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IND beat NZ by 7 wickets | New Zealand vs India, Highlights And Cricket Score 2nd T20I Match - Commentary
India in New Zealand, 3 T20 International Series, 2019
Date: Feb 08, 2019 Start Time: 11:30 IST | 06:00 GMT | 19:00 LocalVenue: Eden Park, Auckland
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New Zealand vs India Highlights And Cricket Score 2nd Match - T20I Commentary
A complete contrast for the Black Caps from how they fared in the first T20I. The start never came and the middle order couldn't recover from that well enough either. Had it not been for Taylor and de Grandhomme's partnership of 77, things would have been much worse. The boundaries just seemed to dry up after de Grandhomme's departure and that put a lot of pressure on the rest. 158 isn't a very good total on this ground, so the Indians will back themselves to chase it down and level the series. Let's see how it goes. Join us for the run chase in a short while.
A very good bowling display from the Men in Blue. Questions were being asked of whether this attack could cope with the pressure, and it has responded beautifully, that too at a ground with relatively small boundaries. They didn't start off well, but got wickets in clumps and put the Kiwis on the back foot. Except for the Taylor-de Grandhomme partnership where some good, quick runs were scored, the Indians were always in control. Krunal finished with a 3-fer, as he derailed the top order, and the rest, barring Chahal, got themselves in the wickets column as well.
Khaleel Ahmed to Tim Southee. OUT! Khaleel finishes things off in good style. The cutter from the left-armer, on a back of a length. Southee backs away and looks to go big over the leg side. Is into the shot way too early and ends up missing it. The stumps are disturbed and with that, NEW ZEALAND FINISH ON 158/8! A brilliant last over from Khaleel, only 5 runs and 2 wickets off it in the end. He ends with amazing figures of 4-0-27-2.
Khaleel Ahmed to Tim Southee. Switches the angle to around the wicket and angles a full ball in on middle and leg, Southee clears his front leg and whips it towards wide long on. Pandya goes to his right and stops it. Two taken.
Khaleel Ahmed to Scott Kuggeleijn. Pin-point yorker just outside off, Kuggeleijn somehow keeps it at bay. It goes off the inner half onto the pads and rolls on the off side. Sharp run stolen.
Khaleel Ahmed to Tim Southee. A little too straight in line, flicked into the leg side by Southee for a single.
Tim Southee strides out to the middle next.
Khaleel Ahmed to Mitchell Santner. OUT! Bowled 'em! Fuller length delivery around off, Santner gets low and swings hard, but gets a big inside edge. It crashes into the stumps and that's the end of him. He should have finished things off, a couple of his lusty blows could have proved to be all the difference.
Khaleel Ahmed to Scott Kuggeleijn. Dropped! Back of a length ball outside off, Kuggeleijn hits it with a horizontal bat aerially and really flat towards long on. Hardik Pandya out there moves to his left, gets low but can't hold on as it goes off his wrists. A single is collected.
Khaleel Ahmed to bowl the final over.
Scott Kuggeleijn to bat next.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Mitchell Santner. OUT! RUN OUT! Take a bow, Vijay Shankar. Direct hit and Taylor is out of here. Santner flicks it through wide mid on and calls for the second. Shankar in the deep moves to his left, collects the ball and fires it at the bowler's end. Scores a direct hit and Taylor is well out of the crease. Wasn't expecting that to happen, nobody was to be honest. No need to go upstairs either. Rosco is heading back. Bhuvneshwar ends his night with good figures of 4-0-29-1.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Ross Taylor. This extremely full delivery is drilled to long off for a single.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Ross Taylor. Wide! Second one in a row. Similar delivery, wide outside off. Easy call for the umpire.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Ross Taylor. Wide! Another attempted wide yorker, but it goes from the other side of the tramline. Wide signalled by the umpire.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Ross Taylor. Full and way outside off, Ross gets low to paddle it away but it goes under his bat. Great ball by Bhuvi, had to be spot on and he was.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Ross Taylor. Shaping back into the batsman off the seam, worked across the line, into the leg side for a brace.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Mitchell Santner. Low full toss on middle stump, Santner mistimes the loft down towards long off. Falls well short of Hardik, so the batsmen collect a single.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Ross Taylor. Wide yorker from Kumar, outside off, Taylor reaches out and pushes it towards covers for a quick run.
Hardik Pandya to Ross Taylor. Length ball outside off, Taylor slaps it hard to Dhawan at mid off, positioned at the edge of the ring. He fumbles and allows the batsmen to cross over. Hardik finishes his bowling spell with figures of 4-0-36-1.
Hardik Pandya to Mitchell Santner. Yorker speared in on off stump, dragged off the inner half through mid-wicket for a run.
Hardik Pandya to Ross Taylor. On the fuller side of the length, outside off, driven through covers for one run.
Hardik Pandya to Mitchell Santner. The batsman works it down the leg side. They pick up a single.
Hardik Pandya to Ross Taylor. Full in length, driven to long off to get off strike.
Hardik Pandya to Ross Taylor. FOUR! Finally finds the fence. Welcome boundary for Taylor and New Zealand. A leg stump half-volley, the batsman flicks it well with the wrists and beats deep mid-wicket.
Some medical attention for Mitchell Santner. He got hit on the inside of the knee during the Kumar over, must be stinging. Should be fine to continue though.
Colin Munro on the sidelines, feels that it was not a great start from them, but the partnership between Ross Taylor and Colin de Grandhomme has given the innings some momentum. Says they'd like to add 40-50 from here. Reckons there are short boundaries and it will be difficult to defend but bowling in the right areas would help them do well if they reach a score of around 175-180.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Ross Taylor. A full toss dished out by Bhuvneshwar, Ross flicks it towards deep backward square leg and crosses over.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Mitchell Santner. Just behind a length, in line of the stumps, Santner looks to pull it away but gets an inside edge on the inside of his knee. It rolls away on the off side as the batsmen cross over.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Ross Taylor. Taylor comes down the track and takes it on the full, but only mistimes it on the off side. Single taken.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Mitchell Santner. Back of a length on middle and off, punched from the back foot to long on for a single.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Ross Taylor. A little too straight in line, worked through mid-wicket once more. Another sharp single on offer.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Ross Taylor. Right in the blockhole, on middle and leg, Taylor digs it out to mid-wicket. That area is quite vacant, so the batsmen manage to come back for the second.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar is back.
