Indian lost final T-20 to New Zealand\, win series 2-1

Indian lost final T-20 to New Zealand, win series 2-1

Published On: By

 

Both the Indian Men and Women teams ended their tour to New Zealand with a defeat in the final Twenty-20 Internationals of the three-match series at Hamilton on Sunday.

The Men in Blue, led by Rohit Sharma, squandered the opportunity to become the first Indian team to win a T20 series in New Zealand when they fell short by just 4 runs in the series-deciding game.

They lost the series, 1-2. Put in to bat, the Kiwis had posted a mammoth 212 for 4, courtesy a superb all-round batting performance led by openers Colin Munro and Tim Seifert. Munro scored a 40-ball 72, with making 43.

In reply, Team India managed to make 208 for 6 in the allotted 20 overs. The end of innings cameos from Dinesh Karthik and Krunal Pandya after Vijay Shankar and Rohit Sharma’s brilliant starts could not help India reach the 213 run total.

 

Mitchell Santner and Daryl Mitchell bagged 2 wickets each. Munro was named man of the match, while Seifert was adjudged player of the series.

Earlier in the day, the Indian eves failed to bag a consolation win as they lost the final T-20 by 2 runs.

New Zealand swept the series, 3-nil. Opting to bat, the hosts put 161 for 7 on the board, riding on opener Sophie Devine’s 72.

In reply, Smriti Mandhana’s 86 off 62 balls went in vain as India fell short by just 2 runs, making 159 for 4 wickets. Sophie, who also scalped 2 wickets, was named player of the match.

Prior to the T-20 series, the Indian Men’s team had recorded its biggest ODI series triumph in New Zealand, after winning their first Test and ODI series in Australia.

The Indian eves had won the ODI series against the Kiwis, 2-1.