2nd T20 highlights: Rahul's 57 helps India beat New Zealand by 7 wickets
Boasting a formidable batting line-up, chasing 133 proved to be a cakewalk for the visitors on a pitch that was slightly on the slower side
 "K L Rahul")
India's K L Rahul bats as New Zealand wicketkeeper Tim Seifert looks on during the Twenty/20 cricket international between India and New Zealand in Auckland. Photo: AP | PTI
India tightened their grip on the five match T20 International series with a seven-wicket drubbing of New Zealand in the second match after their bowlers stifled the hosts on a pocket-sized Eden Park, Auckland on Sunday. Boasting a formidable batting line-up, chasing 133 proved to be a cakewalk for the visitors on a pitch that was slightly on the slower side.
The very short boundary ensured the match ended with as many as 15 balls to spare. The trio of Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami allowed no respite to Kane Williamson's team after New Zealand surprisingly chose to bat, restricting them to 132 for five.
K L Rahul then scored 57 not out off 50 balls while Shreyas Iyer scored 44 off 33 balls, the duo adding 86 runs for the third wicket and after Rohit Sharma's twin failure.
Tim Southee took 2-20 as India had to do without major contributions from both Sharma and skipper Virat Kohli.
India vs New Zealand 2nd T20 full scorecard
Sharma (8) was out caught at slip in the first over off Southee. New Zealand's new ball bowlers were compact and didn't let the Indian top order get away unlike the first T20I on Friday.
Even so, Rahul and Kohli added 31 runs for the second wicket. The latter then was caught behind off Southee in the sixth over with Tim Seifert taking a brilliant diving catch.
Kohli scored 11 off 12 balls and the wicket's slow nature was starting to impact proceedings. New Zealand held back their spinners too, but Rahul-Iyer settled down in this passage of play.
They rotated strike well and added 50 in 55 balls by minimising risks. Rahul brought up his 11th T20I half-century off 43 balls.
Overall, Rahul hit three fours and two sixes, while Iyer hit one four and three sixes.
India crossed 100 in the 15th over after which Iyer cut loose to approach the finish line. He fell just prior, holing out off Ish Sodhi (1-33).
But Rahul stuck around while Shivam Dube finished the job with a six over midwicket.
This was after Indian bowlers made good use of a slower pitch.
Opting to bat, the Black Caps couldn't generate enough momentum in the middle overs and finished with a sub-par total.
Martin Guptill top-scored with 33 off 20 balls, while Tim Seifert was unbeaten on 33 not out off 26 balls.
Guptill and Colin Munro (26) provided a measured start to New Zealand putting on 48 runs for the first wicket.
Surprisingly, India held back Jasprit Bumrah (1-21) as Shardul Thakur (1-21) and Mohammed Shami (0-22) bowled four overs in the power play. The tactic worked as Thakur got rid of Guptill at end of six overs.
India then used the slow nature of the used-wicket to put brakes on the New Zealand middle order. Wickets came at a regular interval as the Black Caps struggled to get the big shots out.
Yuzvendra Chahal (0-33) and Shivam Dube (1-16) combined well after the powerplay, while Ravindra Jadeja was the stand out bowler with figures of 2-18 from four overs.
Overall, India also raised their fielding effort barring a bizarre drop from Virat Kohli late in the innings.
Dube got rid of Munro in the ninth over while Colin de Grandhomme (3) failed to get going once again. Jadeja gleefully accepted his return catch.
The hosts were reduced to 81 for four in the 13th over when skipper Kane Williamson (14) became Jadeja's victim, caught in the deep by Chahal.
The wheels had truly come off the New Zealand innings as they were struggling to get the big shots away and squandered their measured start away.
Ross Taylor (18) struggling for timing throughout his 24-ball stay was a prime example. Without Seifert's effort, including a four and two sixes, the score wouldn't have achieved any respectability.
Iyer walked off the field in the last over after hurting his left knee whilst fielding.
Here are the playing 11 of both the teams:
India playing 11: Virat Kohli (C), Rohit Sharma, K L Rahul (w), Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal and Mohammed Shami.
New Zealand playing 11: Kane Williamson(C), Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Tim Seifert (wk), Ross Taylor, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner and Hamish Bennett.