Hardik Pandya to Ross Taylor. Short and wide outside off, Rosco slaps the cut to deep point and keeps strike with a single.
Hardik Pandya to Mitchell Santner. Back of a length on the hips, worked down to fine leg by Santner for a single.
Mitchell Santner is the new man in.
Hardik Pandya to Colin de Grandhomme. OUT! Gone immediately after scoring a fifty. He's played a good knock, but his team would have liked him to stay out there till the end. Full and around off, de Grandhomme looks to clear the cover region but doesn't exactly get under the ball. Hands a sharp catch to Rohit Sharma at extra cover and he doesn't make a mess of it. Partnership of 77 comes to a close.
Hardik Pandya to Colin de Grandhomme. Maiden T20I fifty for Colin de Grandhomme! A fine knock so far from the all-rounder. He flicks this fullish ball on middle towards wide long on and takes off. Comes back for the second as the throw from DK in the deep is quite weak.
Hardik Pandya to Colin de Grandhomme. Wide! Too far outside off, across the tramline, wide called.
Hardik Pandya to Ross Taylor. Length delivery outside off, cut through to sweeper cover for a single.
Hardik Pandya to Ross Taylor. Wide! Looks for the yorker but just about misses, goes down the leg side as Taylor misses his flick. Wide signalled.
Hardik Pandya to Colin de Grandhomme. In the air but just short. Length ball around off, Colin swings and gets an edge which falls short of Khaleel at short third man. The batsmen pinch a quick run.
Khaleel Ahmed to Colin de Grandhomme. Short of a length outside off, cut to Chahal at a modified, finer backward point. Single taken. Good over from Khaleel, just 7 runs off it.
Khaleel Ahmed to Ross Taylor. Comes from around the wicket, it's short on off, pulled to wide long on for one.
Khaleel Ahmed to Ross Taylor. FOUR! That's clever. Innovative shot from Ross Taylor and he's rewarded with a boundary. Premeditates it, it's full around off, Taylor gets low and paddle sweeps it through backward square leg. The fielder in the deep moves to his right but can't stop it.
Khaleel Ahmed to Colin de Grandhomme. Uses the angle going away from him and cuts it through towards sweeper cover for a run.
Khaleel Ahmed to Colin de Grandhomme. Angles it across once more, on a good length, Colin tries to run it down to third man seeing the fielder in the ring, but fails to make connection.
Khaleel Ahmed to Colin de Grandhomme. Angling across from a good length, well outside off, the all-rounder misses his cut shot.
Khaleel Ahmed returns to the attack.
Hardik Pandya to Colin de Grandhomme. Goes for the yorker, hits his mark too, but de Grandhomme does well to work it through mid-wicket for a single.
Hardik Pandya to Colin de Grandhomme. No timing again but it's landed safely once more. Colin de Grandhomme lofts it over covers. The fielder from wide long off moves to his left to cut it off and the batsmen come back for the second.
Hardik Pandya to Ross Taylor. Short of a good length, Taylor mistimes the heave but it falls safely in the mid-wicket area. Single taken.
Hardik Pandya to Colin de Grandhomme. Full delivery on off, drilled to long off for a single. This is now Colin de Grandhomme's highest score in T20Is.
Hardik Pandya to Colin de Grandhomme. Wide! Another wide, this time on the other side. Wide outside off, across the tramline and the umpire raises his arms sideways.
Hardik Pandya to Colin de Grandhomme. Wide! Angles it down the leg side, wide signalled by the umpire.
Hardik Pandya to Colin de Grandhomme. Yorker on off, dug out back to the bowler.
Hardik Pandya to Colin de Grandhomme. Just ahead of a length, but too wide outside off, Colin hits it hard through covers. Dhawan moves to his right, cuts it off and keeps the batsmen down to two.
Hardik Pandya is back on.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Colin de Grandhomme. The leg break on middle and leg, de Grandhomme goes back and whips it to deep mid-wicket. Single collected. Chahal ends a wicket-less evening with figures of 4-0-37-0.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Ross Taylor. On the shorter side again, punched off the back foot to long on. The batsmen take a run.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Ross Taylor. FOUR! The 50-run stand is up, along with the 100 for New Zealand. This has been excellent work so far from this pair. Taylor gets forward and across to this full ball and paddles it fine down the leg side, beating the man in the deep.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Colin de Grandhomme. Quicker, shorter and off, keeps a little low, Colin whips it to long on and crosses over.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Ross Taylor. Full and wide outside off, it's slapped through to sweeper cover for a single.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Ross Taylor. The flipper on leg stump, full in length, goes off the pads of the batsman who misses his flick shot.
Krunal Pandya to Ross Taylor. Sliding in on the pads, Taylor flicks it in front of square leg and keeps strike with one. Another expensive over for India, 18 off this one. 37 off the last 2. Krunal finishes an impressive spell, his figures read 4-0-28-3.
Krunal Pandya to Ross Taylor. Pushing hard here, this is good running. Rosco works it in the mid-wicket region and runs hard. Calls for the second and gets it too.
Krunal Pandya to Colin de Grandhomme. Full and wide outside off, carved over covers for a single.
Krunal Pandya to Colin de Grandhomme. SIX! BOOM! Two in two. Taking the attack to the Indian spinners. Hasn't taken any risks at all too, all clean and safe hits. Full on the stumps, de Grandhomme clears his front leg out of the way and clears the long off fence with absolute ease.
Krunal Pandya to Colin de Grandhomme. SIX! That's gone a long way, into the second tier. Really finding his feet here, Colin de Grandhomme. Full on middle and leg, he just flicks it over mid-wicket but with a lot of power. Maximum!
