India v NZ 2nd T20: New Zealand beat India by 40 runs

Right then! Not totally unexpected. New Zealand have bounced back to level the series. What can we expect in Thiruvananthapuram? Will it be India or the Kiwis? A Super Over perhaps? That would be thrilling. Both sides would be ruing their fielding effort in their respective losses and will aim to put their best foot forward in the decider. Hopefully, we get a cracker. The game is scheduled on Tuesday, 7th November, 2017 at 1900 local (1330 GMT). Adios! Take Care!

Any guesses who is the Man Of The Match? You can clap for yourself as a prize. COLIN MUNRO could have done nothing wrong tonight. He could have as well won a lottery had he applied for one. Cheekily admits that a few chances went his way but he enjoyed playing those big shots. Credits the planning (of the NZ Board) to stage the 'A' tour before this series and says that helped him to acclimatize to the conditions. On being asked his mantra, he says it does not matter whether he is chasing or batting first. Just keeps his head still and does not pre-meditate, which is the advice given to him by coach Craig McMillan.

Victorious Kiwi captain, KANE WILLIAMSON smiles and says that it was a contrasting performance from Delhi. He admits that to beat India one needs to be at his best and now their challenge is to replicate the same in the third T20I. Praises Munro for his century and also Guptill, for that brisk wonderful stand. Now, he praises Tom Bruce as well. Then he comes to the bowlers, does not praise every individual, but does praise them as a unit. On his two spinners doing well tonight, he says that one should always emulate from the strengths of the opposition and he has full faith and confidence in the experience of his two tweakers.

Indian skipper, VIRAT KOHLI praises the Kiwi batting and says that India were expecting 225-230 at one stage. Credits Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah for pulling things back to keep New Zealand under 200 but quickly admits that the batting was not good enough. Stresses that while chasing a big total, it is never enough for only one batsman to keep scoring and everyone needs to chip in. Adds that he tried his best, praises Dhoni for his hits towards the end but eventually, it did not help. Does not want to look too much into the promotion of Hardik Pandya and says that such gambles sometimes work, sometimes they don't. He is confident that both batsmen are good enough to bat at any position. Does admit that the surface started to grip a bit after 13-14 overs once the ball got scuffed up but does not want to give any excuses and makes a straight statement - not good enough with the bat.

ISH SODHI says that it was a pretty flat wicket and jokes that the hundred was very special and Munro will remember it for the rest of his life. On his own bowling, he says that the ball got scuffed back a bit and he got plenty of assistance from the wicket. On the wrong 'un to dismiss Pandya, Sodhi says that he has been practicing it a lot in the nets and is just figuring out the right moment to bowl those. On being asked which ball he is more comfortable with - the leg spinner or the googly - Ish says that you just need to keep practicing. Feels that winning tonight is a massive plus for his side. The presentation is coming up...

Could India have won this? Ummm... perhaps. The outfield was quick, the ground was not that big and the pitch was a batting beauty with Virat Kohli in form. But time and again, we have observed that if the Indian openers fail, the team stutters. The move to promote Iyer to number 3 was applauded by everyone with the youngster racing to 20 from 12 balls. But then some pressure got the better of him and he threw it away. The rare flop of Hardik and the biggest surprise - Kohli and Dhoni struggling in the death overs. All these factors contributed to a loss. Perhaps the pitch slowed up towards the end. Perhaps Dhoni struggled. Either ways, Kohli got under pressure and New Zealand capitalized.

The Kiwi spinners outdid their counterparts tonight. While Chahal and Axar went for 75 in 7 overs with a wicket, Sodhi and Santner had combined figures of 8-0-56-2. The Indian middle order could not get them away at all, in spite of having set batsmen in the middle. Another bowler worth mentioning is Adam Milne. A look at his figures and one would ask - 4-0-30-0 - big deal? Well, he conceded just 8 runs in his 2 overs in the Powerplay and just 6 of his third in the 15th over. That is the big deal.

It is often said that a good start is the key to great success. New Zealand struggled in Delhi, allowing the Indian openers to get a big stand. Tonight, they dismissed both of them in the space of 6 balls, with spearhead Trent Boult breathing fire. The other bowlers made use of that start and kept piling on the pressure and India were always behind the eight-ball. There was a bit of a chance for India during the Iyer-Kohli stand but once the former threw his wicket away, it went all downhill.

