India vs New Zealand highlights, 2nd T20I: Rahul, Iyer lead India to 7-wicket win
India vs New Zealand highlights 2nd T20I: KL Rahul smashed an unbeaten 50 off 50 balls and Shreyas Iyer scored an equally important 44 off 33 balls as India beat New Zealand by 7 wickets at Auckland to go 2-0 up in the five-match series. India are now favourites to win their first-ever T20I series in New Zealand. Earlier, Ravindra Jadeja struck twice while Jasprit Bumrah, Shardul Thakur and Shivam Dube took one each for India as India restricted New Zealand to 132/5 in 20 overs during the second T20I encounter in Auckland. Martin Guptill was the top-scorer for the hosts with 33. On the back of a fiery innings from Shreyas Iyer, India managed to clinch the win in the first T20I.India vs New Zealand 2nd T20I highlights
15:37 hrs IST
A complete performance from India
A very different match in Eden Park, Auckland. There was no flurry of sixes from New Zealand, the seamers found their lengths and the spinners ruled the roost but one thing didn’t change was India’s dominance. Ravindra Jadeja first did a remarkable job with the ball, picking 2 wickets for only 18 runs in his 4 overs and in reply, KL Rahul remained unbeaten on 58 to play the anchor role in the middle. Shreyas Iyer did his part with a fantastic 44-run innings in just 33 balls.
15:32 hrs IST
India win by 7 wickets
Shivam Dube finishes it off with a six! Another resounding win for the Indians. They have now all three of their T20Is in New Zealand at Auckland. With this 7-wicket win, India have also taken a 2-0 lead in the five-match series and are now firm favourites to win their first ever T20 series in New Zealand.
15:25 hrs IST
Iyer doesn’t get his fifty
OUT! He wanted to get his fifty with a six but ends up skying one to long off. But what a brilliant innings from the right-hander again. Iyer and Rahul have taken India on the doorsteps of victory.
15:20 hrs IST
Iyer on a rampage
A fantastic six straight over the bowler’s head, followed by ramp shot exactly in the opposite direction, 10 runs off 2 balls and India have suddenly taken the game completely away from New Zealand. India need 17 and Iyer needs 12 for his fifty. Can he do it?
15:15 hrs IST
Fifty for Rahul
A six and four and KL Rahul gets to his 11th T20 half-century. This innings has been a different one but dare we say, even better that the one on Friday. Not the usual Auckland pitch, a bit sticky a bit slow but Rahul has been prepared to buy his time and go for his shots once the ball is there. He is taking India to a 2-0 lead.
15:03 hrs IST
13 run-over
Shreyas Iyer hit a beautiful six off Sodhi and India have taken 13 runs off that 12th over. India still have their noses in front one must say and these two are timing the chase perfectly.
14:55 hrs IST
It’s a battle against spin
Another 3 run over from Santner. Iyer and Rahul have a battle on their hands in from Ish Sodhi and Mitch Santner. India have scored only 23 runs in the 5 overs against the New Zealand spinners. India need 70 runs from 54 balls now.
14:48 hrs IST
Fifty for India
A harmless tap down the leg side from KL Rahul for a single and that’ll bring up India’s fifty in 8.2 overs. The match is poised nicely here, the New Zealand spinners Ish Sodhi and Mitch Santner have started well but both Rahul and Iyer have the big shot up their sleeves.
14:42 hrs IST
Good start from Santner
Yup! This pitch has something in it for spinners. It was Jadeja for India and now it looks like Mitchell Santner too will have a key role to play in this match. Only 2 runs from his opening over. If anything, Williamson probably should’ve got him on a couple of overs earlier.
14:36 hrs IST
Southee gets Kohli
OUT! A huge wicket for New Zealand, Virat Kohli has to go. Not the best of deliveries from Southee. It was down the leg side, possible would’ve been a wide if Kohli had left it alone but who does that in T20s? The Indian captain tried to glance it past the keeper but ended up getting a faint tickle to Seifert behind the stumps. New Zealand still in this game.
14:33 hrs IST
Good over India
A Virat Kohli boundary and a KL Rahul upper cut for six in Blair Tickner’s first over, 15 runs coming off it and it also releases the pressure New Zealand had put on Kohli and Rahul.
