India produced a remarkable late fightback in 2nd T20 to beat New Zealand and extend their lead in the five-match T20I series.
The hosts appeared to have the game under control for most of the chase. However, Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy turned the contest on its head in the closing stages.
The victory also gave India a memorable milestone. They registered their 200th T20I win in their 300th match in the format.
New Zealand found the going tougher on the same surface used in the opening game.
The pitch played at a slower pace this time, and India’s bowlers adapted better to the conditions. The hosts’ top order, meanwhile, attacked too early and paid the price.
India also backed up their bowling with sharp work in the field. That kept New Zealand under pressure during the early part of the innings in the 2nd T20 against India.
Glenn Phillips and Bevon Jacobs then gave the hosts some much-needed stability. The pair added 116 runs and initially played with caution before increasing the tempo.
Phillips took greater control of the partnership. Jacobs, on the other hand, struggled to find his timing consistently.
He also received a major reprieve when Shreyas Iyer dropped him on 20. The missed chance allowed Jacobs to stay at the crease and contribute to New Zealand’s recovery.
The partnership eventually gave New Zealand a platform after their difficult start. However, the hosts still needed to make the most of the opportunity.
New Zealand responded strongly with the ball.
Unlike the opening game, when they conceded heavily during the Powerplay, the hosts bowled with much greater discipline this time. Their attack prevented India from making another fast start.
Jacob Duffy did give India an opening when he overstepped after Abhishek Sharma was caught in the deep. However, Abhishek could not make New Zealand pay for the error.
Mitchell Santner then became the main threat through the middle overs.
The New Zealand captain picked up four wickets and repeatedly disrupted India’s chase. Michael Bracewell also kept things tight from the other end and supported Santner’s efforts.
With India needing 68 runs from the final 30 balls, New Zealand looked firmly in control in the 2nd T20.
The required rate was high, and the hosts appeared close to closing out the match.
India, however, refused to surrender.
Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy took advantage of a sudden drop in New Zealand’s intensity. The hosts began making mistakes with both the ball and in the field.
India’s two batters responded with attacking strokes and kept the chase alive.
What had looked like a comfortable New Zealand position quickly became a tense finish.
Varma and Reddy continued to find boundaries while putting pressure back on the bowlers. Their partnership showed the depth in India’s batting and gave the visitors a route back into a match that had seemed almost lost.
New Zealand had created the pressure needed to win the contest. Yet, when the decisive moments arrived, they could not maintain it. India capitalised.
The late surge carried India over the line and gave them another victory in the series.
New Zealand had controlled large portions of the contest. They recovered well with the bat after losing early wickets and then put India under serious pressure during the chase.
However, the hosts could not finish the job.
For India, the victory was significant for more than just the series.
They completed their 300th T20I appearance with their 200th win in the format. More importantly, they achieved it from a position where defeat had appeared the likely outcome.
New Zealand’s players were left disappointed after letting the match slip away in the closing stages.
India, meanwhile, found another way to win and strengthened their position in the series.
