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New Zealand
160/10 (19.4)
India
75/4 (9)
Match tied (Teams score level on DLS method)
Player of the match: Mohammed Siraj
 
Right then. That draws the curtains on the short T20I series and the biggest takeaway from the series will be neither side can brag about. Why, you ask? Well, it's because the rain took all the spotlight in two of the three matches. Let's hope the weather is more cooperative come the ODI series, which gets underway on Friday. We'll bring you the action from that series, of course, but for now, this is Pratyush Rohra, signing off on behalf of my partner-in-crime, Soorya Sesha. Buh bye! 
Hardik Pandya receives the series trophy from former head coach Ravi Shastri as the heavens open up yet again. It's pouring down again but the Men in Blue will be pleased that they've pocketed this series in the absence of a fair number of A-listers. That too, on the back of a disappointing semifinal exit at the T20 World Cup. There were a fair number of takeaways too - Mohammed Siraj keeps growing from strength to strength while Suryakumar Yadav continues to do Suryakumar Yadav things. Question marks remain over Rishabh Pant and Yuzvendra Chahal though and that is something India will have to work out in this format. That's for another day with the one-dayers lined up soon and the Blackcaps too, will want to put this series and the World Cup behind them as they move into a format which some might argue they are better equipped to handle. Kane Williamson will be back at the Eden Park on Friday while they will be without Trent Boult. As Pandya mentioned, he's heading back home to India having been rested for the ODI rubber. Shikhar Dhawan will take over the reins of the Men in Blue for that 3-match series. Loads to look forward to there alright!
Hardik Pandya (Indian Captain): We would have liked to win this game by playing the full overs but it is how it is. We don't mind getting the trophy. At some point, I felt that offense is the best defense on this wicket. It had something for the fast bowlers and we know they have the pace and skill in their bowling attack, so it was very important that we go ahead in the Powerplay and get those 10-15 runs extra even though we lost wickets. It was all about seeing the ball and playing. A game like this could have given us an opportunity to test all the guys that were left to come. You don't get this kind of situation when your top 4 are out cheaply and you have to bat till the end. It's the weather and we can't control that. (Excited for the ODIs?) Yes, to watch, because I'm going home to relax and take my time off to be with my son. 
Tim Southee (New Zealand Captain): Disappointing end with the bat but we spoke about getting out there and giving everything we could. We knew if we took early wickets anything could happen. But unfortunately the weather came in again. You don't know until both sides have batted on it but the way we finished, we certainly left some out there. But the way we started with the ball, it would have been an interesting game had it gone on. (Were they aware of the DLS score?) A little bit of uncertainty around the scoreboard and whether it was a tie. So a little bit of confusion. (On the Santner misfield) They happen late in the game like this and you look back on it. There are a lot of things that could have happened and you always look back on close games. It could have gone either way. It's been a heavy appetite of T20 cricket so it'll be nice to get back to one-day cricket against a quality side like India. Hopefully we get a good crowd in as well.
Suryakumar Yadav is the Player of the Series. Here's what he has to say: Really happy with the way things went. Would have loved to have had a full game here but it's not in our control. But really happy with the way things went in the field. (Pressure today?) The pressure is always there but there's no fun in batting when there's no pressure. I'm just carrying forward the same thing from the last few years and enjoying my batting. Not carrying any baggage forward. I can take a bit of time over there (in the ODIs) but the intent and the approach will remain the same. We can just go out and express ourselves and see how we are going to play. Would have loved a full game but it's fine.
Mohammed Siraj is the Player of the Match for his stellar spell of 4/17. Here's what he has to say: It's not an easy wicket to bat on and the hard length came with a bit of bounce. So I preferred to bowl the hard lengths. I was a standby at the World Cup so I prepared to bowl the hard length in T20s. I came with a lot of practice and executed my plans. My plan is simple - try to bowl hard lengths. The weather is not in our hands. The weather played a role in the three matches but it happens.
Match has been abandoned. It will end in a tie with the two teams par on DLS.

