NZ beat IND by 4 runs | New Zealand vs India, Highlights And Cricket Score 3rd T20I Match - Commentary

The bowling looked out-of-sorts for India. The only bowler to have a good outing was Kuldeep Yadav who went for just 26 off his 4 overs and picked up 2 wickets. The rest of the bowlers were taken to the cleaners. Special treatment went to Krunal Pandya who went for more than 50 runs in his quota. The score looks to be above par and it will take a special performance from the Indian batsmen to scale down. The Kiwi bowlers have a mountain of runs to defend and should feel comfortable. What will happen though? Who will be smiling at the end of the 2nd innings? Find out with us as the chase begins in a bit...

A mammoth score has been put up by the Kiwis. This will take some chasing down. Rohit Sharma won the toss and put the Kiwis in on a belter of a wicket. What followed was the Seifert-Munro show. Just like the first T20I, they got their team off to a brilliant start. The openers reached 80 before they were separated in the 8th over. That did not deter the Kiwis as the runs kept flowing. Munro smashed the bowlers to all parts but was also helped by the sloppy fielding of the Indians. He finally fell for 72 but the rest of the New Zealand batsmen continued the good work. Everyone who came in played small, important knocks. The total was propelled to a massive 212 thus.

Khaleel Ahmed to Ross Taylor. FOUR! No, he can't. Taylor smashes this one for a boundary and NEW ZEALAND FINISH WITH 212/4 on the board. A short of a length slower one outside off and it's pulled away wide of deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

Khaleel Ahmed to Daryl Mitchell. Full toss outside off, Mitchell fails to connect too well and mistimes this one on the bounce to long off. Good over this after the six off the first ball. Can Khaleel end it well?

Khaleel Ahmed to Ross Taylor. Shorter one on middle, slower this time. Pulled away to deep mid-wicket for a run and brings Mitchell on strike.

Khaleel Ahmed to Ross Taylor. Two in a row. The pace is up this time, around 135 clicks. Taylor comes down the track and looks to force it away through cover but fails to put bat on ball. It's past the stumps on the full.

Khaleel Ahmed to Ross Taylor. Slower ball on a fuller length this time, Taylor tries to smash it through cover but the ball goes off the outside edge. Goes towards Dhoni but just lands short. Dot ball.

Khaleel Ahmed to Ross Taylor. SIX! Powerfully struck! A short of a length ball sitting up to be hit, Ross sits back and pulls this one over the head of deep square leg. It goes a few rows back.

Khaleel to bowl the final over.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Daryl Mitchell. Slower ball to end the over. Mitchell is foxed as he looked to smash it over long on. Misses it and it is a dot ball.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Daryl Mitchell. FOUR! The 200 is up for the hosts! Courtesy a top edge. A shorter length ball outside off and Daryl throws the kitchen sink at that one. The ball takes the top edge, flies over the head of short fine leg. Was really high and the fielder tries to run back from short fine leg, another one from deep square leg tries to come around but the ball beats them both.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Ross Taylor. Fuller length ball on off, pushed away wide of long off for a single by Rosco.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Ross Taylor. Length ball outside off, pushed away to deep cover by Taylor as picks up a couple.

Ross Taylor walks in at number 6.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Colin de Grandhomme. OUT! Good death bowling. A nice fuller length ball wide of off stump and Grandhomme reaches out for that ball and looks to smash it over cover. The ball takes the outside edge and goes to Dhoni who does not make any mistake. The ball would have been a wide had he left that alone. A good result for India though, a wicket and a dot ball.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Daryl Mitchell. Short of a length outside off, pulled away wide of long on for a single by Daryl.

Hardik Pandya to Colin de Grandhomme. Good yorker length ball just outside leg. Colin comes inside the line and looks to run that one fine but the ball goes off the pads and Dhoni makes a good stop. Dot ball to end the 10-run over.

Hardik Pandya to Daryl Mitchell. Length ball outside off, punched hard wide of long off by Mitchell for a single. Good fielding in the deep does not allow for the second run.

