16 runs came off it but it seems to be too late for the hosts now.
49 runs required off the last over.
Over 18 | Score 132/6 (Bhuvneshwar Kumar 1; MS Dhoni 28)
India need 65 runs in 12 balls
Over 17.3: WICKET! Axar c Williamson b Boult 5(3)
Trent Boult comes back and removes Axar, his third wicket of the match.
Over 17 | Score 125/5 (Axar Patel 1; MS Dhoni 26)
India need 72 runs in 18 balls
Over 16.3: WICKET! Kohli c Glenn Phillips b Santner 65(42)
Soft dismissal for Virat Kohli and that seems to be an end of the road for Team India in this match.
Over 16 | Score 122/4 (Virat Kohli 65; MS Dhoni 24)
Another over and another SIX from MS Dhoni's willow.
Over 15 | Score 112/4 (Virat Kohli 63; MS Dhoni 16)
Required rate has gone past 15.
Virat Kohli is not getting enough strike, MS Dhoni is clearly struggling.
Over 14 | Score 106/4 (Virat Kohli 58; MS Dhoni 15)
100 up for India in the 14th over and there is still a long way to go.
Ish Sodhi is welcomed back into the attack by MS Dhoni with a huge SIX over the long-on fence.
Over 13 | Score 97/4 (Virat Kohli 58; MS Dhoni 8)
Now India need 100 runs in 42 balls.
Required run rate is over 14 now.
This is going to be a huge ask from Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni.
Over 12 | Score 87/4 (Virat Kohli 50; MS Dhoni 6)
Wickets are falling on the other end and that does not seem to bother skipper Virat Kohli.
FIFTY for King Kohli #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/gWXRMTajuv
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 4, 2017
Over 11 | Score 79/4 (Virat Kohli 44; MS Dhoni 4)
The required run rate for India has gone over 13.
India need 118 runs in 54 balls
Over 10 | Score 71/4 (Virat Kohli 38; MS Dhoni 2)
Things are not going India's way in Rajkot.
Over 9.1: WICKET! Hardik Pandya b Ish Sodhi 1(2)
Pandya did not move and was left stunned by Ish Sodhi's googly.
India need 126 runs in 60 balls.
Over 9 | Score 67/3 (Virat Kohli 36; Hardik Pandya 1)
What a day this is turning out to be for Colin Munro.
Over 8.4: WICKET! Shreyas Iyer c and b Munro 23(21)
The nerves got the best of Iyer.
Over 8 | Score 62/2 (Virat Kohli 31; Shreyas Iyer 23)
50 up for India in the 8th over.
Mitchell Santner comes back for his second over and this time Virat Kohli welcomes him with back to back boundaries, before ending the over with a huge SIX.
17 runs came off the over.
Over 7 | Score 45/2 (Virat Kohli 16; Shreyas Iyer 22)
India's scoring rate has gone down considerably in last three overs. Runs are coming off just singles and doubles, no big shots.
Over 6 | Score 40/2 (Virat Kohli 13; Shreyas Iyer 21)
Mitchell Santner bowled an excellent first over, giving away just 3 runs.
India now need 157 runs in 84 balls.
Over 5 | Score 37/2 (Virat Kohli 11; Shreyas Iyer 20)
Another excellent over by Adam Milne, just two runs came off it.
Over 4 | Score 35/2 (Virat Kohli 10; Shreyas Iyer 19)
The fall of two early wickets seems to have no effect on newcomer Shreyas Iyer.
Virat Kohli and Iyer are dealing in boundaries now.
Over 3 | Score 21/2 (Virat Kohli 1; Shreyas Iyer 14)
Two fours in the over for Shreyas Iyer. He will have to build a partnership with skipper Virat Kohli from here on.
Over 2 | Score11/2 (Rohit Sharma 5; Shreyas Iyer 5)
Trent Boult strikes twice in his first over and dents India's chase.
Over 1.2: WICKET! Dhawan b Boult 1(4)
The ball went straight through the gate and Shikhar Dhawan failed to defend in time.
Over 1.6: WICKET! Rohit c Glenn Phillips b Boult 5(6)
Rohit nicked it and Phillips made no mistake.
Over 1 | Score 6/0 (Rohit Sharma 5; Shikhar Dhawan 1)
Good first over by Adam Milne from New Zealand's point of view, just six runs came off it.
Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan come out to begin the proceedings for India.
India's chase has been delayed due to floodlight failure.
One poor outing for Indian fielders, dropping two catches and committing lots of silly mistakes in the field. Kiwis, on the other hand, benefitted from those two drops, and with Colin Munro playing a blinder of an innings on a flat top, it's meant to be raining runs. And it rained.
