Finance
Shubman Gill’s maiden T20I century (126 not out off 63) and a dominant bowling performance led India to a 168-run victory over New Zealand in the third and final T20I and 2-1 series victory at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Wednesday.
Gill, who struggled in the first two games, put on a batting display, smashing Black Caps bowlers all over the world’s largest cricket stadium. Apart from Gill, Rahul Tripathi (44 off 22), Hardik Pandya (30 off 17), and Suryakumar Yadav (24 off 13) all contributed significantly with the bat.
New Zealand’s chase of a massive total got off to a disastrous start as Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya ripped through their top order. Suryakumar Yadav’s superb reflex catches at slips also aided India’s cause.
Finn Allen (3) and Devon Conway (1), Mark Chapman (0) and Glenn Phillips had no answers for Arshdeep and Hardik, and they were all out cheaply, leaving the visitors in deep trouble at 7/4 in 2.4 overs.
Soon after, Umran Malik joined in the fun, cleaning up Michael Bracewell, who was troubled by the increased pace as New Zealand’s struggle continued. Daryl Mitchell (35) fought a solitary battle for New Zealand, but it was in vain as they were bowled out for just 66 runs in 12.1 overs to suffer a massive defeat.
Hardik Pandya was India’s most successful bowler, with 4/16, while Umran Malik (2/9), Shivam Mavi (2/12), and Arshdeep Singh (2/16) also picked up two wickets each.
Earlier, India won the toss and chose to bat first, but they lost Ishan Kishan early on. In the second over of the innings, the left-hander, who is in poor form, was caught leg before by a flattish delivery from Michael Bracewell.
After Ishan’s dismissal, the onus was on Shubman Gill and Rahul Tripathi to give India some momentum, which they did admirably by hitting multiple boundaries. While Gill used traditional shots to get fours, Tripathi used unconventional shots to get boundaries and a six, propelling India to 57/1 at the end of the Power-play.
Even after the Power-play, Tripathi was not about to back down, hitting Kiwi spinners in back-to-back overs to keep the momentum going. His entertaining knock, however, was cut short when he pulled a half-tracker by Mitchell Santner down the fine-leg fielder’s throat.
Suryakumar Yadav arrived to join the party, and he cut a short-of-a-length delivery from Sodhi for a boundary as India reached 102/2 at the halfway point. Gill, on the other hand, smashed another easy-looking half-century off 35 deliveries.
Suryakumar Yadav, who hit a trademark six over fine leg against Sodhi, was unable to extend his attacking innings due to a superb one-handed diving catch at mid-wicket, leaving India at 125/3 after 12.3 overs.
Gill, on the other hand, was timing the ball perfectly and increasing his scoring rate with boundaries and sixes to race into the 90s and bring a quick-fire half-century stand with Hardik Pandya.
Whatever New Zealand threw at him, Gill was able to send it over the boundary line, and he used his trademark cover drive to hit a boundary and reach his maiden T20I century off 54 boundaries. Gill became the youngest Indian (23 years old) to score a T20I century, as well as the fifth batter in the country to do so, joining Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, K.L. Rahul, and Virat Kohli.
Gill’s sensational innings continued after the century, as he clubbed Benjamin Lister for six and boundaries in the 19th over to score 17 runs. Hardik Pandya, who was hitting boundaries at regular intervals, was caught off the first ball of the 20th over by Daryl Mitchell.
Deepak Hooda joined Gill as Mitchell bowled a fine final over, conceding only six runs and picking up a wicket, but he couldn’t stop India from setting a new T20I record. Michael Bracewell, Blair Tickner, Ish Sodhi, and Daryl Mitchell each took a wicket for New Zealand.
Brief scores: India 234/4 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 126 not out, Rahul Tripathi 44, Hardik Pandya 30; Daryl Mitchell 1-6) beat New Zealand 66 all-out in 12.1 overs (Daryl Mitchell 35; Umran Malik 2-9, Shivam Mavi 2-12, Arshdeep Singh 2-16) by 168 runs.
Source:OCN