Hardik Pandya to Colin de Grandhomme. Terrific effort in the deep by Shankar! Short delivery around off, de Grandhomme stands back to pull it across the line but fails to middle it properly. It flies towards deep mid-wicket where Shankar comes running in, puts in a dive but it probably brushes his fingers and falls behind. They've managed to run three.

Hardik Pandya to Daryl Mitchell. Fine delivery, a low full toss on off, dipping into the batsman, Mitchell pushes it back to the bowler who misfields and concedes a run.

Hardik Pandya to Daryl Mitchell. FOUR! What a shot that is from Mitchell! A leg stump half-volley, Daryl leans forward and across before flicking it handsomely to the deep mid-wicket fence.

Hardik Pandya to Colin de Grandhomme. Dropped! Really good effort from the Indian skipper. A length ball outside off and Grandhomme smashes it uppishly through the line. Rohit at extra cover is a little late to react, moves to the right and dives to take that one. The ball does not stick though and goes towards mid off for a single. Will Colin make the most of this chance? Hardik is feeling hard done by as it is the second catch gone down off his bowling.

Hardik Pandya to bowl the 18th over.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Daryl Mitchell. FOUR! Errs in execution this time and concedes a boundary. Full toss on middle, Mitchell smashes it straight over the bowler's head for a boundary. 15 from the over. New Zealand charging towards a total of 200-plus.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Colin de Grandhomme. That's the line and length we associate with Kumar. Keeping it fullish and in the line of the stumps, offering nothing to the batsman, Colin forces it down to long on for one.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Daryl Mitchell. Yorker around off, Mitchell digs it out towards wide long on for a single.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Colin de Grandhomme. A full toss on middle this time, de Grandhomme hits it across the line through mid-wicket for a run.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Colin de Grandhomme. FOUR! Poor line from Bhuvi. Brings third man up and bowls it short and wide outside off. Colin needs no second invitation to put it away through backward point.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Colin de Grandhomme. FOUR! Good start to the over for the Kiwis! Kumar eyes the yorker first up but ends up slipping a full toss outside off, de Grandhomme drills it through the gap between mid off and extra cover.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar is back to bowl at the death.

Krunal Pandya to Colin de Grandhomme. Fuller and quicker wide outside off, CdG drives it hard to covers. A single is taken. Krunal, the MOM in the previous game, has been taken to the cleaners today. 16 runs off this over as he ends with 4-0-54-0.

Krunal Pandya to Colin de Grandhomme. Wide! That seemed a harsh decision but it will stand. Pandya goes wide outside off, Colin does not play a shot, looking to leave it. The umpire feels its outside the tramline and hence, signals it a wide.

Krunal Pandya to Colin de Grandhomme. FOUR! This game is unfair for the bowlers. A good ball outside off and de Grandhomme reaches out to smash it, gets an outside edge and the ball flies over short third man for a boundary. Fifty up, for the bowler that is.

Krunal Pandya to Colin de Grandhomme. This time Colin reaches out and mistimes his shot towards the left of deep point. Two runs are taken.

Krunal Pandya to Colin de Grandhomme. Again wide outside off, this time it is inside the tramline. De Grandhomme misses his hit over the off side.

Krunal Pandya to Colin de Grandhomme. Wide! Bowled waywardly outside off. The umpire penalizes.

Krunal Pandya to Colin de Grandhomme. SIX! In the arc and out of the park. A flatter one but it lands as a half-volley on middle, Colin powers it over deep mid-wicket for a maximum. No, no, no says Dhoni from behind the wickets.

Krunal Pandya to Daryl Mitchell. Flatter one on middle, worked away deep on the leg side for a run.

Krunal Pandya is back on.

Khaleel Ahmed to Colin de Grandhomme. Brilliant last 3 balls from Khaleel to end a 11-run over. A length ball outside off as he comes back to over the wicket to de Grandhomme. Colin is beaten as he looked to push inside the line.

Khaleel Ahmed to Daryl Mitchell. Starts off with a bumper to Mitchell outside off, Daryl pulls it away to deep mid-wicket for a single and gets off the mark.

