NZ vs IND Ball by Ball Commentary

OUT! CLEANED HIM UP! Softened up with the short ball before the fuller one did the damage. Matt Henry finishes with career-best figures of 6/27 as New Zealand hand India a crushing 244-run defeat. Cross-seam ball, fuller in length, bowled at 127.3 kph, in line with the off stump, from around the stump. Brar hangs low and has a tentative prod at the ball. He plays down the wrong line and the ball sneaks past the outside edge to crash into the off stump.

That will hurt! Henry digs it in short and angles it into the left-hander. Brar looks to fend it away but takes his eyes off the ball, and one hand also comes off the bat handle. The ball pings Brar on the right shoulder but he does not show any grimace.

Outside off, on a length. Gurnoor pokes away from his body and is beaten past the outside edge.

Keeps it around the off pole, on a good length. Fisher plays for the ball that angles into him but this straightens a bit to go past the outside edge.

Wide! A bumper by Henry but this sails over the batter's head. Brar ducks under it.

How did that miss the stumps? Matthew Fisher can't believe it and his hands on his head. Fisher attacks the stumps with a good-length ball. Singh premeditates as he walks across to the off side and has a swipe across the line. The ball bounces a bit more to go over the sticks.

Wide! Following the batter with a back-of-a-length delivery. Arshdeep has a swing at it but misses. Tim Seifert flings himself to his right and gathers it superbly.

After pushing the batter back with the short ball, Fisher comes up with a yorker, but it is not at the stumps, landing well outside the line of the leg stump. Arshdeep backs away to jam it down but the ball sneaks under the blade.

Another ball dug into the deck, on middle. Arshdeep backs away and attempts to drag the pull. Gets a bottom edge as it trickles behind towards the keeper.

Going away with the angle, on a short of a length. Gurnoor guides it from the crease to the right of backward point for a single.

Wide! A bit fuller and down leg. Brar looks to pick it up off the pads but misses.

Hits the bat hard, on off. Brar is hurried and gets into a bit of a tangle as he dabs it down.

At 141 kph, on a hard length at the ribs. Brar leans inside the line and fends it off whilst taking the bottom hand off the bat handle. Brar had got right in Tim Seifert's face while celebrating his wicket earlier in the day, and the Kiwi opener is now giving it back. Seifert can be heard saying, No talk now!

Bashes the hard length, on off. Brar rises up on his toes and glides it down to deep third for a single.

Hits the back of a length, on off. Brar rides the bounce and drops it down on the off side.

Switches to over the wicket and this is pushed across the off stump, on a back of a length. Gurnoor looks to cover the line to defend, but the ball jags away to go past the blade.

Wide! Dug in way too short, over middle. Brar leaves it alone as the ball sails over his head.

Sticks to the short ball, on middle. Brar gets his hands high to fend it down. It drops off the inner half well away from the reach of Will Young at short leg to his left.

Bends his back and digs it in short, it flies past the right shoulder as Brar ducks inside the line.

Into the wicket, nibbling away, on off. Brar has a tentative push at the ball and is beaten past the outside edge.

OUT! TAKEN! Fisher has his third wicket as he ends Naman's little cameo. Hammered in hard at length, pitching outside off. Dhir goes for the big swing across the line but the ball gets big on him and he can only get it off the top half, sending it high into the sky over mid off. Santner runs to his left from mid off, adjusts well and takes the catch. India are 83/9, and New Zealand need just 1 wicket to win.

High up in the night sky, and lands safely! A short ball, outside off. Dhir swings hard to pull, but gets a top edge that hangs up in the air for ages towards deep mid-wicket. Jamieson gives chase, back-tracking under it from mid on, but the ball lands well clear and plugs into the outfield. A couple of runs are picked up.

Smell that leather, mate! Short and angled into the off stump. Naman tries to ride the bounce, looking to steer it through third man, but the ball keeps rising up to beat the bat.

SIX! My word, he has picked it up so well! Short of a length by Fisher, on top of off, Naman Dhir stands tall and nails the pull shot, dumping it into the crowd behind deep mid-wicket.

SIX! Clean as a whistle! A juicy half-volley outside off, and Naman Dhir waits for it before loading up and launching it over wide long off for a massive six.

Back of a length, around off, Dhir heaves it off the inner half towards mid on.

OUT! KNOCKED HIM OVER! Henry has his five-for. Richly deserved. He has just been on the money tonight. Stays 'round the stumps and slams it on a length. Gets it to nip back in sharply and outfoxes Kuldeep. He prods half-forward to block but the ball rifles into him, cutting him in half, beating the inside edge and clipping the top of off. A beautiful sight for any fast bowler. India are 69/8 in the chase of 334 runs.