Krunal Pandya to Colin de Grandhomme. Short ball and it's punched through wide mid on for a couple.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Ross Taylor. Dot ball, but 19 runs have come in this one. The Black Caps really needed it. Quick and flat on middle and off, Taylor goes back and keeps it out.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Ross Taylor. Full and quick outside off, driven through the covers for a quick double.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Colin de Grandhomme. Hits this hard again, towards Hardik Pandya at long on for a run.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Colin de Grandhomme. SIX! Third boundary in three balls. This is good, attacking batting from de Grandhomme. Looped up and there for the batter to put this away. He smacks it flat down the ground and gets another biggie to his name.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Colin de Grandhomme. FOUR! A counter-attack from the all-rounder. Full and well outside off, turning away, de Grandhomme reaches out and slices it over point. Nobody out there in the deep, so a boundary results.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Colin de Grandhomme. SIX! Right in the slot for de Grandhomme. That'll give him a lot of confidence. Tossed up, Colin throws his front leg out of the way and goes dead straight. Hits it flat at the sightscreen and that's a maximum.
Krunal Pandya to Colin de Grandhomme. Full on middle and leg, driven to long on. A run to end the over. New Zealand are 60/4 at the halfway mark.
Krunal Pandya to Ross Taylor. Rotating the strike well here. Rosco nudges it through the vacant mid-wicket area and gets to the other end.
Krunal Pandya to Colin de Grandhomme. Through the mid-wicket area again. Another single taken.
Krunal Pandya to Ross Taylor. Takes a step out of his crease and finds deep mid-wicket with a neat flick. One run collected.
Krunal Pandya to Ross Taylor. Drifting in on middle and leg, catches Taylor on the pads as he comes ahead to defend.
Krunal Pandya to Ross Taylor. Darts it full on off, it's pushed to the off side for a brisk run.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Ross Taylor. Goes down the ground with a drive and ends the over with one run. 5 runs off this over, only 16 in the last 4. Good comeback by India.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Ross Taylor. Full outside off, driven the cover region.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Ross Taylor. Wide! Too far outside off, across the tramline, the batsman leaves it alone and a wide is signalled.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Colin de Grandhomme. Spinning in on middle and leg, worked in front of square on the leg side. Another run on offer which the batsmen take.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Ross Taylor. Taylor plants his front foot forward and pushes it through mid off. Single to the total.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Colin de Grandhomme. Full again, de Grandhomme lofts it towards long on and jogs across to the other end.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Colin de Grandhomme. Full and quick on off, driven straight to Rohit Sharma at short extra cover.
Krunal Pandya to Colin de Grandhomme. Drifting in on off stump, de Grandhomme drives it to long off and takes a single. Another wicket and 3-run over from Krunal.
Colin de Grandhomme walks into the middle next.
Krunal Pandya to Kane Williamson. OUT! Krunal gets his third of the game and it's of the dangerous Kane Williamson. Bowls this with great pace, shorter in length and on the stumps, Williamson rocks back to pull but is done in by the pace. Is caught on the thigh pad and an appeal ensues. The finger goes up and the Kiwi skipper is out of here. No review left to save him either.
Krunal Pandya to Ross Taylor. Ross Taylor goes deep inside the crease and works it wide of the mid-wicket fielder for a single. The 50 comes up for New Zealand.
Krunal Pandya to Kane Williamson. Quicker in pace and shorter outside off, dabbed down to third man. The batsmen change ends.
Krunal Pandya to Kane Williamson. Full and attacking the stumps, Williamson drives it back to the bowler.
Krunal Pandya to Kane Williamson. Short and outside off, cut straight to backward point.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Kane Williamson. Short and wide outside off, Williamson finds sweeper cover with a cut shot. Single taken and just 5 runs have come off this over.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Ross Taylor. Quicker delivery on the pads, Taylor goes on the back foot and works it to backward square leg. Another run.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Kane Williamson. Looped up leg break outside off, Kane comes on the front foot and drives it through to long off for a single.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Ross Taylor. Leans into the full ball and knocks it to long on for one.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Ross Taylor. Full on middle and off, Taylor drives it on the bounce towards Chahal. He moves to his left and stops it.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Kane Williamson. Short ball on middle stump, pulled through square leg and the batsmen take a single.
Ross Taylor is next in. Also, Yuzvendra Chahal to roll his arm over now.
Krunal Pandya to Daryl Mitchell. OUT! Daryl Mitchell's stay doesn't last very long. He's out of here. He can't save himself, or the review. Strange, because there's something seen on Hot Spot. Quicker delivery coming in with the arm, on middle, Mitchell looks to work it across the line but is caught on the pads. A loud shout goes up and the finger follows. Mitchell consults his partner, seems to be telling him that he hit the ball and then takes the DRS, it's taken upstairs and replays roll in. Hot Spot shows there's some bat involved, but there is nothing on the Ultra Edge. No issues with the point of impact and it's hitting the stumps as well. The onfield decision stays. Williamson is baffled. There's some commotion in the middle, but Daryl will have to walk back. A bit unfortunate, but those are the rules. He can't stay back if he's given out. Maybe, the only point going against him was the fact that he did not go upstairs straightaway after hitting the ball. A point to debate for sure. Anyways, New Zealand are 43/3 at the end of the Powerplay and India are climbing on top here.
Review taken. Daryl Mitchell has been caught leg before and give out. He's taken the DRS. Let's see what happens here, looks plumb. Only some bat can save him.
Krunal Pandya to Kane Williamson. A little too straight in line, worked in front of square leg for one run.
Krunal Pandya to Kane Williamson. Short and wide outside off, Kane shifts his weight on the back foot and cuts it to the man at cover-point.
Krunal Pandya to Daryl Mitchell. Tossed up on the stumps, Mitchell flicks it wide of short mid-wicket and gets off the mark with a single.
Daryl Mitchell is the next batsman in.
Krunal Pandya to Colin Munro. OUT! Munro departs, now both the openers are sent back. Krunal strikes almost immediately. Quicker through the air, in line of the stumps, Munro makes room and hammers it aerially through the line. Straight to Rohit Sharma though at extra cover who takes a sharp catch. The Men in Blue starting this game better than the last one clearly.
Krunal Pandya to Kane Williamson. Darts it quicker on middle stump, wristed towards the mid-wicket area. One run to the total.
Krunal Pandya is also brought on to bowl.
Hardik Pandya to Colin Munro. Yorker outside off, Colin Munro digs it out from the inner portion down the track. 10 off the over, 35 off the last 3.
Hardik Pandya to Kane Williamson. Coming in on the pads, nudged behind square on the leg side for a run.