Daryl Mitchell is in next.

Khaleel Ahmed to Kane Williamson. OUT! Caught at short fine leg. Williamson has to go. A pacy short of a length ball from around the wicket by Khaleel, Kane comes inside the line and looks to pull it over fine leg who was in the circle. The ball comes onto him too quickly though and goes high in the air but not far enough. Kuldeep settles under it and takes a simple catch. New Zealand won't mind as the runs are what matter now and lots of big-hitting batsmen are left.

Khaleel Ahmed to Kane Williamson. FOUR! Master! Caresses this fuller one outside off with such great timing for a boundary through covers. Brilliant batting. 150 is up here for the hosts.

Khaleel Ahmed to Kane Williamson. Short of a length on top of middle, pulled away to deep square leg for a couple this time.

Khaleel Ahmed to Kane Williamson. FOUR! Powered away by Williamson. A length ball outside off and Kane is on his toes as he drives this ball wide of deep cover where Shankar makes a good effort but cannot stop the ball.

Khaleel Ahmed is back on.

Kuldeep Yadav to Kane Williamson. On the pads, flicked away to deep mid-wicket for a single by Kane. Kuldeep ends a superb spell with figures of 4-0-26-2.

Kuldeep Yadav to Colin de Grandhomme. Short outside off, punched to long off for a single.

Kuldeep Yadav to Colin de Grandhomme. First ball and Grandhomme goes for a smash over long off. The ball goes off his outside edge and flies wide of backward point uppishly. 2 runs taken. The intent is clear from de Grandhomme.

Kuldeep Yadav to Kane Williamson. Worked away to deep mid-wicket for a single by Williamson.

Colin de Grandhomme in next in.

Kuldeep Yadav to Colin Munro. OUT! Smart stuff from Kuldeep! Munro departs for 72. Relief for Khaleel. A flighted ball well outside off, Munro wants to hit it for a maximum and goes chasing after that ball. Tries it fetch it from wide outside off but it takes the top edge and goes to Hardik, who comes running in from long on. Takes a good catch and sends back the danger man. Finally, a second wicket for the bowling team. Colin will be disappointed. There was a century for the taking. Anyway, a good reply by him to the selectors who have dropped him from the ODI squad.

Kuldeep Yadav to Colin Munro. Tossed up delivery outside off, turning away, Munro leaves it thinking it to be a wide. Not given.

Hardik Pandya to Colin Munro. Short of a length on top of middle, Munro rocks back and flat-bats it back to long off for a single. An over which should have got them the wicket of the set batsman, Munro, has ended up going for 17 runs.

Hardik Pandya to Colin Munro. Four leg byes! A sharp short ball hurrying up the batsman, Munro tries pulling but it takes his arms and flies just over a leaping short third man fielder for a boundary.

Hardik Pandya to Colin Munro. SIX! Boom! That's a powerful hit. This one is right in the zone for Munro, he flexes his arms and dismisses it over long on for a maximum. He has three figures in his mind at the moment.

Hardik Pandya to Colin Munro. FOUR! Misfield this time by Shankar! It's spreading. First a dropped catch and now this. Momentum in T20 is so crucial. New Zealand had it before losing Seifert, then a wicket meant India stormed back but it's again slipping away from the Men in Blue. A low full toss on middle, Munro whips it across the line through mid-wicket and it races away. Shankar in the deep moves across to his right, puts in a dive but fails to stop it cleanly.

Hardik Pandya to Kane Williamson. Good length delivery around off, Williamson punches it off his back foot through cover-point for a run.

Hardik Pandya to Colin Munro. DROPPED! That is a sitter! Khaleel Ahmed, the man in the firing line. A slower ball on middle and leg, Munro looks to turn it away on the leg side. The ball goes off the top edge and high in the air towards short fine leg. Khaleel Ahmed has lots of time to settle under it and take it. He settles but lets it go through. Huge let-off for the batsman, that too of Munro's caliber. He could hurt the Indians here.

Change in bowling. Rohit Sharma brings back Hardik Pandya.