Banged short around off, Dhir shimmies down the track and controls the pull shot through square leg for a single.

Hits the deck hard, on off, Dhir covers the line and blocks it to covers.

Full and a bit slow at 126 kph, Dhir walks a couple of steps out of the crease and taps it carefully to the off side.

Length ball, outside off, Kuldeep stands up on his toes and steers it to deep point for one more.

Short of a length, on off, Naman jabs it through backward square leg for a single.

Back of a length, swinging away from outside off. Kuldeep dangles his bat loosely and gets beaten on the outside edge.

Bouncer on the stumps, Yadav ducks underneath it.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Too hot to handle for Nabi, and Fisher celebrates. A well-directed bouncer angled in around off stump, following the batter as Auqib backs away. Nabi takes his eyes off the ball as it climbs on him. He arches back to get out of the line but keeps his gloves up, and the ball brushes them on its way through to Tim Seifert behind the stumps. India are 66/7, and it's wrapping up quickly now.

Sharp short ball that nips in, over off, Nabi hangs back and dabs it to point.

Fuller delivery, at 143 kph, outside off, Nabi pats it to cover-point.

Hits the back of a length, on middle, Auqib tucks it off the back foot and it goes on the bounce to Michael Bracewell. He dives forward but his fingers get yorked.

Straigthens off the pitch, on a good length, Dhir walks a couple of steps forward and dabs it down to backward point.

Short of a length, 129 kph, on top of middle, Nabi swivels and pulls it firmly to deep square leg for a single.

FOUR! Gets it through the gap! A little too full, angled in at the pads, Nabi flicks it behind square leg and picks up his first boundary.

Skiddy delivery, on a good length, nipping back in, Nabi looks to pull but misses and is struck on his thigh pad.

Outside off on a length, knocked into covers.

OUT! DRAGGED ON! Henry can do no wrong tonight. He has his fourth, and with Kishan gone, one end is exposed now. Comes from around the stumps and lands it on a good length just outside off. It nips in sharply, flummoxing Kishan, who tries to play at it. Gets an inside edge and the ball rattles the timber. India are 61/6, needing 273 more.

Hits the back of a length, outside off. Naman rides the bounce and glides it to backward point.

Wide. Bouncer attempted by Fisher, but he gets the line wrong. It is down leg as Naman ducks under the ball.

Bowled on a back of a length, on middle. Dhir closes the bat face and nudges it to mid-wicket.

Mixes his length as this is fuller, on off. Dhir springs onto the front foot and angles the drive to the right of cover for a couple of runs.

At 144 kph, banged in short, over middle. Dhir ducks under it.

That took off. At 141 kph, on a hard length, on off. Dhir tries to drop his hands and sway away but the ball jags back in with a bit of extra bounce. It brushes the left glove before pinging the right forearm and dribbling away to point.

Delivers it on a length, around off. Dhir pushes it to cover from the crease.

Wide. Drifts down leg. Dhir walks inside the line but misses out on the glance.

A little too straight, on the pads. Kishan drops to one knee to play the paddle, but he can't get it past short fine leg.

At 91 kph, full and at the stumps. Dhir knocks it to long on and turns the strike over.

Fired in full, on middle. With a bit of a whippage, Kishan works it to long on for a single.

Flighted up, drawing the batter forward, on off. Ishan lunges and eases it back to the bowler.

Sliding on with the arm, on a good length, on off. Kishan steers it to point.

Dropped short, on off. Dhir taps it to long on for a run.

Sticks to the full length and brings the stumps into play. Dhir brings his wrists into play and works it wide of mid on, where Mitchell Santner makes a tumbling stop to his right. Naman is off the mark with a single.

Cranks it up at 144 kph, around off. Naman plays a punchy drive to mid off.

Pushes the length up, attacking the front pad. Dhir stays balanced, brings his bat out in front and whips it to mid on.

Into the deck, on middle. Dhir is solid in defence.

Half a shout for LBW. Matthew Fisher thinks it is going down leg and bails out of the appeal. Nip-backer off a good length, on middle. Dhir plays down the wrong line due to the seam movement and gets hit high on the thigh pad.

OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Wonderful bowling from Matthew Fisher. Just too good for Axar Patel. An effort ball by Fisher as he hits the deck hard, on middle. Axar waits back to defend the line of the ball. It nips away off the seam to open up the left-hander completely. It catches the outside edge and flies straight into the waiting hands of Finn Allen at slip, who takes the catch at waist height. India are now 53/5.