Hardik Pandya to Kane Williamson. FOUR! Nice use of the feet, second boundary of the over for Williamson. He never hits them too hard, all about the timing with him. Skips down the track and caresses the drive through the gap in the covers. Super shot.
Hardik Pandya to Kane Williamson. Full and straight, flicked straight to the man at short mid-wicket.
Hardik Pandya to Kane Williamson. FOUR! Deft from Kane. Always so clever. Waits for this length ball outside off to come to him, opens the bat face and runs it through the vacant slip cordon for a boundary.
Hardik Pandya to Colin Munro. Good length delivery on the fifth stump line, Colin taps it down with soft hands on the off side and crosses over.
Hardik Pandya is into the attack.
Khaleel Ahmed to Kane Williamson. FOUR! 13 off the over, New Zealand's best one yet. This is some excellent placement from the Kiwi skipper. Back of a length angling away from outside off, Williamson opens the face and punches it through point to find the fence.
Khaleel Ahmed to Colin Munro. Fantastic comeback from Khaleel. Fires in the yorker at 138 kph, Munro barely manages to dig it out on the leg side. A quick single is stolen.
Khaleel Ahmed to Colin Munro. SIX! That will make him feel good. Hit so sweetly. Fuller around off, Munro picks it up early and goes big downtown. Stands his ground and just smokes it over long off for a biggie.
Khaleel Ahmed to Colin Munro. Cramps the batter for room again. At 141 clicks, a back of a length delivery is angling in on off, all Munro can do is push it to the left of the bowler.
Khaleel Ahmed to Colin Munro. Outside off on a good length, Munro throws his bat at it, but can't connect.
Khaleel Ahmed to Colin Munro. Fuller in length on off stump, Munro swipes it over the leg side. Karthik from deep mid-wicket moves to his left and makes a tumbling stop. Two runs taken.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Kane Williamson. An lbw appeal which is turned down. No review taken by India. Good call, height was always the issue. Bhuvi comes from over the wicket and lands it a touch short, on the stumps, catches Williamson on the thigh pad as he tries to play at it. Expensive but a successful over by Kumar.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Colin Munro. From around the wicket, a back of a length ball angling in, Munro helps the pull behind square leg for one.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Kane Williamson. Opens his account without wasting any time. Williamson pushes this full delivery in the gap at mid-wicket and scampers to the other end.
Kane Williamson walks in at no.3.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Tim Seifert. OUT! GONE! Edged behind and Dhoni takes a simple catch. Bhuvneshwar strikes. Tim Seifert can't replicate what he did in the series opener. A bit short, outside off, the opener looks to slog across the line but the ball keeps slightly low and takes the under edge. Just a feather, which is all India need. The ideal start for them.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Tim Seifert. SIX! First maximum of the game. That short, straighter boundary showing its colour already. Short of a length on middle and off, Seifert muscles the heave over long on.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Tim Seifert. FOUR! That's smacked. Adjusted well after coming down the track. Kumar goes a little short, but Seifert brings those fast wrists into play as he pulls it through backward square leg for a boundary.
Khaleel Ahmed to Tim Seifert. Fraction straight in line, worked to square leg for a single. A quiet first two overs, just 2 runs off this one.
Khaleel Ahmed to Tim Seifert. Good over so far. Back of a length around off, cramps the right-hander for room as he looks to punch it through the covers. Another miss. Probably trying too hard to score off every ball. Needs to take a pause and calm it a little.
Khaleel Ahmed to Tim Seifert. Beaten once more. Khaleel takes the pace off this one and deceives the batter, he tries to push it with hard hands, only to fail.
Khaleel Ahmed to Tim Seifert. Play and a miss! Good length delivery around off, holding its line, Seifert looks to loft it over mid on but gets beaten.
Khaleel Ahmed to Tim Seifert. Throws it way outside off, on a back of a length, Seifert reaches out to thrash it but fails to connect.
Khaleel Ahmed to Colin Munro. Pitches it up and outside off, Munro tries driving but it goes off the inner half of his bat through mid-wicket for a run.
Khaleel Ahmed to bowl from the other end.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Tim Seifert. Brilliant first over by Kumar. He is getting some movement going. Lands it around off, Tim stays back to defend but gets beaten by the away shape.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Tim Seifert. Wide! Fails to control the movement on his inswinging ball. Slipping down the leg side. Seifert fails to work it off his pads.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Tim Seifert. Beaten! Away movement there for Kumar. He lands it on a length outside off, Seifert walks forward to flay at it but fails to put bat on ball.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Colin Munro. Down the leg side, Munro fails to flick and it goes off his thigh pad to fine leg for a leg bye.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Colin Munro. Munro walks down the track to this back of a length ball on off as Bhuvi comes from around the wicket and taps it down in front of cover-point.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Tim Seifert. Off the mark in a streaky manner. Length ball on off, shapes away a little late off the seam, Seifert hangs his bat and gets an edge down to third man for a single.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Tim Seifert. Good length delivery outside off, Seifert mistimes the cut shot straight to the point fielder.
We are ready to begin now. Colin Munro and Tim Seifert will open the innings for the Black Caps. Bhuvneshwar Kumar will take the ball first up. Here we go...
Both the teams are out for their respective national anthems. We will begin with India's first.
India captain, Rohit Sharma, says they were looking to bowl first anyway. Feels that it's a fresh game and they just have to focus on the here and now. Continues saying that they need to do the little things right and have to keep doing them consistently. Wants his side to correct the mistakes from the previous game and put in a good performance. Mentions that they too have an unchanged XI. On the team combination, he says he wants to try other players and see how they perform under pressure, especially in overseas conditions.
New Zealand captain, Kane Williamson, says it's a good surface to bat on. Adds that they did well in the first game and wants to put up a good score on the board first up again. States that it's always a good opportunity to play against a side like India and the guys always look forward to such a challenge. Informs that they have an unchanged team. Reckons that in the first T20I everyone knew their roles and hopes they can continue in the same direction.
TOSS - New Zealand win the toss and opt to bat first!
Pitch report - Simon Doull and his antics. He is hanging himself on the pitch-roller while doing his pitch report. Starts by informing us that the boundaries are short in Auckland. He advises by saying that you don't want to be bowling full with the straighter boundaries on the shorter side. Feels that the bowlers need to pull their lengths back a bit and bring squarer boundaries into play. Signs off by mentioning that the spinners have done well here in spite of Eden Park being a small stadium.