A second T20I century for Colin Munro, coming off just 54 balls. He becomes just the fourth player to hit two T20I 100s. #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/KOTDeDSKfY
— ICC (@ICC) November 4, 2017
But again, a target of 197 against India at home with Virat Kohli still playing... it's still anybody's game.
Mohammed Siraj, making an emotional debut, gets his maiden wicket. But at the same time, goes for some runs too. Undertable, considering the nature of the pitch.
Over 20 | Score 196/2 (Colin Munro 109; Tom Bruce 18)
So, Colin Munro carries the bat, helping the Kiwis to a very good total of 196/2.
Jasprit Bumrah concedes nine runs in the last over for figures of 4-0-23-0.
Ball by ball: 1,1,2,1,1,2
Over 19 | Score 187/2 (Colin Munro 104; Tom Bruce 14)
Colin Munro brings up his hundred with a couple off the third ball. A 54-ball century against a confident Indian side in India.
But it's another good over for India, with Bhuvneshwar leaking 8 runs in his over. His figures: 4-0-29-0. Brilliant.
Ball by ball: 1,1,2,1,1,2
Over 18 | Score 179/2 (Colin Munro 98; Tom Bruce 12)
One good over for India. Only five runs from Jasprit Bumrah's third over. He, as always, does well in the end overs.
And Colin Munro is batting on 98.
Ball by ball: 0,1,1,0,2,1
Over 17 | Score 174/2 (Colin Munro 94; Tom Bruce 11)
Mohammed Siraj completes his spell, for 4-0-53-1. That's not so good reading, though.
The over starts with a glorious six from Colin Munro, who picked the slower delivery to dismiss over long-on. Then, there's also a brilliantly improvised shot from Tom Bruce. He waits for the ball and scoops it over MS Dhoni's head.
16 runs from the over.
Ball by ball: 6,2,Wd,1,4,1,1
Over 16 | Score 158/2 (Colin Munro 84; Tom Bruce 6)
11 runs from Bhuvneshwar Kumar's third over, and he's India best bowler today. 21 runs from his three. Meanwhile, Colin Munro continues to widen his reach. He just played a delicate, well measure edge shot, if there is any such.
Ball by ball: 1,1,0,4,1L,4
Over 15 | Score 147/2 (Colin Munro 79; Tom Bruce 1)
Hardik Pandya gets his first international wicket, that of Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson, caught at deep mid-wicket by Rohit Sharma.
But the over still goes for 11 runs with Colin Munro carrying on hitting. He adds another four to his bag, off the fifth ball, fine nick beating MS Dhoni.
Ball by ball: 4,W,1,1,4,1
Over 14 | Score 136/1 (Colin Munro 73; Kane Williamson 8)
Another huge over for the Kiwis. Virat Kohli introduces Hardik Pandya, and the pacer leaks 14 runs. Colin Munro hits the third and sixth balls for a four and six respectively. He's brilliant today. 73 off 36 balls with four fours and six sixes.
Ball by ball: 1,1,4,0,2,6
Over 13 | Score 122/1 (Colin Munro 60; Kane Williamson 7)
Axar Patel on with his third over. Another big over with Colin Munro and Kane Williamson hitting a six and four off the fourth and sixth balls respectively.
Ball by ball: 1,1,1,6,1,4
Over 12 | Score 108/1 (Colin Munro 52; Kane Williamson 1)
Yuzvendra Chahal strikes, first ball. Martin Guptill goes for another biggie, but this time he fails to read the slower delivery and ends up offering a catch tp Hardik Pandya at long-off.
Wicket: Martin Guptill c Hardik Pandya b Yuzvendra Chahal 45(41)
Then, Chahal forces a Virat Kohli to take a revied against Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson. Caught behind was the argument from the Indian camp, but the not out decision stays as there was no nick.
Kohli looks dejected.
Four runs and a wicket from the over.
Ball by ball: Wd,W,0,Wd,1,0,0,1
Over 11 | Score 104/0 (Martin Guptill 45; Colin Munro 51)
Then, we have the biggest of the lot today. A 21-run over from Axar Patel, with Colin Munro hitting the last two balls for successive sixes. There's a chance at midwicket boundary bu, Shreyas Iyer palmed the ball over the rope.
In the process, Munro also brings up his fifty off 26 balls.
Ball by ball: 1,1,5Wd,1,1,6,6
Over 10 | Score 83/0 (Martin Guptill 43; Colin Munro 37)
Yuzvendra Chahal replaces Mohammed Siraj, but there's no respite for India. The spinner gets tonkd again. 11 runs from the over, it could have been more, had it not been for a brilliant stop at the rope by Bhuvi, off the last ball. A single off that.