Kuldeep Yadav to Kane Williamson. Peach! Williamson does not seem to be reading the variations here. Another wrong 'un! The ball is on a good length and goes the other way and Williamson is beaten as he plays inside the line of the ball.

Kuldeep Yadav to Kane Williamson. FOUR! That has just kept running away from the fielder. A flatter one outside off, going the other way, Williamson gets a thick outside edge as he looked to drive off the back foot. The ball runs away from Pant at short third man as he was chasing it.

Kuldeep Yadav to Colin Munro. A slider this time on off stump line, Munro was playing for the turn as he looked to drive. The ball comes off the inside edge and goes towards the leg side for a run.

Kuldeep Yadav to Kane Williamson. Lots of air on this one on middle, Kane drives it to cover-point for another single.

Kuldeep Yadav to Colin Munro. Slower outside off and turning away from the lefty, Munro reaches out and cuts it away to deep point for a run.

Kuldeep Yadav to Kane Williamson. Full and flighted on middle, Williamson eases it down to long on for a run.

Krunal Pandya to Colin Munro. FOUR! Smashed over cover. Munro is seriously timing them really well here. A full and flatter one outside off, it is just hit over the infield for a boundary with ease.

Krunal Pandya to Kane Williamson. Punched off the back foot for a single towards cover. Pant makes a good stop there.

Krunal Pandya to Colin Munro. Another slog from the southpaw but this time the ball goes off the inside half and to deep square leg all along the skirting. Only a run.

Krunal Pandya to Kane Williamson. Flatter one on middle, pushed along the ground to long on for a single by Williamson.

Krunal Pandya to Colin Munro. Full and quick outside off, driven hard to long off for a single.

Krunal Pandya to Colin Munro. SIX! Smacked over deep mid-wicket. A flatter one outside off and Munro reaches out and slogs it over the fence. Fifty for him as well, his 9th in T20Is. The 100 is up for the Kiwis too.

Kuldeep Yadav to Kane Williamson. NOT OUT! Quick work from Dhoni but this time he was not too confident in appeal as he knew maybe. Still they took no chance and went upstairs. Yadav bowled it slower through the air and landed it full around off. Williamson lunged to defend but it spun away to beat the outside edge. Dhoni did break the stumps but Kane appeared in. Although they referred it upstairs, only to find Williamson's feet firmly inside the crease.

Another stumping appeal... Dhoni was not too interested this time but the square leg umpire is persuaded by Rohit to go upstairs. Williamson is not too worried though.

Kuldeep Yadav to Colin Munro. Quietly works it in the gap at mid-wicket and picks up a run.

Kuldeep Yadav to Colin Munro. SIX! Shot! Yadav slows this one up in the air and delivers it full around off. Turning back in and Munro smokes it over square leg after going down on one knee. It's with the spin and goes all the way.

Kuldeep Yadav to Kane Williamson. Tickles it off his pads through backward square leg and takes a run.

Kuldeep Yadav to Kane Williamson. Wow, foxes one of the best batsmen around with his googly! Williamson is back on his heels, probably expecting it to spin back into him. Ends up doing nothing as it curls away to beat his hanging bat.

Kuldeep Yadav to Colin Munro. A touch short and around off, turning in, Munro goes back and punches it to sweeper cover for a run.

Krunal Pandya to Kane Williamson. Yes, he does. A flatter and quicker one on middle, Williamson defends it away towards point for a dot ball. Good comeback from Krunal in this over as he concedes just 4 after going for 20 in his first one.

Krunal Pandya to Colin Munro. Cut away to deep cover for a single. Tidy over so far, can he end it well?

Krunal Pandya to Colin Munro. Pushes this one wide outside off, Munro hits it straight towards Rohit at cover.

Krunal Pandya to Kane Williamson. Quicker again outside off on a short length, pushed off the back foot towards long off for a single by KW.

Krunal Pandya to Colin Munro. Hurls this one short and wide outside off, punched away to deep cover for a single.

Krunal Pandya to Kane Williamson. Flatter one on middle, worked away to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Krunal is back on.

