KL Rahul hit his 11th fifty as India won by seven wickets against New Zealand in the second Twenty20 International in Auckland to take a 2-0 lead in the series. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)
New Delhi:
For the last 25 years, when it comes to limited overs cricket, Eden Park Auckland has been a kind venue to the Indian cricket team. In 26 years, they have won three and lost only one in five ODIs. During their 2014 nightmare, the only match in which they managed to hold their head high was during the high-scoring tie in Auckland. In Twenty20 Internationals, Eden Park helped India break their jinx in New Zealand as they won for the first time in the country in 2019. Now, in 2020, India's love affair with Auckland continued as they chased down a target of over 200 for the fourth time and they took a lead in the series with a six-wicket win.
15:34 hrs IST: Shivam Dube seals the deal with a big six as India win by seven wickets to take a 2-0 lead in the series. This is the first time they have won more than two T20Is in New Zealand. Great way to celebrate the Republic Day.
15:27 hrs IST: WICKET! Shreyas Iyer blasts a six but in going for glory, he miscues the lofted shot and Tim Southee takes the catch at mid off. Ends a fabulous innings from Iyer. India 125/3 in 16.3 overs, need eight runs to win off 21 balls.
15:23 hrs IST: Shreyas Iyer launches a six off Tickner and then scoops him over the keeper for a boundary. India are 117/2 after 16 overs, need 16 off 24 balls.
15:20 hrs IST: FIFTY! KL Rahul clobbers a six and then notches up his fifty with an inside-out lofted shot to wide long off. Bennett gives away five wides as India are 103/2 in 15 overs.
15:13 hrs IST: Tickner bowls a solid over. India are 87/2 after 14 overs, need 46 off 36 balls.
15:08 hrs IST: Santner finishes his spell of 4-0-19-0. India are 81/2 after 13 overs, needing 52 off 42 balls.
15:05 hrs IST: Iyer launches Sodhi into the next tier as 13 runs come off the over. After 12 overs, India are 76/2.
14:59 hrs IST: Another superb over from Mitchell Santner. After 11 overs, India are 63/2.
14:56 hrs IST: Sodhi bowls a tight over as only three runs come in the over. Rahul, though, is nearing a fifty. After 10 overs, India are 60/2.
14:52 hrs IST: Rahul uses the pace of Santner and guides a flatter delivery to the third man fence. After nine overs, India are 57/2.
14:49 hrs IST: Tight over fom Ish Sodhi but Rahul and Shreyas Iyer are getting their eye in now. After eight overs, India are 49/2.
14:44 hrs IST: Superb over from Mitchell Santner as New Zealand look to turn the screws. After seven overs, India are 42/2.
14:37 hrs IST: WICKET! Massive moment for New Zealand. Southee bowls a cross-seamed delivery but it is going down the leg side, Kohli flicks at it and Tim Seifert takes a superb catch diving to his left. India are 39/2 after 5.2 overs.
14:34 hrs IST: Kohli drills a full ball from Blair Tickner to the long off fence while Rahul upper-cuts a short ball to the third man fence. After five overs, India are 39/1.
14:29 hrs IST: Rahul finally gets a boundary as he closes the bat face to a Hamish Bennett short ball. After four overs, India are 24/1.
14:25 hrs IST: Another superb over from Southee. New Zealand are putting up a fight. India are 16/1 after three overs.
14:20 hrs IST: Superb over from Hamish Bennett. He lays Rahul low with a pacy bouncer. India are 13/1 after two overs.
14:15 hrs IST: WICKET! After getting hit for two boundaries, Southee gets Rohit Sharma. Full ball curving away outside off, Rohit goes for the drive and he edges it to Ross Taylor at slip. India are 8/1 after the first over.
14:02 hrs IST: Seifert thumps a six over wide long off but New Zealand have ended on 132/5 after 20 overs. This should be easy for India but the spinners are getting some assistance.
13:59 hrs IST: WICKET! Finally, the struggle is over for Ross Taylor. Slow, length ball from Bumrah and Taylor hoicks it to deep midwicket where Rohit Sharma takes the catch. Bumrah was denied a wicket in his previous over but he responds well. New Zealand are 125/5 after 19.4 overs.
13:55 hrs IST: Another superb over from Shami and New Zealand are unable to get going. Shreyas Iyer injured his left knee while trying to stop the boundary. Let us hope that it is not a serious injury. After 19 overs, New Zealand are 123/4.
13:51 hrs IST: DROPPED! After taking two good catches, Kohli has dropped an absolute dolly of Taylor. He is absoluely embarrassed. The stadium reverberates with chants of Kohli, Kohli. Bumrah has a wry smile. After 18 overs, New Zealand are 118/4.