14:30 hrs IST
Kohli breaks the shackles
FOUR! That was coming, you could sense it. New Zealand new-ball bowlers had kept the Indian top-order quiet but not anymore. Virat Kohli launces into Tickner, straight over the mid-off fielder for a boundary.
14:22 hrs IST
Another good one from Southee
That Rohit wicket has done a world of good to Tim Southee. What a brilliant 2nd over from the experienced right-arm seamer, just 3 runs from it.
14:15 hrs IST
Rohit departs
OUT! Maybe we spoke to soon, Southee induces another edge and this time it lands in the hands of Ross Taylor at 2nd slip. New Zealand have got the early breakthrough and it’s the big one of Rohit Sharma.
14:12 hrs IST
Rohit starts with 2 boundaries
A brilliant boundary through the covers then an outside through the slips a couple of balls later, Rohit Sharma is off to a flier with 2 boundaries of Tim Southee’s first over.
14:02 hrs IST
NZ 132/5
A six for Tim Seifert on the penultimate over but New Zealand could manage only 132/5 in 20 overs. This is way below the par score on this ground and India will be mighty pleased with their bowling efforts.
13:58 hrs IST
Bumrah strikes
A good catch for Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah has taken the wicket of Ross Taylor. Another bad shot from the Kiwis and Rohit completed the catch easily at the boundary. NZ 125/5
13:53 hrs IST
Iyer Injury
More injury concerns for India! Shreyas Iyer now limps out of the ground with a possible knee issue and the physio is taking a look at the issue right now. New Zealand 121/4
13:49 hrs IST
Virat misses catch
A missed catch for Virat Kohli! That’s not something you see everyday. A mishit from Ross Taylor but Kohli missed an absolute sitter at long on! New Zealand 117 for the loss of four wickets.
13:44 hrs IST
Good over from Jadeja
What an over from Ravindra Jadeja! Just six runs off the 17th over and this was what India needed at the moment. Tim Seifert and Ross Taylor were looking to go for big shots but to no avail. NZ 115/4
13:42 hrs IST
Shami injury
Mohammed Shami looked in a spot of bother as he was seen holding his ankle after a fielding attempt. Sanju Samson replaced him on the field but it looks like the damage was minimal. NZ 110/4
13:38 hrs IST
Good over for NZ
A six and a boundary for Tim Seifert off Yuzvendra Chahal and finally, it is a good over for New Zealand. 15 runs came off that over and New Zealand are 109 for the loss of four wickets after 16 overs.
13:33 hrs IST
15 overs gone
15 overs gone. New Zealand are 94 for the loss of four wickets. This has been a disappointing show from New Zealand who started the innings quite well but loss of wickets on a regular basis has dented their run rate quite a bit.
13:25 hrs IST
Jadeja strikes again
Kane Williamson tried to break the shackles with a shot towards fine leg but the ball was safely deposited into the hands of Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravindra Jadeja strikes once again! NZ 81/4
13:19 hrs IST
Slow overs
12 overs gone and New Zealand are 79 for the loss of three wickets. The middle overs have been quite tough for the hosts as they have struggled to score runs and they will be quite disappointed with how they have batted.
13:14 hrs IST
Jadeja strikes
OUT! Ravindra Jadeja has got a wicket in his first over. The ball seemed to have just stopped on Grandhomme a little, he was a bit early into his shot and ended pushing it straight back to the bowler. India are all over New Zealand now.
13:11 hrs IST
A good over from Bumrah
Great lengths from Bumrah and couple it with his variations, he becomes a difficult entity to hit. New Zealand have reached 73/2 after 10 overs. India have bottled up New Zealand so far.
13:03 hrs IST
Dube strikes
A good catch from Virat Kohli and Shivam Dube has dismissed Colin Munro! Munro mistimed it completely and an athletic attempt from the India skipper was enough to hand India their second wicket. NZ 68/2
12:58 hrs IST
Six off Dube
10 runs off the Shivam Dube over and New Zealand are 58 for the loss of one wicket. A massive six over fine leg and Colin Munro is already looking in great touch.
12:53 hrs IST
Guptill departs
Shardul Thakur went for two boundaries in his second over but he has delivered the important wicket of Martin Guptill. A mis-hit from the opener and a good catch from Virat Kohli provided the breakthrough for the visitors. NZ 48/1 after 6 overs.