Hello and welcome for the 2nd T20I between New Zealand and India. A lot on the line for both sides here - India need a win to stay alive in the series, while the Black Caps need it to win the series and shake off their disappointment from the ODI series loss. In the first T20I, New Zealand were dominant in all departments and handed India a serious loss. Put 219 on the board, and then bundled the Men in Blue for just 139. More of the same to be expected today? Eden Park is known to be a venue where runs come aplenty. Which Indian side will show up to the fight is a question many will be wondering. Some new players are being tested, so it'll be interesting to see how they respond against a well-drilled Kiwi line-up. The toss and other updates to follow...
So that's all that we have from Auckland. We are now set to go to Hamilton with the series alive and all to play for. Only a day's gap between the games and New Zealand will have to pick themselves and come back just like India did today. Join us for the coverage of the third and final T20I of this tour that will begin at 2000 local (0700 GMT) on the 10th of February. Till then, take care and cheers!
India skipper, Rohit Sharma, says he's really pleased to see how they bowled to start with and then were clinical with the bat. Feels that there's quality in the side but they executed their plans well in this game, so is happy about that. Adds that it's important to understand the mistakes they made, learn from them and play with a clear mind. Reckons that the final game in Hamilton will be a tough one, but is relishing the challenge and looking forward to winning the series there.
New Zealand skipper, Kane Williamson, says it will always be difficult to replicate the performance from Wellington. Mentions that they should have been smarter with the bat and got to about 180-190. Reckons that the start for India took the game away from them. Continues saying that they are fully aware of the good things they've done, but are also cautious of the bad ones and they will work on them. Applauds the crowd in Eden Park as they always provide a fantastic atmosphere. Ends by saying that the decider will be a good one and hopes his team can deliver.
Man of the Match, Krunal Pandya, says he feels nice to contribute to the team's win. States that the dimensions of the ground here are different to Wellington, so you have to adapt which he did. Adds that there's everything to play for in Hamilton so is looking forward to it.
As for the Kiwi bowling, there was not much to speak about. They tried hard but the total was just too less for them to defend in the end. The Indian batters played them smarter and did not give them as many opportunities as they did in Wellington. Earlier on in the evening, Kane Williamson won the toss and chose to bat but a triple-strike from Krunal Pandya early on in the innings put their innings off track. Even a 77-run stand for the 5th wicket could not help them enough as the death bowling of the away team was also on point. In the end then, 158 was considered a very easy total to chase and that's what it proved to be. A clinical job from India. Presentations to follow...
FINALLY! India have a win in T20Is in New Zealand. It was always going to be difficult for the Kiwis to defend this score of 158 on the small ground. And it proved to be exactly the same way here as the Indians have reached the target in a canter with 7 balls to spare. The chase started in a brilliant fashion for the Men in Blue when stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma smashed the bowlers to all parts in the Powerplay as his partner Shikhar Dhawan gave him good company. The Hitman reached his fifty and immediately fell but by that time, he had ensured that his team was in a very comfortable position. Dhawan and Shankar too fell in an attempt to finish things off quickly but that did not hamper the visitors as Dhoni joined forces with Pant and finished things off for the touring team.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Rishabh Pant. FOUR! All over. Kuggeleijn delivers it very full and outside off, it's hammered down the ground by Pant and that wraps things up for India. VICTORY BY 7 WICKETS and the Men in Blue keep the series alive at 1-1 as we go to Hamilton.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Rishabh Pant. Another dot ball! Bouncer on middle, Rishabh is beaten by the bounce and pace.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Rishabh Pant. Fuller length ball on middle, pushed away to mid-wicket who makes a diving stop. The wait continues...
Scott Kuggeleijn to MS Dhoni. No, he doesn't. A shorter ball on middle, Dhoni looks to pull it away and does so but the ball goes off his arm and behind the stumps for a single.
MS Dhoni on strike. Can he finish things off in style? If he does, this crowd will go bonkers...
Scott Kuggeleijn to Rishabh Pant. Slower ball on the middle and leg stump line, Pant swivels and turns it away fine on the leg side for a single.
Scott Kuggeleijn to bowl the 19th.
Lockie Ferguson to MS Dhoni. Comes from 'round the wicket and angles across a length ball outside off. Dhoni stays back and threads it through covers for another two. Only 3 needed.
Lockie Ferguson to MS Dhoni. Fullish and angling in on off, Dhoni is on the front foot as he pushes it back to the bowler.
Lockie Ferguson to MS Dhoni. Bang! Short and wide outside off, Dhoni whacks it square of the wicket on the off side and collects another brace in this over.
Lockie Ferguson to Rishabh Pant. Slower delivery, on a length around middle, Pant walks across and paddles it down towards short fine leg for a run.
Lockie Ferguson to MS Dhoni. A yorker outside off, Dhoni squeezes it out to point for one.
Lockie Ferguson to MS Dhoni. Fullish and whipped behind square leg for a couple of runs.
Lockie Ferguson is back on.
Tim Southee to MS Dhoni. Oh, God! The screws are coming off the New Zealand train here. A length ball outside off, Dhoni pushes it to point and sets off for a quick single but decides against the run in the end. The fielder has a shy at the non-striker's end where Pant had backed up a long way but misses the stumps. There is no cover for the throw and an overthrow is taken. Needless from the Black Caps.
Tim Southee to MS Dhoni. On the hips this time, pushed away to deep mid-wicket and in the gap for a couple of runs.
Tim Southee to Rishabh Pant. Very full outside off, driven down to long on for a single by Pant.
Tim Southee to Rishabh Pant. SIX! You come into his arc, you go out of the park! A fuller length ball on middle and Pant just swings through the line, finishes with one hand off the handle. The ball still has enough to go over the deep mid-wicket fence.
Tim Southee to Rishabh Pant. Wide! Short of a length! The ball goes well over the batsman's head. Signalled wide by the umpire.
Tim Southee to MS Dhoni. Short and with pace this time, pulled away hard to deep square leg by the Indian keeper for a single.