Ball by ball: 1,0,6,1,2,1
Over 9 | Score 72/0 (Martin Guptill 36; Colin Munro 33)
Axar Patel gets introduced and the left-arm orthodox bowler halts the flow of the run. He concedes four runs.
Ball by ball: 0,2,0,1,1,0
Over 8 | Score 68/0 (Martin Guptill 33; Colin Munro 32)
Debutant Mohammed Siraj on with his second over. Starts with a huge shout, but the ball pitches outside the leg. Two singles, then a slap six, over the bowler's head. A double with Colin Munro playing behind square.
The over ends with a massive six over midwicket. 16 runs from the over.
Ball by ball: 0,1,1,6,2,6
Over 7 | Score 52/0 (Martin Guptill 32; Colin Munro 17)
Yuzvendra Chahal on with his second over. This time, he comes prepared. There was a pep talk from MS Dhoni at the start of the over, asking the spinner to keep it shorter. Four singles for four runs.
Ball by ball: 0,1,1,1,0,1
Over 6 | Score 48/0 (Martin Guptill 30; Colin Munro 15)
Jasprit Bumrah continues with his second over. Leaks seven runs, including a four off the fifth ball, hit by Coline Munro.
Ball by ball: 0,1,1,1LB,4,0
Over 5 | Score 41/0 (Martin Guptill 29; Colin Munro 10)
Double bowling change for India. Yuzvendra Chahal on. A single to start his spell, then the leg-spinner witnesses the class of Martin Guptill, who's been silent all these while.
A lofted, straight drive for a huge six off the second ball. A four followed, with the ball landing just inside the boundary rope. Then came the biggest hit, a huge six over midwicket.
17 runs from the over, and with that Guptil tees off in style.
Ball by ball: 0,6,4,6,1,0
Over 4 | Score 24/0 (Martin Guptill 12; Colin Munro 10)
Bowling change for India. Virat Kohli introduces Jasprit Bumrah, and what a start from the 23-year-old. Only three singles.
Ball by ball: 0,0,1,0,1,1
Over 3 | Score 21/0 (Martin Guptill 10; Colin Munro 9)
It takes a while to set the field for the last ball of the over, then Colin Munro plays his pull shot with relative ease to find beat the fielder at deep square leg. Pity. Everybody's expecting a yorker.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar's second over goes for six runs.
Ball by ball: 0,0,0,1WD,0,1,0,4
Over 2 | Score 15/0 (Martin Guptill 9; Colin Munro 5)
Nerves! Poor ball to start his international career for Mohammed Siraj. The first ball goes for a four with Colin Munro smacking the length ball on through point, Good response from the 23-year-old. A single, then a dot.
Then, Martin Guptill plays with a straight bat to beat the bowler on the follow through for the second boundary of the over. A single to end the 10-run over.
Ball by ball: 4,1,0,4,0,1
Over 1 | Score 5/0 (Martin Guptill 4; Colin Munro 0)
All in all, a decent start for India with Bhuvneshwar leaking five runs, including a four and a wide. Guptill hit the third ball through mid-wicket.
Ball by ball: 0,0,0,4,0,0,1WD,0
Here's the big moment for Siraj, getting the India cap from India coach Ravi Shastri.
A moment to cherish for young Mohammed Siraj as he makes his debut for India today #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/0ttCZpLeoo
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 4, 2017
Here's bit on Siraj. The right-arm medium-fast bowler was one of the break-out stars in the last edition of Indian Premier League for Sunrisers Hyderabad. In contrast, he has so far made only a fleeting apperance for Hyderabad in domestic circles, with 15 First-class outings. But, in those matches, he has taken 57 wickets.
A couple of changes for the Kiwis.
New Zealand playing XI: Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson (c), Tom Bruce, Glenn Phillips (wk), Henry Nicholls, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Adam Milne, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult
Mohammed Siraj makes India debut. Skipper Kohli says, he's one upcoming talent for India.
Here's India XI: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (c), MS Dhoni (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Siraj
Kane Williamson wins the TOSS, and New Zealand bat first. India won't mind chasing.
Big talking point ahead of the toss, is the possible debut of Mohammed Siraj. The 23-year-old from Hyderabad is likely to come in place of retired Ashish Nehra. Meanwhile, the Rajkot is believed to be a belter.
Captain Kohli needs just 10 runs to reach 7000 runs in T20 cricket. With an average of 96.5 in Rajkot, he is more than likely to achieve the feat today. Hope alls well for him. By the way, he made a brilliant statement on his player and retirement. Read it HERE.
This will be second T20I at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot. In the first match here, India chased down Australia's total of 201/7 with the help of Yuvraj Singh’s blitz. In the last ten games at the venue, teams chasing won six times. Teams batting first won three of them while one game ended in a tie.
