Wellington: A nervous New Zealand threw it away yet again as a perseverant India prevailed in the Super Over for the second successive time to take a 4- 0 lead in the T20 International series here on Friday.
Needing just 11 runs off the last two overs with seven wickets in hand, New Zealand dug a hole for themselves yet again, taking the game to a Super Over two nights after doing the same in Hamilton.
New Zealand managed 13 runs in six balls and India got there effortlessly. u201c Whatu2019s happened in last two T20 games is unbelievable... We are very proud of how we went about our business today,u201d said India captain Virat Kohli, who struck the winning four in the game.
KL Rahul smashed 10 runs off the first two balls before he was caught. Then, a fired- up Kohli and Sanju Samson finished the game in style.
u201c It is very tough. To get ourselves into the position we got today and then give them a chance... India grabbed it with both hands,u201d said New Zealand stand- in skipper Tim Southee, who delivered the Super Over for his side.
This was after New Zealand won a fourth consecutive toss and opted to field. Their regular captain Kane Williamson didnu2019t take part in the match owing to a shoulder niggle.
The Indians werenu2019t off to a great start but Manish Pandey proved his value to the team with an unbeaten 50 off 35 balls, taking the visitors to 165 for eight from 88 for six in the 12th over. Indiau2019s total wasnu2019t enough considering the batting- friendly conditions but the hosts made life a lot tougher for themselves from a commanding position before succumbing to pressure. The entertaining knocks from Colin Munro ( 64 off 47) and Time Seifert went in vain ( 57 off 39). Mohammed Shami, who was rested on Friday, had bowled a brilliant 20th over on Wednesday and Man of the Match Shardul Thakur was up to the task this time, conceding just six runs when the opposition needed seven for victory.
With the series already in the bag, India gave opportunity to Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar and Navdeep Saini for the first time in the five- match series, resting Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja and Shami.
Chasing 165, New Zealand lost Martin Guptill early. But Munro and Seifert put on 74 runs for the second wicket to put themselves on track. Munro scored a half- century of 38 deliveries.
He was out against the run of play as Kohliu2019s direct hit surprisingly found the target after a relay throw from the deep. It was the turning point as NZ lost regular wickets.
PTI India win their second consecutive T20I via Super Over as Virat Kohliu2019s men make it 4- 0 v Kiwis New Zealandu2019s Tim Seifert is run out as Shardul Thakur ( left) and India captain Virat Kohli celebrate during the fourth T20I at Sky Stadium in Wellington yesterday. The Mumbai pacer conceded just six runs off the final over to take the match into Super Over. Pic/ AFP All well in Wellington New Zealandu2019s dreadful run in Super Over u00a3 v West Indies, Auckland 2008 ( lost) u00a3 v Australia, Christchurch 2010 ( won) u00a3 v SL, Pallekele 2012 ( lost) u00a3 v West Indies, Pallekele 2012 ( lost) u00a3 v England, Lordu2019s 2019 ( lost) u00a3 v England, Auckland 2019 ( lost) u00a3 v India, Hamilton 2020 ( lost) u00a3 v India, Wellington 2020 ( Lost) SUPER OVER NZ: 2, 4, 2, W, 4, 1 = 13- 1 INDIA: 6, 4, W, 2, 4 = 16- 1 Brief scores India 165- 8 ( M Pandey 50', KL Rahul 39; I Sodhi 3- 26) v NZ 165- 7 ( C Munro 64, T Seifert 57; J Bumrah 1- 20, S Thakur 2- 33).
India won in Super Over
