New Delhi: New Zealand made a sensational comeback as they defeated India by 40 runs in the second T20 to level three-match series 1-1 at the Saurashtra Cricket Association stadium on Saturday.
Indian skipper Virat Kohli scored a gutsy 65 off 42 deliveries but his splendid knock went in vein as India felt miles short of the required 197 runs target.
Openers failed to provide India with a solid start. Shikhar Dhawan managed just 1 run while; his partner Rohit Sharma added just 5.
MS Dhoni played some fine shots including a couple of monstrous sixes in his 49-run innings but couldn’t guide India to victory.
Youngster Shreyas Iyer looked in good rhytm, hitting a 23 runs before losing his wicket to Colin Munro.
Trent Boult wreaked hacvoc as grabbed 4 wickets of 34 runs for the Kiwis
Earlier, New Zealand opener Colin Munro‘s career best 109 powered the visitors to 196/2
The 30-year-old became the only 4th cricketer in T20 history to score two centuries in the shortest format. He joins Evin Lewis, Chris Gayle and Brendon McCullum in the elite list.
Opting to bat first, Kiwi opening pair of Martin Guptill and Colin Munro provided the Kane Williamson led side with century-stand as they stitched 105 runs for the first wicket.
Martin Guptill missed his fifty by a whisker after gifting his wicket to Yuzvendra Chahal on 45 but Munro, on the other, kept the momentum on his side and smashed a brilliant unbeaten 109 off just 58 deliveries.
However, Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvmeshwar Kumar rose to the occasion and helped India restrict New Zealand on 196/2 in final overs of the innings. The duo failed to clinch a wicket but shared only 52 runs between them.
Debutant Mohammed Siraj grabbed his first international wicket but returned back with costly 1/53 in his 4 over spell.