Another super over, another heart break for New Zealand. Kane Willamson’s blistering knock of 95 went in vain as India clinched a thrilling super over victory to claim their maiden T20I series victory on the New Zealand soil and take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. Rohit Sharma was the star for India as his 65 off 40 deliveries in the first innings and two massive sixes in the super over to take India home.
Earlier in the day, India after a thunderous start courtesy of a brisk 65 from Rohit Sharma, lost wickets in quick succession and managed to score 179 in their 20 overs. Chasing 180, New Zealand got off to a decent start as Guptill took the charge. Guptill departed after making a quick 31 and his opening partner Colin Munro soon joined him after. Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson then took the change of the innings smashed Indian bowlers around the park. He specifically targeted the normally unhittable Jasprit Bumrah. From his 95, 25 of those runs were made off India’s premier bowler. Willamson along with Ross Taylor was cruising towards the target but the 20th over from Shami changed the whole equation.
After getting hit for a six on the first ball of the last over, Shami got the big fish Willamson with the equation reading two off three balls. But Shami choked New Zealand and gave away just one in the last three balls to take the game in the super over.
In the super over, Williamson along with Guptill again tonked Jasprit Bumrah and took 17 runs from it but it still wasn’t enough. Hitman Rohit Sharma rose to the occasion and hit two sixes off the last two balls to give India a famous victory.
With the series in bag, India might now look to give Samson, Saini and Washington some game time. The 4th T20I will be played on Friday (31st January 2020) in Wellington.