Tim Southee to Rishabh Pant. Slower ball on top of middle by Southee. Pant looks to heave it away but the ball hits him on the sides and goes on the off side. A leg bye is stolen.
Ish Sodhi to Rishabh Pant. Shorter one to end the over, pulled away to deep square leg for a single. Sodhi ends with 4-0-31-1.
Ish Sodhi to MS Dhoni. Clever! Very clever from MS! Dhoni was charging down the ground to hit that one but Sodhi throws the ball flatter and well outside off to get the batsman stumped. Dhoni though adjusts as he puts his left hand out and keeps the ball out towards point. Picks up a single as well.
Ish Sodhi to MS Dhoni. Flatter one on middle, Dhoni adjusts with the slight turn and keeps it out towards cover.
Ish Sodhi to Rishabh Pant. Slower one pushed through well outside off, Pant hangs his bat out and hits it over the head of Ish for a single down to long on.
Ish Sodhi to Rishabh Pant. Always looked like dropping it, Taylor! Not sure eventually if he got even his fingertips on it. A short ball around leg, Pant top edges his attempted pull shot and it flies towards fine leg. Taylor runs from short fine leg but fails to catch the swirling ball. They take two.
Ish Sodhi to MS Dhoni. Skips down the track and forces it down to long on for a run.
Ish Sodhi returns.
Tim Southee to MS Dhoni. Shortish on off, Dhoni walks across and helps it through square leg for one. Every run from MS Dhoni's bat is being cheered by this jam-packed stadium.
Tim Southee to MS Dhoni. Walks down the track and punches it to the off side, finds the fielder at covers.
Tim Southee to Rishabh Pant. Quick single, a young lad and an old tiger stealing it right under mid off's nose. Southee aims for the blockhole but ends up serving a low full toss on off. Pant pushes it through the line and scampers across.
Tim Southee to MS Dhoni. Yet another short ball by Tim, this time Dhoni is nicely on the back foot as he blazes his pull shot to deep square leg for a run.
Tim Southee to MS Dhoni. FOUR! Dhoni starts with a boundary. Wrong line from Southee, short and around leg, MSD just turns inside the crease and pulls it fine down the leg side. The crowd certainly loved that.
Tim Southee to MS Dhoni. Starts with a length ball angling back into the batsman, Dhoni flicks it across the line, barring much timing and finds the mid-wicket fielder.
Tim Southee is back into the attack.
Daryl Mitchell to Rishabh Pant. Short of a length outside off, Pant looks to cut it away but it was too close to his body. He misses out. A wicket in the over but expensive in the context of the game.
Daryl Mitchell to Rishabh Pant. FOUR! The pressure after the wicket is let off on the very next ball. Shorter length ball on middle and leg, pulled away by Pant over short fine leg for a boundary.
MS DHONI walks in amidst a huge cheer from the crowd. Everyone loves this man, apart from a few troll handles on social media.
Daryl Mitchell to Vijay Shankar. OUT! Caught at the longer part of the boundary. That is the second time in this innings that an Indian batsman has holed out to the pull at deep mid-wicket. A half-tracker from Mitchell and it was a poor ball, should have been dispatched over the fence. Shankar looks to pull it away but the ball goes off the bottom of the bat and Tim Southee takes his second catch pretty easily. Shankar departs in a bid to score two sixes on the trot, India now need 41 runs in 38 balls.
Daryl Mitchell to Vijay Shankar. SIX! A low full toss smacked over long off for a six. Wow! Never mind the short boundary, that is a wonderful shot. Mitchell misses the yorker by some inches and Shankar lifts it on the full and deep over the long off boundary.
Daryl Mitchell to Rishabh Pant. A fuller length ball outside off, driven hard past the bowler for a single down to long off.
Daryl Mitchell to Rishabh Pant. FOUR! Welcome, Daryl! A length ball on middle and at his pace, it is just a half-volley. Pant flicks it over fine leg and for a boundary.
Daryl Mitchell into the attack.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Vijay Shankar. FOUR! Just out of the reach of Williamson who was running back and into the fence. A length ball outside off, Shankar sees mid off up and lifts the ball over his head. Kane tries to run back but the ball is just too far. Good effort though from the NZ skipper.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Vijay Shankar. Wide! Too high this time and it goes over Vijay's head. Given wide by the umpire.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Vijay Shankar. Fuller this time outside off, driven hard back at the bowler who does well to make a stop on his followthrough.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Vijay Shankar. Brilliant save from Ish in the deep. A short length ball on top of middle, Shankar pulls it away towards fine leg where Sodhi moves to his left and makes an incredible save putting out his left hand. A poor throw though ensures that a couple is taken.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Rishabh Pant. Pacy bouncer once more, Pant looks to pull but is late on the shot. Gets it high on the bat and the ball lands just to the next of the pitch on the leg side. A quick run is taken, that brings up the 100 for the visitors. 59 needed now in 45 balls.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Vijay Shankar. A fuller length ball on off and middle, driven hard down the ground to long on for a run.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Rishabh Pant. A short length ball on top of middle stump, Pant looks to pull but gets an inside edge onto the pads and a quick single is stolen.
Scott Kuggeleijn is back on.
Ish Sodhi to Rishabh Pant. A shorter one on middle, jabbed away to the leg side for a run by RP. Good over for India in the context of the game, 9 off it.
Ish Sodhi to Rishabh Pant. Unnecessary! A slower ball on a shorter length outside off and going the other way. Pant looks to reverse sweep that ball but fails to put bat on ball.
Ish Sodhi to Rishabh Pant. FOUR! Smashed! A flighted ball well outside off, Pant does well to reach out and hit it wide of extra cover and well to the right of long off. No chance for the fielder, the timing was too good.
Ish Sodhi to Vijay Shankar. Flighted on middle, pushed away along the ground to long on for a run by Shankar.
Ish Sodhi to Rishabh Pant. Flatter one on middle, pulled away to deep mid-wicket for a single.
Ish Sodhi to Rishabh Pant. Risky second! Tossed up ball on middle, Pant turns it gently off his pads through square leg and rushes back for the second run. The throw from the deep comes to the keeper who breaks the stumps as Rishabh dives in. Direct hit would have been interesting.