Kuldeep Yadav to Kane Williamson. Flighted outside off, pushed down to long off all along the ground for a single. Successful over for India.

Kuldeep Yadav to Kane Williamson. A slower one on middle, Kane comes ahead and paddles it fine on the leg side for a couple of runs. Off the mark straightaway.

Kane Williamson is in at number 3.

Kuldeep Yadav to Tim Seifert. OUT! That was a matter of centimeters. MS Dhoni, you genius. Only he can do this. What reflexes! Kuldeep delivers it full and outside off, Seifert stretches forward to play at it but it spins away to beat the bat. Dhoni collects the ball and is lightning quick in taking the bails off. He appeals after that and then goes to celebrate with his players. The square leg umpire refers it upstairs. It looks like a close matter. The third umpire watches a few angles and then rules it in favour of the fielding team. Those swift hands of MSD! Legendary. The Indians have finally broken the 80-run stand.

Stumping appeal! MS Dhoni is very sure. India are celebrating. MS is sure means it has to be a wicket. Let's see the replays...

Kuldeep Yadav to Tim Seifert. Hit on the leg this time and there is a slight appeal. A flighted ball on middle, Tim goes for the reverse sweep but it takes too long to arrive. There is a loud appeal and then some confusion as to whether to take the review or not. Rohit decides not to go upstairs as no one is confident enough. Was a good decision in hindsight as the replays roll on and then show us that the ball had actually gone off the glove. Would have been a wasted review had India gone for it.

Kuldeep Yadav to Colin Munro. Bowls the slider next up, Munro is late on it but manages to push it away towards square leg for a single in the end.

Kuldeep Yadav to Colin Munro. Starts off with a peach! A good flatter one outside off and sharp turn. Munro looked to push it through the covers but is beaten.

Kuldeep Yadav to bowl now.

Hardik Pandya to Colin Munro. Slower ball, short of a length on middle. Munro swivels and pulls it away to the right of fine leg for a single. Another good over for the Kiwis, 13 off it in the end.

Hardik Pandya to Tim Seifert. A length ball outside off, Seifert comes ahead and turns it away wide of long on. Karthik in the deep comes forward and keeps it down to only a run though.

Hardik Pandya to Tim Seifert. Short of a length outside off and pacy this time, Tim rocks back and taps it towards point.

Hardik Pandya to Tim Seifert. SIX! What timing! An off-pace length ball well outside off and Seifert reaches out to the ball and lifts it way back over long off for another maximum.

Hardik Pandya to Colin Munro. Slower one, a touch short and on middle, Munro gently turns it in the gap at mid-wicket for a single.

Hardik Pandya to Colin Munro. FOUR! The runs are flowing here. A length ball outside off and driven wide of mid off where Kuldeep makes a diving effort but can't stop the ball.

Krunal Pandya to Tim Seifert. Short outside off, cut away hard through point. Pant moves to his right and makes a half-stop. Two runs taken. 20 off the over and NZ end the Powerplay at 66/0.

Krunal Pandya to Tim Seifert. SIX! Over the short boundary at fine leg. A fuller length ball on middle, Seifert comes inside the line, takes it on the full and lifts it over the ropes at fine leg for a maximum. This is turning into a very expensive over.

Krunal Pandya to Colin Munro. Hurled quicker on a short length outside off, cut away hard through point but there is protection in the deep. Only a single taken.

Pressure on the bowler. Rohit Sharma is having a chat with him. Just trying to calm down Krunal.

Krunal Pandya to Colin Munro. FOUR! Wonderfully played! Krunal goes flat this time. Darts it full and outside off, Munro anticipated that line, makes room by hopping back inside the crease and then strokes it over extra cover.

Krunal Pandya to Colin Munro. SIX! Dispatched! Krunal serves one right in the slot for the batsman. It's full and on middle, Munro kneels down and goes with the spin. Swings his big arms and nails his slog sweep over mid-wicket for a biggie. The 50 comes up for the hosts.

