New Zealand's fightback came a little late, but it helped them end the five-match series with a 2-3 deficit, with a seven-wicket win against India in the fifth T20I on Sunday, November 01, at the Seddon Park, Hamilton.
The toss went in favour of the hosts who invited the Shreyas Iyer-led side to bat first. The Indians could set a target of 192 for the New Zealanders on a surface that was a bit too unpredictable. The home team, however, found utmost comfort sailing through the run chase, getting past the target with a couple of overs and seven wickets in hand.
NZ vs IND: Talking Points
1. Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer set platform after openers falter
While Abhishek Sharma departed for just the second delivery that he faced, his partner Sanju Samson also got back to the dugout after a 10-ball 4. What followed next, however, was some strong resurgence by Ishan Kishan and captain Shreyas Iyer. The left-handed batter added 61 off 32 before perishing, while the Indian skipper added 50 off 23. Ishan and Shreyas added 93 runs for the third wicket.
2. India lose momentum
Despite the great platform set by Ishan and Shreyas, the middle order and finishers failed to capitalise and lost the plot, with the BlackCaps bowlers not allowing them to free the arms. The Men in Blue eventually finished with 191-8 off 20 overs, a final score that seemed at least 20-30 runs short of what it actually could have been.
3. Tim Seifert finally swings the blade right
Tim Seifert came out to open the Kiwi innings alongside Finn Allen. Despite his partner's early dismissal, Seifert took the onus of launching an onslaught and started to dispatch the Indian bowlers all round the park. With eleven fours and five huge maximums, Seifert faced 50 deliveries to play a breathtaking innings, but fell short of just seven runs from his maiden T20I hundred. However, his knock took the Kiwis home.
4. Glenn Phillips earns Player of the Series award
It was a series to remember for the dynamic all-rounder Glenn Phillips. While the star cricketer's major contributions came with the bat, his fielding efforts were praiseworthy as well. Phillips ended as the highest run-getter of the series with 341 runs across five games, which is also the record for most individual runs in a bilateral competition. This rightfully earned him the Player of the Series accolade.
NZ vs IND: Who Said What?
Shreyas Iyer, India Captain:
"It was close. We could've been better considering the start we got in the middle overs. From there we lost back to back wickets. Wasn't an easy wicket to bat on. Was challenging off that hard length. 194 was reasonable I think. Could've been better with our bowling and fielding which was sloppy. Great learning curve. First three games steadied the rhythm for us. Last two games I feel we were in the position where we wanted to experiment and challenge ourselves. Boys are in high spirits. Definitely when you come overseas, you are challenged in different aspects. We have to work on couple of things, especiallly fielding. But honestly it's not that easy over here with dark lights and clear skies - we don't get that much in India."
Mitchell Santner, New Zealand Captain:
"I think we'll reflect on that and we'll know it was a very tight series against a very good team. From a cricketing point of view, lot of good stuff. Obviously the scoreline shows 3-2 India, but it could've been the other way around. There was a bit with the new ball, but then Shreyas and Kishan put the foot down. We're in a great spot in terms of depth at the moment. To do it every game is pretty special (Phillips). He gives himself a bit of time. I think the batting's been pretty good. 200 most games and 260 as well."
Adam Milne, Player of the Match, said:
"Yeah, it's always nice to win the toss - one of 5 I guess But yeah it's nice to get out there early, make use of those conditions. It was obviously a bit of movement in the air which is nice as an opening bowler. Then boys exploited a bit of that inconsistent bounce I guess. [Asked about the lack of swing throughout the series] No, not when they get into the hoardings first and second balls. But no, it's been hard. There's been a little bit of swing here and there I think. Obviously after a few games we learned a lot. We sort of adjusted and maybe had some more wickets that had a little bit more bounce. That definitely helped us out. [On the bowling group's use of variations in pace through the middle overs, including quicker short deliveries and slower balls] Yeah, I guess we all have sort of like different plans. You know, Ticks (Tickner) bowled beautifully through that middle period using his knuckle ball and some slow and short stuff. So yeah, it's definitely part of the plan there. [On his personal experience throughout the series, his fitness, and the team's progress ahead of the one-day internationals] Yeah, body's all good. Yeah, I guess nice to get through four games and, you know, obviously as a team improve those performances as we go. Sort of obviously disappointing with the start of the series, but hopefully the boys can take some momentum into the one-dayers.
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Glenn Phillips, Player of the Series:
"[On his performance in the series and the calmness and composure he showed during the innings] Yeah, as you say, the calm and the composure. It's a nice feeling. I guess when you go out there with a clear mind and just trying to play each ball on its merits. And I guess, as you say, go out there and try and be a bit more of the hunter and a little less of the prey. [On assessing India's bowling unit, the match-ups, and the decision to attack spin bowling] I think probably today understanding that spin was going to be the type of bowling that needed to be taken down. Obviously we saw the Indian boys do it to us and they did it very effectively. And I think obviously when Chakaravarthy came back on, it was probably a make or break over. We were either going to get ahead of the game or he was going to take a bunch of wickets. And it was probably worth that risk and worth that match-up. And you know, the way Seifert batted at the top and all the way through today was fantastic with that momentum. [On the confidence the performance gives the team heading into the ODIs] Yeah, I think it's a lot of confidence for the boys. And I guess slightly longer format of the game, you can play the ebbs and flows of the game a bit more. And I guess it does take a little bit more brain power over a longer period of time. So trying to, I guess, stay in that moment one ball at a time and just understand that there's a lot longer to play. (Hamstring okay?) Yeah it held up quite nicely."