Lockie Ferguson to Vijay Shankar. Pacy again! 146 clicks outside off and Shankar looks to put bat on ball but the pace causes him to get beaten. Top over by Lockie.
Here comes Vijay Shankar now.
Lockie Ferguson to Shikhar Dhawan. OUT! Bounced out! Last time it was a 151 kph yorker which cleaned the southpaw and this time, Ferguson puts this one halfway down the pitch at 145 clicks. The ball rears up and Dhawan is in a poor position as he looks to pull. The ball takes the gloves and goes high in the air but just to point where de Grandhomme settles under it and takes an easy catch. One has brought two. New Zealand need more of these though. 71 runs needed off 55 now.
Lockie Ferguson to Rishabh Pant. Good length ball around leg, angling down, Pant flicks it through square leg and rotates the strike.
Lockie Ferguson to Shikhar Dhawan. Cuts down on his pace to beat the batsman and his keeper also. Digs it short and around off, Dhawan is early into his pull shot and misses. Seifert too fumbles behind and they steal a bye.
Lockie Ferguson to Shikhar Dhawan. Fetches a short ball from outside off and slaps it back past the bowler to long on for a run. Hang on, Bracewell (sub) attacks the ball in the deep and misfields, allowing the second run.
Lockie Ferguson to Rishabh Pant. Starts this spell from 'round the wicket and serves a length ball outside off, Pant eases it down to third man and collects a run.
Lockie Ferguson is back on.
Ish Sodhi to Rishabh Pant. Short of a length, a pull all along the ground by Pant to deep mid-wicket for a single. A successful over for NZ, 6 runs and a wicket off it in the end.
Ish Sodhi to Rishabh Pant. Wide! Sprayed way outside off, Pant looks to cut but pulls out of the shot in the end. Signalled a wide by the umpire.
Ish Sodhi to Rishabh Pant. Outside off and this one does not bounce. Pant looks to pull it away but the ball keeps too low.
Ish Sodhi to Shikhar Dhawan. A fuller one outside off, driven down to long off for a single.
Ish Sodhi to Rishabh Pant. Confusion! But in the end, all is okay. A good ball outside off going straight on, Pant leans into the drive but misses the ball. The keeper fails to collect it cleanly and Dhawan calls Pant for a bye. Rishabh was late to the run but manages to make it courtesy a bad throw.
Who will bat at number 3 today? Any guesses? No, it's not Vijay Shankar. It's Rishabh Pant!
Ish Sodhi to Rohit Sharma. OUT! De Grandhomme for New Zealand and now Rohit for India. Both have fallen after reaching the 50-run mark. Gets out playing his favourite shot, the pull, once more. A half-tracker from Sodhi, was meant to be hit but the ball climbed too high on Rohit who looked to pull it away. The ball gets him high on the bat and goes straight into the waiting hands of Southee at deep mid-wicket. New Zealand finally have the breakthrough they so badly needed. India need 80 runs off 64 balls.
Ish Sodhi to Shikhar Dhawan. On the pads this time, worked away for a single to deep mid-wicket.
Ish Sodhi to Shikhar Dhawan. Wide! Sprayed down the leg side, Dhawan looks to make contact but it is too far away.
Mitchell Santner to Shikhar Dhawan. Flicked away to deep mid-wicket by the southpaw for a run as he retains strike.
Mitchell Santner to Rohit Sharma. Flatter one on the pads, worked away for a single to mid-wicket. That is FIFTY FOR ROHIT! His 16th in T20Is. The last three international innings for him were 1, 2 and 7. He breaks the run-scoring drought and comes back to form in style.
Mitchell Santner to Rohit Sharma. SIX! Huge! Moves to 49 with that one. A flighted one on middle, Rohit comes down the track and lifts it straight back over the bowler. Goes into the sightscreen.
Mitchell Santner to Shikhar Dhawan. Very full on this occasion, turned away behind square on the leg side for a single.
Mitchell Santner to Rohit Sharma. Shorter one outside off, pushed away off the back foot wide of cover. Single taken.
Mitchell Santner to Shikhar Dhawan. Flatter one on the pads, flicked away to deep square leg for a run. Sensible batting from Dhawan this.
Ish Sodhi to Shikhar Dhawan. Short of a length, cut away to deep point for a single. Keeps strike. 11 off Sodhi's first.
Ish Sodhi to Shikhar Dhawan. Hurled in quicker well outside off, driven hard to cover.
Ish Sodhi to Rohit Sharma. Flighted this time outside off, Rohit opens the face of the bat and runs it fine of short third man for a single.
Ish Sodhi to Rohit Sharma. Short outside off, cut away wide of point for a couple by RS.
Ish Sodhi to Rohit Sharma. SIX! Dragged down and punished! Rohit rocks back and pulls this one away over the deep backward square leg fence for a biggie. He also becomes the highest run-getter in T20Is with that shot, going past Martin Guptill.
Ish Sodhi to Shikhar Dhawan. Flatter one on the middle stump line, whipped away to deep mid-wicket by Dhawan and he gets off strike.
Ish Sodhi to bowl now.
Mitchell Santner to Shikhar Dhawan. Quicker one on the pads, another single to end a good 5-run over from Santner.
Mitchell Santner to Rohit Sharma. Worked away off the pads towards deep mid-wicket for a run by Rohit.
Mitchell Santner to Rohit Sharma. Loopy this time outside off, Rohit mistimes his attempted cut. The ball goes off the under part of the bat and to the off side. No run.
Mitchell Santner to Shikhar Dhawan. Flatter this time again at the pads of the lefty, worked away to deep mid-wicket for a single.
Mitchell Santner to Rohit Sharma. Flatter one on off stump, turned away towards deep mid-wicket for a single.
Mitchell Santner to Shikhar Dhawan. Fuller one on the pads, glanced towards the right of short fine leg for a single.
Mitchell Santner is now coming on.
Lockie Ferguson to Shikhar Dhawan. A length ball on the middle stump line, pushed back uppishly towards long on by Shikhar. Brings up the 50 for India at the end of the 6th over. Great going from the Blue brigade.
Lockie Ferguson to Shikhar Dhawan. Shorter length ball outside off, cut with good timing by Dhawan but straight to the point fielder.
