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		Rohit Sharma. Photo: BCCI</div>
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The chase was set up by skipper Rohit Sharma (50 off 29 balls) in company of Shikhar Dhawan (30, 31 balls) with a 79-run opening stand

Rohit Sharma plays a shot. Photo: BCCI


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	Mahendra Singh Dhoni watched from the 22 yards distance as his heir apparent Rishabh Pant showed spunk in a tricky situation, guiding India to a comfortable seven-wicket victory against New Zealand in the second T20 International here Friday.</div>
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	The chase was set up by skipper Rohit Sharma (50 off 29 balls) in company of Shikhar Dhawan (30, 31 balls) with a 79-run stand after Krunal Pandya got three wickets to restrict the hosts to 158/8. With whirlwind fifty, Rohit also became the top run-getter in the format, surpassing Martin Guptill.</div>
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	Dhoni, the original master finisher couldn&#39;t have been happier as he saw Pant control what could have been a tricky 159-run chase chase with an unbeaten 40 off 28 balls. The series is now tied 1-1 with the decider in Hamilton on Sunday.</div>
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	With the former India captain (20 no off 17 balls) playing the role of a mentor at the other end, the 44-run stand was very significant as Indian cricket slowly moves towards a change of guard in coming days.</div>
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	Pant&#39;s one-handed six off Tim Southee or the bowler&#39;s back drive off Scott Kuggeleijn to finish off the match were reminiscent of Dhoni&#39;s best days. He hit four boundaries and a six in all.</div>
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	The flicked six off Kuggeleijn over backward square leg was treat for the eyes but their dismissal along with Vijay Shankar&#39;s did create a bit of unrest but Pant ensured that they didn&#39;t press the panic button.</div>
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	The innings would certainly help him make a strong case for being included in the World Cup squad.</div>
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	Earlier, Krunal enhanced his already growing reputation as a steady short format bowler with three important breakthroughs as India restricted New Zealand to a below-par 158/8.</div>
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	The parsimonious Krunal (3/28 in 4 overs) dismissed Colin Munro (12) and skipper Kane Williamson (20) to peg the Black Caps back early in the innings.</div>
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	In between, Krunal also got the controversial wicket of Daryl Mitchell (1), who fell pray to an umpiring howler, when &#39;Hotspot&#39; showed a clear inside edge onto the pads.</div>
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	However, Colin de Grandhomme, who has played for KKR in the IPL, then counter-attacked, scoring a blistering 50 off 28 balls, adding 77 runs with Ross Taylor (42 off 36 balls) for the fifth wicket.</div>
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	Once De Grandhomme was sent back to the dug-out by Hardik Pandya (1/36 in 4 overs) and Taylor was run-out, New Zealand&#39;s chances of a big total went up in smoke.</div>
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	It was a much-improved performance by the Indian bowlers with Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/29 in 4 overs) removing Tim Seifert (12) in the very third over with a fuller delivery, inducing an inside edge to Mahendra Singh Dhoni behind the stumps.</div>
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	However, it was Krunal, who really applied the brakes after being brought inside the Powerplay overs.</div>
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	The elder Pandya quickly found the ideal length, bowling his usual wicket to wicket deliveries with a flatter trajectory.</div>
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	Both Munro and Williamson got skidders. While the left-handed opener Munro hit one straight to the cover, Williamson was caught plumb in-front.</div>
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	However, it was the dismissal of Mitchell that once again raised the &#39;Spirit of Cricket&#39; debate even though it was a clear case of an umpiring howler by TV umpire Shaun Haig.</div>
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	Krunal angled one into Mitchell, who got an inside edge onto the pads. The on-field umpire adjudged him leg before and he promptly asked for DRS.</div>
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	As the giant screen showed that a faint edge could be detected by Hotspot, to everyone&#39;s dismay, TV umpire Shaun Haig pressed the red button to signal out.</div>
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	After that, it was left to India captain Rohit Sharma to call the player back but he didn&#39;t do so.</div>
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	At 50 for 4, it was De Grandhomme, who took charge as he attacked Yuzvendra Chahal (0/37 in 4 overs), hitting him for a couple of sixes.</div>
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	When he was just about threatening to take the game away, De Grandhomme smacked one straight to covers in skipper Rohit&#39;s hands.</div>
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	<strong>India vs New Zealand 2nd T20 LIVE Scoreboard</strong><br />
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India vs New Zealand 2nd T20: India level series with seven-wicket win

Business Standard

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	New Zealand: Tim Seifert(w), Colin Munro, Kane Williamson(c), Daryl Mitchell, Ross Taylor, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Scott Kuggeleijn, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, James Neesham, Doug Bracewell</div>
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	India: Rohit Sharma(c), Shikhar Dhawan, Dinesh Karthik, Shubman Gill, MS Dhoni(w), Rishabh Pant, Vijay Shankar, Krunal Pandya, Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, K Khaleel Ahmed, Yuzvendra Chahal, Siddarth Kaul, Mohammed Siraj</div>

<strong>Welcome to the LIVE blog of India vs New Zealand 2nd T20 match</strong>

India vs New Zealand 2nd T20: India level series with seven-wicket win

The chase was set up by skipper Rohit Sharma (50 off 29 balls) in company of Shikhar Dhawan (30, 31 balls) with a 79-run opening stand

Squads for both the teams