Half-centurions Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul power India to series win over New Zealand in Ranchi T20I

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KEY STORY 

  • Half-centuries from Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul and a brilliant bowling display in the first innings propelled India to their 2nd consecutive T20I series win over New Zealand. Chasing a target of 154, India completed the chase in 17.2 overs after Rishabh Pant welcomed Jimmy Neesham with two back-to-back sixes. India are now 2-0 up in the series with one match left to be played.
  • Rohit and Rahul laid a strong base to the chase and added 117 runs for the first wicket in 13.2 overs. Rohit scored 55 off 36 while his deputy hit a 49-ball 65. Rahul was the dominant force between them at the start. Even though India lost both the openers and Suryakumar Yadav, it turned out to be an easy chase for the home team. Promoted to bat at 3, Venkatesh Iyer remained unbeaten on 12 while Rishabh hit 2 sixes off the 6 balls he faced.
  • Earlier, courtesy of Martin Guptill, NZ made a brilliant start to their innings as the opening batsman collected 14 runs from the very first over. The senior batsman achieved a huge milestone and became the highest run-scorer in T20Is as well. Runs continued to flow during Guptill’s stay in the middle and the scoring rate remained over 10.
  • Guptill departed for a well-made 31 off 15 off Deepak Chahar, who got him caught by wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant. NZ reached the 50-run mark in the 5th over and collected a total of 64 runs from the powerplay.
  • However, the scoring rate dipped following the first six overs even as there was heavy dew. The spinners bowled tightly to pause the flow of runs. Axar Patel only conceded 26 runs in his 4 overs while taking 1 wicket. R Ashwin went for 19 runs and dismissed Tim Seifert. Debutant Harshal Patel was also among wickets and dismissed Daryl Mitchel and Phillips during his spell of 4-0-25-2.

CONCLUSION 

  • Mark Chapman, the star performer of the first T20I, only managed 21 while Glenn Phillips scored 34 off 21. Even though a couple of middle-order batters got starts, the lack of big partnerships hurt NZ’s chances of a big total and they only managed 153 in the end.
  • The 3rd and final T20I of the series will be played in Kolkata on Sunday (November 21). Both the teams might have a couple of changes in the XI for the dead rubber fixture.

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