Lockie Ferguson to Rohit Sharma. Slower ball! Rohit is almost done in there as he mistimes his attempted hit. The ball goes on a bounce to long on though. A single is taken.
Lockie Ferguson to Rohit Sharma. Wide! A short of a length ball but errs in his line. Sprays this way down the leg side. Signalled a wide there.
Lockie Ferguson to Rohit Sharma. FOUR! A fuller length ball outside off, pacy from Lockie but that does not bother Rohit. He calmly smashes it over the cover fielders and for a boundary.
Lockie Ferguson to Shikhar Dhawan. Slightly shorter this time outside off, tapped towards the right of point for a single.
Lockie Ferguson to Shikhar Dhawan. Length ball outside off, pushed off the back foot towards cover-point by Dhawan.
Lockie Ferguson is back on.
Tim Southee to Rohit Sharma. Slower one, on a shortish length close to off stump, Rohit delays his horizontal bat shot but still finds point. 9 from the over, a good comeback by Tim after going for 8 in the first 3 balls.
Tim Southee to Rohit Sharma. Good length ball angling into the batsman, Sharma punches it from the crease to mid on.
Tim Southee to Shikhar Dhawan. Gets behind the line of the delivery and pushes it softly towards mid off for a quick single.
Tim Southee to Shikhar Dhawan. FOUR! Pulled with utter disdain! As soon as Southee digs in a short ball around off, Dhawan is on top of the bounce in his stance. He then displays his power there by sending it to the deep mid-wicket fence in no time.
Tim Southee to Shikhar Dhawan. Fullish and on off, Dhawan plays a good-looking off drive but it has gone straight to the mid off fielder.
Tim Southee to Shikhar Dhawan. FOUR! Up and over mid on! Southee overpitches around middle, Dhawan goes the aerial route and easily clears the infield. Good start to the over for India. Both their openers are looking quite settled.
Tim Southee is back.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Shikhar Dhawan. Length ball on the pads, nudged towards square leg for a single and to keep the strike.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Rohit Sharma. Short this time again and it is pulled away by Sharma over mid-wicket. There is a fielder in the deep though and it is only one run.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Rohit Sharma. SIX! That is just the class of this man. A fuller length ball on the pads and it is just helped on its way by Rohit. The ball flies over the ropes in a canter. With this, Rohit Sharma now has scored 100 sixes in T20I cricket. Join an elite list with only Chris Gayle and Martin Guptill being the other ones on it.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Rohit Sharma. FOUR! This time the short length ball is pulled over mid on. Not entirely well-timed but the ball has enough on it to clear the fielder in the circle and go to the boundary on a couple of bounces.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Rohit Sharma. Ouch! That one has got him in the box. A length ball and at good pace, Rohit looked to make room to free his arms and pulls it, but the bowler follows him and gets the batsman. He looks okay to continue though.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Rohit Sharma. Some improvisation from Rohit there as he looks to sweep this slower ball from Scott wide of short fine leg but hits the ball straight to the fielder.
Lockie Ferguson to Shikhar Dhawan. Pushed away to point to end a good over for India. 11 runs off it.
Lockie Ferguson to Shikhar Dhawan. In the air... but safe. Pace and bounce from Lockie, Dhawan looks like he got hurried on by that ball and mistimes his pull high in the air. But luckily for him, he had got enough to make sure the ball is well away from mid on. 2 runs taken.
Rohit Sharma is wearing the jersey number 59 and not his usual 45. It belongs to Vijay Shankar. Not sure what's the real reason behind it. Rohit's last few scores in international cricket - 1, 2, 7. So far, no. 59 has brought good luck.
Lockie Ferguson to Shikhar Dhawan. Short of a length outside off, Dhawan rides the bounce and defends it onto the ground.
Lockie Ferguson to Rohit Sharma. Short and wide outside off, Rohit cuts this one hard but there is a good diving effort from the fielder at point. Makes a half-stop and a single can be taken.
Lockie Ferguson to Rohit Sharma. Pacy! 152 clicks fuller length ball outside off, Sharma drives this well to the right of extra cover for a couple.
Lockie Ferguson to Rohit Sharma. SIX! Welcome Lockie! Short of a length and Rohit is a compulsive puller. Dispatches this one over deep mid-wicket for a maximum.
Lockie Ferguson is into the attack now.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Shikhar Dhawan. Missed out there Dhawan. A length ball straying on the pads, Shikhar looks to glance it fine but misses the shot. The ball goes off his sides and to fine leg but no leg bye can be taken.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Rohit Sharma. Full length ball on the pads, flicked away to deep square leg for a single by Rohit.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Rohit Sharma. Too high! A length ball on middle, Rohit comes inside the line and looks to swing it away over deep backward square leg but misses his shot. Gets hit on the thigh pad. Not much of an appeal though.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Shikhar Dhawan. Short of a length outside off, patted on to the off side with soft hands for a single by SD.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Shikhar Dhawan. Length ball outside off, Dhawan drives this one slightly uppishly towards mid off where the fielder makes a half-stop only. The ball runs away and the batsmen can pick up two till it is retrieved. Kuggeleijn also had fallen down in his followthrough.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Shikhar Dhawan. Good start from Scott, an inswinging ball landing on off and Dhawan almost was done in by that. Looked to drive coming ahead but the inside part of the willow saves him in the end.
Scott Kuggeleijn to bowl from the other end.
Tim Southee to Shikhar Dhawan. Straighter in line this time and on the hips, Shikhar is off the mark as he nudges this towards square leg for a run.
Tim Southee to Rohit Sharma. Fuller length ball outside off, driven hard onto the pitch and towards long off for a single to bring Dhawan on strike for the first time.
Tim Southee to Rohit Sharma. Good ball. On a length and shaping away on top of off stump, Sharma defends from the crease.
Tim Southee to Rohit Sharma. Shoulders arms to this one outside off once more.
Tim Southee to Rohit Sharma. FOUR! Short and wide outside off, this time Rohit slashes at it and gets the ball wide of point. Third man cannot come around to stop it in time. India are up and away. Lockie in the deep is seen feeling his ankle a bit after that failed chase.
Tim Southee to Rohit Sharma. Length ball outside off, left alone by Rohit as the ball swings away.
We are back for the chase. Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan to open for India. Tim Southee with the brand new white ball.