India hand New Zealand an almighty walloping to seal series after Bumrah and Bishnoi restricted NZ to 153 with the ball.
With ten overs remaining, India easily defeated New Zealand to 153 and won their 11th consecutive series or tournament in Twenty20 Internationals. The two bowlers brought in for this game, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravi Bishnoi, captured five wickets for 35 runs between them before Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Ishan Kishan easily defeated the target.
As India prepares to defend its global crown at home, a 3-0 series victory with two games remaining, on the strength of two players who are now not in their starting lineup, is as formidable a challenge as any. This series winning streak began prior to the aforementioned global Cup two years ago.
On a night when India trounced their opponents from Tests and ODIs, Harshit Rana claimed a wicket in the first over, Bumrah flattened the off stump first ball, and Kishan and Abhishek scored multiple boundaries in their first overs despite Sanju Samson’s golden duck.
In just 14 balls, Abhishek achieved India’s second-fastest half-century, nearly making fun of New Zealand’s strategy to bowl at his pads and take away his room. With an undefeated 57 off 26 balls, Suryakumar continued his comeback to form despite not being as impressive as Abhishek.
The lightning bat speed of Kishan, who knocked Matt Henry for 6, 6, and 4 after getting one sighter in, allayed any concerns New Zealand may have had regarding the insufficiency of their total due to Samson’s first-ball wicket. Abhishek charged the first ball at Jacob Duffy, who followed him but still dropped him over midwicket, almost as if he was insulted by someone upstaging him before he had a chance to strike.
Abhishek hit two fours after that. He and Kishan combined for 53 in 19 balls before Kishan was dismissed by Ish Sodhi’s flipper.
Abhishek was already on 23 off six when Kishan was dismissed for 28 off 13 deliveries. Abhishek continued to charge at bowlers who attempted to bowl outside leg to him, but he retreated to go over the off side. He had reached his fifty during the powerplay by the time he entered the line of one and, for variation, dragged it over fine leg for six.
India missed their best powerplay total by one run at 94 for 2, and Abhishek missed his mentor and hero Yuvraj Singh’s record by two balls.
As New Zealand continued to look for answers that did not exist, Suryakumar dominated the hitting and the strike post powerplay. He was equally adept on the off side as he was on the famous flick over backward square leg. A dominant side’s final component came together.