Krunal Pandya to Tim Seifert. Starts with a flatter ball around leg, Tim walks down and then works it behind square leg. They cross for a hesitant run. A better throw to the bowler would have made things interesting.

Krunal Pandya is introduced into the attack.

Hardik Pandya to Colin Munro. Good bouncer to end the over! Short on the leg stump line and aimed at the head, Colin does well to duck and let that one go. 8 runs off Hardik's first.

Hardik Pandya to Colin Munro. That missed leg stump by a whisker! A yorker on off and Munro looked to drive it back down the ground. Gets a thin inside edge that just goes past the leg stump and to the keeper.

Hardik Pandya to Colin Munro. Lots of work in the field for Shankar today as he is again called in to move to his right and make a stop. Cannot prevent a second though. A full toss on the pads was flicked away wide of deep mid-wicket on this ball by Munro.

Hardik Pandya to Colin Munro. FOUR! In the air... but also in the gap. A length ball on the hips. There was not enough room but Munro still goes through with the short arm jab. The ball goes in the air but is well away from Shankar at deep mid-wicket. Goes into the fence on a single bounce. The fielder also goes and bangs into the advertising boards not being able to control his momentum.

Hardik Pandya to Tim Seifert. Short of a length ball jagging into the right-hander. He uncomfortably fends it off towards square leg for a run.

Hardik Pandya to Colin Munro. Slower ball on the pads to start, Munro is early into his defensive push and the ball lobs in the vacant leg side area for a single.

Hardik Pandya is now into the attack.

Khaleel Ahmed to Tim Seifert. FOUR! Slower one again travels to the fence. Back of a length ball on middle at 118 kph, Seifert stays back and eases his pull behind square leg for a boundary. 16 from the over, this has been a Wellington-kind of a start for the Kiwis.

Khaleel Ahmed to Colin Munro. Munro works a length ball towards wide long on and collects a run. Wants the second run but is sent back.

Khaleel Ahmed to Tim Seifert. Tickles it off his pads to the on side and takes a run.

Khaleel Ahmed to Tim Seifert. SIX! Great connection this time. Seifert premeditates his movement inside the crease. Takes it on the full and spoons it all the way over fine leg for a biggie.

Khaleel Ahmed to Tim Seifert. Dropped! Goodness me, that would have been some catch by Vijay Shankar. Wow, what an effort! Khaleel lands it on a length and in the line of the stumps, Seifert advances down for the lofted shot over covers but ends up slicing it over point. Shankar runs back from inside the ring, keeps his eyes on the ball and then tries to catch it with a dive. But he fails to hold on and palms it behind for a boundary. Full marks for this type of fielding.

Khaleel Ahmed to Tim Seifert. Starts with a slower bouncer around off, Seifert has not picked it and is early into his attempted pull shot. It goes off his arms to short third man. Dot ball.

A long on in place.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Tim Seifert. Kumar is human after all, goes for the sixth perfect yorker but this ball is just about 5-6 inches short of the ideal one. Seifert drives through mid on for a single. He retains strike at the end of a 3-run over.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Tim Seifert. Pinpoint again from Kumar! Any bat will be broken if the ball continuously hits it at the bottom with such yorkers. All Tim can do is jam the ball out towards the off side. A really good over from Bhuvi so far.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Tim Seifert. That is the fourth yorker off four legal deliveries, kept out by Seifert towards point.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Colin Munro. Another yorker, just a few inches short of the ideal length on this occasion and Colin can push this one down to long off for a single.

Now it is time for the batsman to cause a pause. Colin Munro wants to change his bat mid-way. Not sure whether something broke or he just wanted a different one.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Colin Munro. Goes really full once more aimed at the toes of Munro, the batsman gets the bat down and pushes it towards mid on but no run is available.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Colin Munro. Wide! Bumper from Kumar, it is too high over the head of the batsman.

A false start... looks like something went in the bowler's eye. Kumar is returning to his mark.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Colin Munro. Good yorker from Bhuvneshwar. Spot on line and length. Munro does really well to get his bat down and keep the ball out.

