India clinched the three-match series 1-0 against New Zealand after the third T20I between the two teams ended in a tie via the Duckworth-Lewis method following rain interruption at McClean Park, here on Tuesday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Hardik Pandya-led India had won the second T20I by 65 runs against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui after the first game between the two sides at Wellington was washed out without a ball bowled.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
After New Zealand won the toss and opted to bat first, Indian pacers Mohammed Siraj (4\/17) and Arshdeep Singh (4\/37) produced sensational bowling performances and scalped four wickets each to bowl out Black Caps for 160 despite fighting half-centuries by Devon Conway and Glenn Phillips<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Black Caps were in a comfortable position with Conway (59 off 49) and Phillips (54 off 33) going strong but as soon as that partnership was broken it was a procession as both Siraj and Arshdeep had excellent outings with the ball, especially at death overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Chasing a par total, India lost the wickets of Ishan Kishan (10) in the second over after he pulled an Adam Milne delivery and was caught at deep midwicket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Stand-in captain Tim Southee then added to India's woes by removing Rishabh Pant (11) and Shreyas Iyer (0) off successive balls. Pant started with back-to-back boundaries of the Southee but eventually miscued an uppercut to the third man while Shreyas bagged a golden duck.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Suryakumar Yadav, who is in red-hot form, mistimed his chip shot, which went straight to Glenn Phillips at deep mid-wicket, leaving India at 60\/4 in 6.3 overs. The likes of Hardik Pandya (30 not out off 18) and Deepak Hooda (9 not out off 9) took India to 75\/4 in 9 overs when rain stopped play.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
According to DLS, 76 would have been the winning score for India after 9 overs but they were 75, which was the par score. With incessant rain lashing McLean Park, the match couldn't be resumed and eventually, it ended in a tie.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Earlier, it was Arshdeep, who provided India with an early breakthrough, packing Finn Allen for 3 in the second over of the innings. Conway and Mark Chapman, who came in as Kane Williamson's replacement, steadied things before Siraj removed Chapman for 12, leaving 44-2 after 5.2 overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
From there on, Conway and Phillips took their time and rebuilt the New Zealand innings. Conway looked in fine touch and crafted a fine innings, bringing up his half-century in 39 balls while Phillips wasn't at his best but he belted some much-needed boundaries and massive sixes to give the hosts' innings a push.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With their respective fifties, Conway and Phillips stitched a crucial partnership of 86 runs for the third wicket. However, once Siraj ended the stand by removing Phillips in the 16th over, the Kiwis lost the wickets in quick succession.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Both Siraj and Arshdeep fired in tandem to lead India's comeback as New Zealand didn't get the momentum and suffered a collapse in the last few overs. From a well-placed at 130\/2 in 15.4 overs, Kiwis managed to add only 30 runs and lost 8 wickets in the last 24 balls to get bowled out for 160 in 19.4 overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Brief scores: New Zealand 160 all-out in 19.4 overs (Devon Conway 59, Glenn Phillips 54; Mohammed Siraj 4\/17, Arshdeep Singh 4\/37) vs India 75-4 in 9 Overs (Hardik Pandya 30 not out, Tim Southee 2\/27)<\/p>\r\n\r\n