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India asserted their dominance over New Zealand in the 50-over format by winning the ODI series. Unlike the ODI series in which India took away the series in the first three matches itself, the home team started the T20I series in great fashion by thrashing India by 80 runs in the first T20I.
India, on the other hand, did not allow the Kiwis to run away with the series as they returned the favour of the first T20I drubbing with a 7-wicket victory. While both teams went into the match unchanged, the script of the match was completely different.
Indian bowlers, who were sluggish in the first match, rose up to the occasion as they kept control over most New Zealand batsmen. Bhuvneshwar Kumar provided the initial breakthrough in the form of Tim Seifert's dismissal in the third over.
In the sixth over of the match, Krunal Pandya got wickets of Colin Munro and Daryl Mitchell, and helped India restrict the home team to 43-3 in the powerplay. Daryl Mitchell's wicket was marred with controversy as the third umpire stayed with the on-field LBW decision despite the HotSpot indicating contact between the bat and the ball.
In his next over, Krunal sent back the New Zealand captain, Kane Williamson to the pavilion. After Williamson's dismissal, de Grandhomme joined Ross Taylor in the middle. The all-rounder went all guns blazing as he was the only Kiwi player to counter-attack the Indian bowling. He scored his half-century in just 27 balls but got out off the very next ball.
After de Grandhomme's dismissal, New Zealand could add just 31 runs in the last 26 balls. As a result of a combined effort from the Indian bowling unit, New Zealand could manage only 158 runs in 20 overs.
India started off the chase in a commanding manner as the Indian openers added 79 runs for the first wicket. Rohit Sharma, the Indian batsman to score a fifty, and Shikhar Dhawan set a perfect platform for the batsmen to follow.
Rishabh Pant, who came at no.3, ensured that India won the match, by scoring 40 runs off just 28 balls. After stitching a 30-run partnership with Vijay Shankar, his unbeaten 44-run partnership with MS Dhoni ensured that India won the match by 7 wickets.
With India winning the second match, the series is now level at 1-1 and both the teams will look to give their best in the deciding match at Hamilton. Krunal Pandya was adjudged the Man of the Match for taking three wickets in his quota of four overs.
Here's how Twitter reacted to India's win in the second T20I against New Zealand:
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