Khaleel Ahmed to Colin Munro. Increases the speed and bowls the last ball really full to the southpaw, Munro drives it to the left of mid on and keeps strike for the next over by taking a single.

Khaleel Ahmed to Tim Seifert. Another cutter follows, this time on the leg stump line. It is carefully patted on towards square leg for a run.

Khaleel Ahmed to Tim Seifert. FOUR! Slower ball and read out of the bowler's hand by the batsman. On a good length outside off, sits up to be hit and Seifert makes good enough contact for the ball to go over the head of covers and all the way to the fence.

Khaleel Ahmed to Tim Seifert. Fuller outside off, Tim is a little late on the drive and the ball goes very tamely towards cover.

Khaleel Ahmed to Colin Munro. Khaleel goes for the yorker first up to the southpaw, Munro takes it on the full, pushes it to the right of mid on and he goes to the other end.

Khaleel Ahmed to Tim Seifert. Starts off with a length ball on off, it's pushed with soft hands towards mid on by Seifert and he picks up a quick run.

Khaleel Ahmed to operate from the other end.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Tim Seifert. Length ball on the middle stump line, flicked away to deep mid-wicket for a single by Tim as he keeps strike. 11 off the over, a good start for the Kiwis.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Tim Seifert. Good delivery just outside off and coming in slightly. Seifert watchfully pushes it to mid on.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Colin Munro. Good batting! A length ball on leg stump line this time and it is safely pushed away to the leg side for an easy single by the lefty.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Colin Munro. SIX! Munro has made his intentions clear in the very first ball. A short of a length ball on middle, Colin comes down the track and flat-bats this one over long on for a biggie.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Tim Seifert. Another positive-looking front foot shot wide of mid off for a single this time to a length ball outside off.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Tim Seifert. Fuller one on middle, the Black Caps are off the mark straightaway as Seifert works this away through mid-wicket for a couple.

The players and the officials have taken their position on the field. Tim Seifert and Colin Munro are the openers for the hosts and Bhuvneshwar Kumar is ready with the new ball for India. All to play for, let's go...

Right now the national anthems are going on. It's really a great atmosphere here. Jam-packed stadium for this crunch game. We can't wait for this contest to begin.

Kane Williamson says that he would have wanted to bowl first as well but the coin flip is not under his control and now they will have to come put runs on the board. Reckons that the pitch condition will have to be assessed once they come out to the middle as it is a fresh one that is being used today. Feels that one important thing that his team must do is to apply themselves and bat with confidence. As for the team changes, he informs us that Blair Tickner makes his debut, replacing Lockie Ferguson (rested).

Rohit Sharma begins by reminding us that they did not have a good game the last time that they played here (4th ODI) but also reckons that they really did well in the previous T20I and are pretty confident coming into this one. About why he is not batting first and putting runs on the board in a decider game, he feels that the team combination rather suits that they bat second. On whether his team is missing Virat Kohli, he says that it has been a long tour and everyone requires rest but the members present here are looking forward to do the job. In terms of team changes, he tells us that India have a solitary change in the form of Kuldeep Yadav who walks into the side in the place of Yuzvendra Chahal.

TOSS - Heads is the call from Rohit Sharma. He has won the coin flip and decides that India will bowl first.

How is the surface in Hamilton? Simon Doull doing the ground report says that the pitch has a great covering of grass and it will aid the pace bowlers and won't help the spinners much. Feels the batsmen will have fun here. Adds that the dimension of the ground once again isn't too big and he is expecting a lot of runs. Advises the bowlers to not bowl full here as it will be easy to drive and suggests to land it a touch short to tuck the batsmen.

New Zealand landed a punch in Wellington, India returned it in Auckland and now it's all about the knockout punch. Hello and welcome everyone for the last T20I between the Black Caps and the Men in Blue at Seddon Park, Hamilton. The visitors will be eyeing yet another series win Down Under to cap off their tour on a high whereas the Kiwis would like to replicate their Wellington performance and keep India win-less in a T20I series against them at home. Plenty on the line. Be with us for all the updates...