3:31 PM
Over 17.3; India wins
India: 135-3
Ball 3: A short delivery and Shivam Dube pulls towards cow corner boundary for SIX.
Ball 2: Rahul pushes down the ground for a single.
Ball 1: Shivam Dubes hits towards sweeper cover for a single.
3:29 PM
Ball 3: Iyer goes for biggie again, gets a top edge and Southee completes the catch. Shreyas Iyer c Southee b Ish Sodhi 44(33) [4s-1 6s-3]
Over 17; India need 6 runs in 18 balls
Over Summary: 1 6 Wd W 1 0 1; India: 127-3
Ish Sodhi continues
Ball 6: Shivam Dube collects a single.
Ball 5: Shivam Dube hits towards short mid-wicket for no run.
Ball 4: Rahul collects a single.
Shivam Dube, left handed bat, comes to the crease
Shivam Dube, left handed bat, comes to the crease
Ball 3: Iyer goes for biggie again, gets a top edge and Southee completes the catch. Shreyas Iyer c Southee b Ish Sodhi 44(33) [4s-1 6s-3]
Ball 3: WIDE
Ball 2: Iyer smashes towards long-off stand for SIX.
Ball 1: Rahul works towards square leg for a single.
3:22 PM
Over 16; India need 16 runs in 24 balls
Over Summary: 1 1 6 4 1 1; India: 117-2
Tickner continues
Ball 6: Rahul pulls towards deep mid-wicket for a single.
Ball 5: A single for Iyer
Ball 4: A bumper and Iyer guides over keeper for FOUR.
Ball 3: Shreyas Iyer clears his front leg and smashes over long-off for SIX.
Ball 2: A sigle for Rahul
Ball 1: Shreyas Iyer collects a single.
3:17 PM
Hamish Bennett [2.0-0-13-0] is back into the attack
Ball 5: DOT
Over 15; India need 30 runs in 30 balls
Over Summary: 0 1 6 4 Wd5 0 0 ; India: 103-2
Hamish Bennett [2.0-0-13-0] is back into the attack
Ball 6: DOT
Ball 5: DOT
Ball 5: FIVE WIDES
Ball 4: Rahul drives on the up towards deep extra cover for FOUR and completes his FIFTY.
Ball 3: Rahul gets a top edge over keeper for FOUR.
Ball 2: Iyer collects a single.
Ball 1: DOT
3:12 PM
Over 14
Over Summary: 2 1 1 0 1 1 ;India: 87-2
Blair Tickner [1.0-0-15-0] is back into the attack
Ball 6: Iyer works towards square leg for a single.
Ball 5: DOT
Ball 4: Iyer hits back to bowler and New Zealand fails to pounce on runout chance.
Ball 3: Rahul hits towards deep mid-wicket for a single.
Ball 2: Iyer guides towards third man for a single.
Ball 1: Shreays Iyer clips towards deep backward square leg for a couple of runs.
3:06 PM
Santner continues
Over 13; India need 51 runs in 42 balls
Over Summary: 2 0 2 0 1 1 India: 82-2
Santner continues
Ball 6: A single for Shreyas Iyer
Ball 5: Rahul punches down the ground for a single.
Ball 4: DOT
Ball 3: Rahul cuts towards deep point for a couple of runs.
Ball 2: DOT
Ball 1: Rahul collects a couple of runs.
3:03 PM
Ish Sodhi continues
Ball 3: Rahul collects a single.
Over 12
Over Summary: 2 1 Wd 1 6 1 1; India: 76-2
Ish Sodhi continues
Ball 6: A single for Rahul
Ball 5: Iyer collects a singe.
Ball 4: Iyer wallopes towards long-on boundary for SIX.
Ball 3: Rahul collects a single.
Ball 3: WIDE
Ball 2: Iyer hits towards long-on for a single.
Ball 1: Shreyas Iyer collects a couple of runs.
2:59 PM
Santner continues
Over 11; India need 70 runs in 54 balls
Over Summary: 1 1 1 0 0 0; India: 63-2
Santner continues
Ball 6: DOT
Ball 5: DOT
Ball 4: Rahul hits back to bowler.
Ball 3: Iyer clips towards deep square leg for a single.