Devon Conway - 59 (49) | Tim Southee - 2/27
Hardik Pandya - 30 (18) | Mohammed Siraj - 4/17

So, India clinch the series courtesy of a healthy 65-run win in the second T20I. The threat of rain was always looming over this contest and it ultimately has the last laugh, putting a dampener on what was setting up to be a thrilling encounter.

After winning the toss and opting to bat first, the Kiwis were in a position of ascendancy with Conway and Phillips notching up crucial half-centuries to lay the platform for a big finish. However, the grandstand finish never came for the Blackcaps with the Indian bowlers dragging things back superbly. 

Four wicket hauls from Siraj and Arshdeep conjured a collapse which saw the hosts stumble from 146-3 to being bundled out to 160. In reply, India got off to a flying start too, before New Zealand managed to create a bit of panic.

A mini collapse of their own saw India lose three wickets in the powerplay but they never put their foot off the gas. Hardik Pandya unleashed a counter-attack on the hosts to keep his side in the game, which eventually helped them get level on par with the DLS total, ending the series on an anti-climatic note. Let's get the thoughts of the captains at the presentation!  
11:26 PM local time (3:56 PM IST): Handshakes all around! The match has been called off and it ends in a tie by virtue of the DLS! India take the series by a 1-0 margin. It's a shame that we couldn't see a result to this rollercoaster contest but gosh, what an anticlimax eh? That misfield from Mitchell Santner - New Zealand will wonder what could have been...
He might have endured another tough outing with the bat, but Rishabh Pant was at his absolute best with the keeper's gloves on. Here's a watch at the spectacular grab he took to send James Neesham packing earlier today!👇
Meanwhile, Mitchell Santner is in conversation with the broadcasters: It's a tight match and every run counts. We obviously weren't aware of the exact targets because a lot goes into it. Looking at it now. We would have liked 180 with the platform we had. It was a tough wicket to stay in. I guess we are one wicket away from Harshal Patel at seven, so we're in a good position if we get out there. Lockie and Milne bowled some pretty hostile spells in the middle. We obviously talk about adapting as quickly as we can. You have to adapt on your feet, every ground is different. There were a couple of balls that spun there but I can't imagine that happening now with the wet outfield. We practice with the wet ball because it's such a massive part of the game. You have to keep changing your pace to keep the batter guessing. We'll have to adjust our plans in the ODIs at Eden Park. India are a great team and that's just the way it goes.
The umpires are out on the park inspecting the field. The inevitable looks highly likely I'm afraid...
Earlier in the innings, a couple of agricultural shots brought about the downfall of openers Ishan Kishan and Rishabh Pant. Twitterati wasn't pleased with the duo and expressed their frustration on the same. Here's a read into some of the reactions!👇
Meanwhile, you can head over here to follow our coverage of England's chase against Australia in the 3rd and final ODI. It's not looking good for the visitors, but a certain Jos Buttler has just strode out to take centerstage.
11 PM local time, 3:30 PM IST: It's absolutely hosing down now! Safe to say that we ought to enter the lost overs territory. New Zealand would want to get onto the park given that they need a win to share the spoils this series.
10:50 PM local time, 3:20 PMIST: The players are off, the covers are on and we're in for a delay. India are right on par with the DLS total. The game will be a tie if we can't continue, which could be the case, looking at how heavy the rain has become. For now, we wait and watch.
9
overs
75 /4 score
1
1
1
1
1
1
runs
cricket bat icon Hardik Pandya
30 (18)
cricket bat icon Deepak Hooda *
9 (9)
cricket ball icon Ish Sodhi
1 /12
8.6 Ish Sodhi to Deepak Hooda, flights it into a length well outside off stump this time, Hooda hangs back and scythes it without the best of timing towards point, whose fumble allows a single to be taken
Stat Alert: Ish Sodhi has 92 wickets at an economy rate of 7.63 in the middle overs in T20Is.