The second Twenty20 International between India and New Zealand in Lucknow was a low-scoring thriller in which the hosts pulled level in the three-match series in a nail-biting conclusion. Despite packing out the visitors for 99 in the first innings, India won with six wickets in hand.
Due to the low total on board, India did not need to do anything out of the norm in order to win the series. However, the Kiwi bowlers did not give the Indian openers any free passes, dismissing Shubman Gill for another low score in the series. Following that early loss, Ishan Kishan and Rahul Tripathi anchored the batting with a calm partnership.
However, just when India seemed to be in cruise control, Kishan ran out due to a little mix-up. Tripathi left shortly after, as the Kiwi bowlers began to put pressure on the hosts on a slick pitch. Suryakumar Yadav, the world’s top T20I hitter, struggled at first, and it was Washington Sundar who appeared more controlled in their crucial fourth-wicket partnership.
However, the match took an unexpected turn when Sundar was forced to give up his wicket due to a nasty mix-up with Suryakumar Yadav. Hardik Pandya entered the stadium with his team in a precarious situation in the pivotal second T20I. The visitors almost plucked the rabbit out of the hat by defending a low total, but Suryakumar held his temper and struck the game-winning runs on the last delivery of the match.
The tourists, who easily won the first game, batted first in the second T20I after winning the toss on a spin-friendly track in Lucknow. The Kiwis had a good start in the crucial match, but Hardik Pandya’s decision to select Yuzvendra Chahal in the playing eleven paid off when he dismissed the dangerous Finn Allen in the fourth over.
Even though the surface was tinged with grass, it was nothing more than a spectacle since the spinners were turning the ball square even with the new ball. The Kiwi batsmen had no response for the Indian spinners, as their team was reduced to 60/5 after 12 overs. While the Indian bowlers bowled well, four of the top five New Zealand hitters were out while trying a reverse sweep.
Given the help to the slower bowlers, Hardik kept his two new ball pacers, Arshdeep Singh and Shivam Mavi, on the field until the 17th over, with the left-arm pacer getting his hands on the ball in the 18th. Arshdeep took two wickets in his first over and concluded with a fantastic final over to limit the visitors to 99 runs in their 20 overs.