13:45 hrs IST: Mohammed Shami is off the field as he has twisted his ankle. Tim Seifert survives a stumping chance off Jadeja and it is a mighty close call. End of Jadaja's brilliant spell of 2/18. After 17 overs, New Zealand are 115/4.
13:39 hrs IST: Tim Seifert hits a boundary after seven overs. He thumps Chahal to wide long off and then launches a six straight down the ground. Good over for the Kiwis as 15 runs are conceded. After 16 overs, New Zealand are 109/4.
13:35 hrs IST: Jadeja bowls another superb over. His figures so far are 3-0-12-2. New Zealand are 94/4 after 15 overs. 140 seems to be a good score on this deck.
13:32 hrs IST: New Zealand are unable to get momentum as the death overs approach. Chahal bowls another tight over and New Zealand are 90/4 after 14 overs.
13:26 hrs IST: WICKET! That is the massive wicket. Jadeja floats this flatter delivery on leg stump and Williamson slogs it to deep backward square leg but holes out to the fielder. New Zealand are 81/4 in 12.3 overs.
13:23 hrs IST: Mohammed Shami pings Kane Williamson on the helmet and he has a mandatory concussion test. He is alright to continue but this deck is giving the bowlers more assistance. After 12 overs, New Zealand are 79/3.
13:15 hrs IST: WICKET! Ravindra Jadeja strikes and again, he gets Colin de Grandhomme in the first over. This loopy delivery stops on de Grandhomme who chips it back to the bowler. After 10.2 overs, New Zealand are 74/2.
13:13 hrs IST: Another brilliant over from Jasprit Bumrah. Kane Williamson is nearly run-out but Ravindra Jadeja misses with the throw. After 10 overs, New Zealand are 73/2.
13:06 hrs IST: WICKET! Superb catch from Kohli again. Dube bowls a slow and short delivery outside, Munro gives room but toe-ends the shot to mid off where Kohli dives to his right and takes a superb catch. After 8.4 overs, New Zealand are 68/2.
13:03 hrs IST: Superb over from Chahal. Bowling the right lines and lengths as Munro continues to miss the hack across the line. After eight overs, New Zealand are 63/1.
13:00 hrs IST: Shivam Dube is into the attack and he is greeted with a top-edged paddle scoop by Munro. After seven overs, New Zealand are 58/1.
12:53 hrs IST: WICKET! After getting hit for two boundaries, Shardul Thakur finally gets his revenge. Thakur bowls a slow, length ball and Guptill totally miscues the lofted shot. Kohli takes the catch at long on. New Zealand are 48/1 after six overs.
12:48 hrs IST: Yuzvendra Chahal is into the attack and he is greeted with a slog sweep by Colin Munro to fine leg. He comes back well and New Zealand are 39/0 after five overs.
12:42 hrs IST: Guptill crunches another four off Shami and Manish Pandey fields well to prevent another boundary. Virat Kohli puts in the hard strides and prevents a four for Munro. New Zealand are 32/0 after four overs.
12:38 hrs IST: Jasprit Bumrah nails the yorker and starts brilliantly as India get a good over in. New Zealand are 23/0 after three overs.
12:32 hrs IST: Colin Munro nearly top-edges a slower ball from the back of his bat but it lands safely at third man. Guptill makes room and crunches a short ball to deep point. New Zealand are 18/0 after two overs.
12:27 hrs IST: Martin Guptill gets going with two sixes, one a slice over deep cover and a top-edge to the fine leg fence which is 48-meters. New Zealand are 12/0 after the first over.
11:55 hrs IST: New Zealand have chosen to bat against India. Both sides are unchanged. Here are the playing XIs.
India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma, Lokesh Rahul(w), Virat Kohli(c), Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Manish Pandey, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah
New Zealand (Playing XI): Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson(c), Colin de Grandhomme, Ross Taylor, Tim Seifert(w), Mitchell Santner, Blair Tickner, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Hamish Bennett
11:44 hrs IST: This is the same pitch on which 200 was scored by both teams. The dimensions of the ground and the dew factor later on could force the team winning the toss to bowl.
11:35 hrs IST: Virat Kohli's Indian cricket team will be determined to give their fans to plenty to cheer on Republic Day. The day has not begun well in cricketing terms with India A losing by five runs in the final one-dayer against New Zealand A as they lose the series 1-2.
11:30 hrs IST: With Shreyas Iyer's performance, the Indian batting is looking far more settled and much more menacing. KL Rahul as wicketkeeper and opener is giving the team more flexibility. Will India make some changes today or go in with an unchanged team?
11:12 hrs IST: A warm welcome to the second Twenty20 International between New Zealand and India from Eden Park in Auckland. Today, it is Republic Day in India and thus Happy 71st Republic Day to all. It is also Australia Day. Tomorrow, on January 27, it is Auckland Anniversary Day. This is the period when there are celebrations but we are getting down to some serious business as the second T20I begins in Auckland.
