Having already lost the five-match T20I series after dropping the first three games, New Zealand bounced back strongly to win the final two matches, sealing a comprehensive 7-wicket victory against India in the fifth and final T20I.
Put into bat first, India posted 191 for 8 in their 20 overs. India experienced a shaky start, losing both openers (Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma) with only 19 runs on the board. However, captain Shreyas Iyer and wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan steadied the innings with counter-attacking half-centuries. Ishan scored 61 off 32 balls, while Iyer contributed 50 off 23 balls. Late contributions from Naman Dhir (33) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (22) pushed India past the 190-mark. New Zealand pacer Adam Milne was the standout bowler, claiming 4 wickets for just 19 runs in his 4 overs, supported by two wickets each from Nathan Smith and Blair Tickner.
Read nextBangladesh Hockey Team Concedes 5-0 Defeat to South Korea in Champions TrophyIn response, New Zealand chased down the 192-run target with ease, reaching 195 for 3 in 18.0 overs (12 balls to spare). Despite losing opener Finn Allen (2) early, opener Tim Seifert played a breathtaking knock of 93 off 50 balls, falling just 7 runs short of a well-deserved century. He shared a crucial 73-run stand with Daryl Mitchell (29 off 16) and an 86-run match-winning partnership with Glenn Phillips, who remained unbeaten on 65 off 38 balls to comfortably take the Black Caps across the finish line.
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