In the fifth T20I match against New Zealand, Team India emerged victorious by 46 runs at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. With this, the hosts have sealed the five-match T20I series by 4-1 against the Kiwis.
Having put to chase a target of 272 runs, the “Black Caps” were bowled out for 225 runs in 19.4 overs.
New Zealand`s opening batsman Finn Allen emerged as the highest run-scorer for the side. Facing 38 balls, he played a knock of 80 runs, which also included eight boundaries and six maximums. Ish Sodhi scored 33 runs in 15 balls, with the help of a boundary and three maximums.
Rachin Ravindra also accumulated 30 runs after facing 17 balls. His knock was laced with two boundaries and the same number of maximums. Daryl Mitchell returned to the pavilion after registering 26 runs off 12 balls, and also smashed two boundaries and the same number of maximums.
Team India`s Arshdeep Singh returned with the figures of five wickets for 51 runs in four overs. Axar Patel bowled four overs and bagged three wickets by conceding 33 runs. Varun Chakaravarthy and Rinku Singh also chipped in with one wicket each.
Earlier, having opted to bat first, Team India`s swashbuckling opening batsman Abhishek Sharma smashed 30 runs off just 16 deliveries, with the help of four boundaries and two maximums. Fellow opening batsman Sanju Samson continued his low string of scores as he departed on six runs in six balls, including a boundary.
Ishan Kishan, who missed out on the previous clash due to injury, delivered a big knock. Facing just 43 balls, the left-handed batsman garnered 103 runs, which was laced with six boundaries and 10 maximums. The knock also marked his first century in the shortest format of the game.
Skipper Suryakumar Yadav also registered a score of 63 runs after facing 30 balls. His knock also included four boundaries and six maximums. Premier all-rounder Hardik Pandya played a fiery knock of 42 runs in just 17 balls, with the help of a boundary and four maximums. Rinku Singh and Shivam Dube stayed unbeaten on the scores of eight and seven runs, respectively. With this, the “Men in Blue” posted a total of 271 runs for the loss of five wickets in 20 overs.
New Zealand`s Lockie Ferguson managed to pick up two wickets by conceding 41 runs in four overs. Skipper Mitchell Santner, Kyle Jamieson, and Jacob Duffy also picked up one wicket each.