Ball 2: A single for Rahul
Ball 1: A single for Shreyas Iyer
2:54 PM
Ish Sodhi continues
Over 10; CRR: 6 REQ: 7.3
Over Summary:1 1 1 0 0 0; India: 60-2
Ish Sodhi continues
Ball 6:
Ball 5: DOT
Ball 4: Rahul punches back to bowler.
Ball 3: Iyer hits towards deep mid-wicket for a single.
Ball 2: Rahul cuts towards deep point for a single.
Ball 1: Iyer hits towards long-on for a single.
2:50 PM
Santner continues
Over 9; CRR: 6.33 REQ: 6.91
Over Summary: 1 1 1 1 4 0; India: 57-2
Santner continues
Ball 6: DOT
Ball 5: Rahul guodes towards third man boundary for FOUR.
Ball 4: Iyer collects a single.
Ball 3: A single for Rahul.
Ball 2: Iyer pushes towards sweeper cover for a single.
Ball 1: Rahul collects a single
2:47 PM
Ish Sodhi, right-arm leg break, comes into the attack
Over 8; CRR: 6.12 REQ: 7
Over Summary: 1 1 2 1 1 1; India: 49-2
Ish Sodhi, right-arm leg break, comes into the attack
Ball 6: Rahul collects a single towards long-on
Ball 5: A single for Iyer
Ball 4: Rahul hits towards long-off for a single.
Ball 3: Rahul cuts towards deep point for a couple of runs.
Ball 2: A single for Shreyas Iyer
Ball 1: A single for Rahul
2:43 PM
Mitchell Santner, Left arm orthodox, comes into the attack
Over 7: CRR: 6 REQ: 7
Over Summary: 0 0 1 0 0 1; India: 42-2
Mitchell Santner, Left arm orthodox, comes into the attack
Ball 6: Rahul drives towards long-off for a single.
Ball 5: K L Rahul dabs towards point region for no run
Ball 4: K L Rahul leaves outside off.
Ball 3: Shreays Iyer hits down the ground for a single.
Ball 2: DOT
Ball 1: DOT
2:39 PM
Tim Southee [2.0-0-11-1] is back into the attack
Over 6; Kohli departs
Over Summary: 0 W 0 0 0 1 India: 40-2
Tim Southee [2.0-0-11-1] is back into the attack
Ball 6: Shreyas Iyer punches towards deep point for a single.
Ball 5: A short delivery and Shreyas Iyer ducks under it.
Ball 4: DOT
Ball 3: DOT
Shreyas Iyer, right handed bat, comes to the crease
Shreyas Iyer, right handed bat, comes to the crease
Ball 2: Kohli departs
Ball 1: DOT
2:33 PM
Blair Tickner, right-arm fast medium, comes into the attack
Over 5
Over Summary: 4 2 1 2 6 0; India: 39-1
Blair Tickner, right-arm fast medium, comes into the attack
Ball 6: DOT
Ball 5: Rahul cuts over third man for SIX
Ball 4: Rahul flicks towards deep backward square leg for a couple of runs.
Ball 3: Kohli steers down to third man for a single.
Ball 2: Kohli drives straight down the ground for a couple of runs.
Ball 1: Kohli chips over mid-off for FOUR
2:28 PM
Bennett continues
Over 4
Over Summary: 2 4 1 0 0 1; India: 24-1
Bennett continues
Ball 6: Kohli tucks towards square leg for a single.
Ball 5: DOT
Ball 4: A short delivery and Rahul tries to guide it over the keeper, MISSES.
Ball 3: Rahul collects a single towards point region
Ball 2: Rahul jabs towards deep backward square leg for FOUR.
Ball 1: A couple of runs for Rahul
Topics : India vs New Zealand India cricket team New Zealand cricket team Star Sports Star Sports' Tamil channel Virat Kohli Rohit sharma Shreyas Iyer K L Rahul Manish Pandey Mohammed Shami Jasprit Bumrah Yuzvendra Chahal Ravindra Jadeja Kane Williamson Martin Guptill Tim Southee Ross Taylor Ish Sodhi Mitchell Santner Colin de Grandhomme
Don't miss the most important news and views of the day. Get them on our Telegram channel
First Published: Jan 26 2020 | 9:45 AM IST