We will have a decider in Thiruvananthapuram. Excellent bowling from New Zealand. Not quite sure whether 196 was a big enough score to defend but they have certainly made it look like that. The win has not been an over or two where the game might have swung. It is by a massive 40 runs which shows the strength of their bowling unit.

T Boult to B Kumar, Full on middle, pushed towards long on for one. That ends the match, with NEW ZEALAND WINNING BY 40 RUNS.

T Boult to J Bumrah, Oohh... nearly a five-for! Outside off, Bumrah pushes at it and gets an inside edge, which just misses the stumps en route towards fine leg! Just a single.

T Boult to J Bumrah, A yorker to start, right on middle, Bumrah digs it out towards point and sets off for a single but is sent back.

JASPRIT BUMRAH walks in at number 9, replacing Dhoni. 5-fer still on?

T Boult to MS Dhoni, OUT! Mr. Butter Fingers takes it! Santner was the one to drop Dhoni in the previous over and it is Santner who denies MS his half century. A short ball, Dhoni looks to pull but gets a top edge which just spoons to square leg. Mitchell Santner does not have to move an inch and takes a sitter. A forgetful innings for Dhoni.

T Boult to MS Dhoni, That is his fifty! Oops, not yet. Full and outside off. MS smashes it towards long off but DOES NOT TAKE the single.

T Boult to MS Dhoni, SIX! Oh there is one more thing to look forward to. Can Dhoni hit six sixes and generate some interest in this game? A length ball, Dhoni swings it miles over mid-wicket! Just that it has come years too late.

Okay. Final over. What do we look for in this match? A possible Boult 5-fer?

A Milne to MS Dhoni, A short ball, pulled through mid-wicket for a single to keep strike. 16 from the over but this can be considered an aberration. He went for 14 in his three overs before this and pretty much stifled India for runs.

A Milne to MS Dhoni, FOUR! A full toss now, Dhoni whips it through square leg and gets a boundary.

A Milne to MS Dhoni, WIDE. A slower ball, down the leg side, short in length, Dhoni looks to pull but misses.

A Milne to MS Dhoni, On middle, pushes it towards long on for a couple.

A Milne to MS Dhoni, No. That should end the match barring any miracles. It is a DROPPED catch for the statisticians. Dhoni swings it towards long off and Mitchell Santner comes charging in to his left. Slides and should have taken it but his butter fingers do not support him. Two runs taken.

A Milne to MS Dhoni, A fine full ball outside off, MS swings hard and gets it off the inner half of the bat through widish mid on. Two runs taken. 59 needed from 10 balls. A six needed off every ball now. Possible?

A Milne to MS Dhoni, FOUR! Short and outside off, slapped to the cover fence for a boundary. India need maximums.

ADAM MILNE to bowl out.

T Boult to MS Dhoni, Full and outside off, driven towards long off for a run. 7 runs and a wicket from the over, Boult has figures of 3-0-26-3.

T Boult to B Kumar, The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. They pick up a single.

T Boult to B Kumar, A fine yorker, on middle, well dug out.

BHUVNESHWAR KUMAR walks in at number 8, replacing Axar.

T Boult to A Patel, OUT! Soft dismissal. Jumps down the track, Boult bangs it in short, Axar looks to go over cover but can only spoon it straight to Kane Williamson at short cover. Tonight might have been a big ask, but have to say - Axar has disappointed with the bat in his comeback to the national squad.

T Boult to A Patel, FOUR! That will help. Down the leg side, Axar flicks it fine enough of the man at fine leg to make the crowd clap for a boundary. 67 more needed from 16 balls now.

T Boult to MS Dhoni, A yorker to start, squeezed through third man for a single.

TRENT BOULT is back on. India need a big over.

M Santner to MS Dhoni, Comes down the track and flicks it to deep square leg for a single. Just 3 from the over with a wicket. Santner finishes with figures of 4-0-31-1 and the two spinners have combined figures of 8-0-56-2. Terrific effort.

M Santner to MS Dhoni, Down the leg side, Dhoni misses his flick and gets hit on the pads. Another dot.

M Santner to A Patel, Down the leg side, flicked towards square leg for a single.

AXAR PATEL walks in at number 7, replacing Kohli.