12:46 hrs IST
Spin introduced
It was a gamble for Virat Kohli as he gave the ball to Yuzvendra Chahal inside the powerplay but the over was not that expensive. Colin Munro guided the first ball to the boundary but the spinner was able to keep him quiet after that. NZ 39/0 after 5 overs.
12:42 hrs IST
Guptill on fire
Two brilliant fielding efforts from India as they saved two clear boundaries. However, Martin Guptill was able to get one four and a good over for the hosts. 4 overs gone and they are 32 for no loss.
12:37 hrs IST
Bumrah steady
Jasprit Bumrah replaced Shardul Thakur in the attack and the result were instant. Controlled line and length from the top-ranked ODI bowler in the world and after 3 overs, New Zealand are 23 for no loss.
12:32 hrs IST
Chin Music
Mohammed Shami has decided that short pitch bowling is the best idea against the New Zealand openers and the plan worked in the second over. He was able to keep the openers quiet for the first five balls and although Martin Guptill got a boundary off the last ball, it was a good over for India. NZ 18/0
12:27 hrs IST
Expensive start
0,0,6,6,0,0wd,0 - A mixed over for Shardul Thakur. The youngster bowled well but Martin Guptill slammed him for both massive sixes on the third and fourth ball of the over. NZ 13/0 after first over.
12:21 hrs IST
Match starts
Martin Guptill and Colin Munro to open the batting for New Zealand while Shardul Thakur will start proceedings for India. Let the game begin!
12:15 hrs IST
Pitch Report
“It’s the same pitch that we had two days ago. There will just be a little more turn for the spinners than the first game. Grass cover is very good and it is expected to play very good again. There will be plenty of runs on offer.” - Sunil Gavaskar and Mike Hesson.
12:06 hrs IST
Kohli speaks
Same thing, happy days (on both teams getting to do what they wanted). We had a brilliant chase the other night and we wanted to field first. We were talking in the dug-out that had me and KL batted through, we would have won with two overs to spare. I think, it’s a gun wicket, they were looking good to get 230 at one stage, we came back well with the ball too in the last game. Chasing falls into the strengths we have in our side so we want to field first. Four days into the tour, we are sleeping much better, I think we had the best sleep last night. We were happy with the performance, I don’t think there was any jet lag. We are going in with the same team. We want to do better in the field. We can stop that extra 10-15 runs. I know the dimensions are different here, we are not used to these kind of dimensions but we have an understanding of what we need to do in the field so that’s something we are looking to improve on tonight.
12:05 hrs IST
New Zealand playing XI
New Zealand (Playing XI): Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson(c), Colin de Grandhomme, Ross Taylor, Tim Seifert(w), Mitchell Santner, Blair Tickner, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Hamish Bennett
12:00 hrs IST
India playing XI
Rohit Sharma, Lokesh Rahul(w), Virat Kohli(c), Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Manish Pandey, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah
11:51 hrs IST
NZ opt to bat
New Zealand opt to bat after winning toss against India in the 2nd T20I encounter. Important toss to win for the Kiwis. Will it affect the result? Let’s see.
11:43 hrs IST
Batting wicket
A good batting wicket on offer in Auckland as both teams will be looking to bat well on this turf. The first T20I produced a lot of runs and the second one should be no different.
11:28 hrs IST
Saini in?
With the New Zealand pitches favouring pace, Virat Kohli can opt for Navdeep Saini in place of Shardul Thakur for the second T20I. Saini’s raw pace has bothered batsmen in the past and it can turn out to be a key weapon for the visitors.
11:02 hrs IST
Weather and Pitch forecast
Expected to be a sunny day and the pitch is expected to be a treat for the batsmen. Eden Park is a short ground and plenty of sixes could be on the display. READ MORE
10:56 hrs IST
Pitch looks belter
Here is a look at the pitch:
10:30 hrs IST
India vs New Zealand 2nd T20I: Hello and welcome
Hello and welcome to our live blog on the 2nd T20I between India and New Zealand in Auckland. India are celebrating their 71st Republic Day, and Virat Kohli & co. will be eager to mark the day with a win and take 2-0 lead in the five-match T20I series. New Zealand were excellent with the bat, but will look to be more aggressive with the ball to get back into the series. Plenty of action expected in the day.