M Santner to V Kohli, OUT! Stumped? Caught? It is a dismissal and that is what matters for New Zealand. Big moment in the game. Santner fires this onto the pads on seeing Kohli come down the track and the batsman looks to go inside out. He misses and the keeper collects the ball on the second attempt, after fumbling initially. He is overjoyed and appeals for the catch but then has the presence of mind to whip the bails off. Kohli knows he has edged it and does not even bother to get back. He departs for 65. The 56-run stand is broken but it consumed 44 balls. Did that consume the skipper? India now need 74 from 21 balls.

M Santner to MS Dhoni, A short ball, pulled through mid-wicket for a single.

M Santner to MS Dhoni, SAFE AS A HOUSE. Flighted wide outside off, Dhoni comes down the track but on realizing that he is beaten in the flight, lets it go and slides back into the crease. Phillips takes the bails off and appeals. The square leg umpire makes a belated call to go upstairs and replays confirm that Dhoni is in. What that appeal has done is - Perhaps saved the Kiwis a wide ball.

MITCHELL SANTNER is back on. And a stumping appeal! Is MS gone?

Ish Sodhi to MS Dhoni, Works it through mid-wicket for a single. Excellent figures for Sodhi again tonight - 4-0-25-1!

Ish Sodhi to MS Dhoni, SIX! Gets it away this time! Dhoni comes down the track, Sodhi fires it on the pads but MS is too good a batsman to miss twice in a row. Swings it over mid-wicket for a biggie! 'India need half a dozen more of these', says Harsha Bhogle on air. 50-run stand comes up as well.

Ish Sodhi to MS Dhoni, Excellent bowling. Sees Dhoni jump down and dips this onto the batsman. MS misreads it and just swings wildly. Misses and wears it on the pads.

Ish Sodhi to V Kohli, Short and outside off, punched towards sweeper cover for one. Kohli is frustrated, he realizes that was a scoring opportunity of a boundary.

Ish Sodhi to MS Dhoni, Now Dhoni emulates Kohli and bunts it towards long on for a run.

Ish Sodhi to V Kohli, Comes down the track and just chips it towards long off for a single.

A Milne to V Kohli, Excellent yorker on middle, jabbed towards point for one. Just 6 from the over.

A Milne to V Kohli, FOUR! CRISP! India need more of these. Full and outside off, Kohli comes down the track and drives it through extra cover. Kane Williamson chases it from long off but is beaten! 86 more needed from 31 balls now.

A Milne to V Kohli, A bouncer to the captain now, Kohli is down the track and sways away from the line.

A Milne to MS Dhoni, A short ball again, this time Dhoni manages to get it away, with a pull shot, albeit off a top edge to third man. Just a single.

A Milne to MS Dhoni, Jumps down the track again, is cramped for room once more, with the bowler following him with a short ball, Dhoni looks to flick but misses and gets a thick inside edge onto his pads.

A Milne to MS Dhoni, Comes down the track, is cramped for room and mistimes his punch to a short ball towards mid off.

ADAM MILNE is back on.

Ish Sodhi to MS Dhoni, Comes down the track and bunts this down to long on for one. When you have conceded 8 from the first two balls but finish with 9 from the over, you have got to acknowledge that it has been a top comeback.

Ish Sodhi to MS Dhoni, Third dot in a row. Full and outside off, Dhoni looks to drive but misses, with the ball skewing off the outer half of the bat to cover.

Ish Sodhi to MS Dhoni, Around middle and off, defended from the crease.

Ish Sodhi to MS Dhoni, A quicker ball, shorter in length outside off, MS mistimes his punch back to Sodhi.

Ish Sodhi to MS Dhoni, SIX! WHOOSH! That is why you should not miss chances, especially against MSD! Floated on middle, Dhani dances down the track and sends it swinging over long on!

Ish Sodhi to MS Dhoni, GREAT EFFORT BUT A MISSED STUMPING! Is that the luck India needed? Excellent bowling from Sodhi. Slows this up beautifully outside off and beats Dhoni in the air as he jumps down the track. It is a victory for the bowler as MSD misses the ball but unfortunately for Sodhi, Glenn Phillips misses it too and the ball goes through towards the third man boundary. Colin Munro chases it down from short third man and dives near the ropes. The umpires check it upstairs to see whether it is a boundary and after numerous replays, are happy that those are two runs saved. Byes signalled. 98 more needed for 41 balls now.