Floated up, on off. Axar gets forward and powers the drive to the right of long off for a single.

This is slowed down, and the length is pulled back, on off. Axar is not to the pitch of the ball as he checks his drive to cover.

Pushed through on the pads. Axar is rooted to the crease. He is beaten on the flick and gets hit on the front pad.

Tossed up, full and on middle. Kishan hangs low and eases it to long on for another single.

Sliding onto the pads. Axar clips this full ball to deep square leg for a single.

A bit of turn first up for Bracewell. Starts with a flighted delivery from around the wicket, on a length, on middle. Axar defends it off.

Rapped on the pads! Not given by the umpire. Mitchell Santner checks with his teammates whether there was an inside edge. It may have also pitched outside leg, but Santner is happy to take the review. Bowled on a back of a length, on middle. Kishan is up on his toes as he looks to defend by keeping the bat close to the front pad. The replays indicate that there is an inside edge onto the pads and the UltraEdge confirms the same. New Zealand burn a review.

Continues to be around the off stump, on a short of a length. Kishan lets the ball come on and taps the ball on its head, dabbing it to the left of deep third for a couple of runs. India's 50 comes up.

Skidding through at 139 kph, on a back of a length. Kishan hops across the stumps and defends it out.

On the shorter side, on off. Kishan chops it down from the crease to cover.

Fuller and across the off stump. Axar drives it a bit uppishly but between cover and mid off for a single.

FOUR! Third boundary in the last 6 balls for India. Not all that short, but Axar gets the width to work with. He punches it into the turf, and it flies past the outstretched left hand of Nick Kelly, who leapt acrobatically to his left.

FOUR! Put away. Clarke loses his radar again as this is short and wide on off. Kishan climbs all over it as he spanks it past backward point. Nick Kelly covers good ground to his right in the deep and dives, but in vain. 10 runs off the over. At the end of 15 overs, India are 43/4, needing 291 runs from 210 balls.

Very full at the sticks. Kishan brings his wrists into play and whips it to mid on.

Delivers it on a good length, slanting back in at the off stump. Kishan leans across to block it off.

Fractionally short, outside off. Axar gets on top of the bounce and punches it firmly through covers. There is protection in the deep this time and the fielder gets around to his left to mop it up. Just a single.

FOUR! Through the gap. Clarke errs in both line and length. Short and wide on off, there to be put away. Axar frees his arms and thumps it into the ground before the ball races through the vacant point region.

From around the wicket, bowled into the deck with the keeper up to the stumps. Kishan is rushed on the pull but manages to get it to the left of deep square leg for a run.

A bumper at 142 kph, sailing over the right shoulder. Axar takes his eyes off the ball as he ducks. He leaves his bat hanging like a periscope, but the ball passes harmlessly.

That has zipped through! At 141 kph, on a nagging length, on middle. Axar hangs back to defend but is beaten for pace as the ball goes past the inside edge.

A hint of an inward shape, full and on middle. Kishan gets forward for the drive but shanks it off the inner half to the left of mid on. They cross.

Overpitched on off. Kishan gets his hands through the line and drives well but it goes straight to mid off.

Nibbling away off the seam, on a good length. Kishan is squared up on the back foot as he steers it to backward point.

Angled across the left-hander, on a length. Axar pats it without much foot movement. It goes through the gap between cover and mid off for a single.

Clarke dishes out the bumper, angled in at the batter. Axar gets his hands high and pivots for the hook. He keeps it down and plays it towards deep fine leg for a single.

A little bit of width offered, on a good length. Axar punches it on the rise, but Will Young at cover-point is quick to his left and slides to mop it up.

Outside off, Axar goes for the cut but the ball is not short enough for the shot. Chops it down to backward point.

Goes wide on the crease and hurls it on a back of a length, on off. Axar stays beside the line and with a slightly open bat face, this is sliced to cover-point.

Bowled on a good length, angled in at the pads. Axar nurdles it between square leg and deep fine leg for a couple of runs.

This does not rise much, short and wide on off, flirting with the tramline. Axar flashes but the ball sneaks under the blade.

Bangs it in short but the line is a little too straight, around leg. Kishan ducks to let the ball go through to the keeper.

Delivers it on a length at 133 kph, on off. Kishan gets on the front foot and stabs it down right under his eyes.

This is dug in short but this does not rise much and it goes away from the left-hander. Kishan drops his hands and sways away.

Attacks the sticks with a full ball. Ishan plants his front foot across and plays a wrisy drive around his front pad towards mid on.

Goes full, not much movement through the air, around off. Kishan lunges and drives it along the ground to mid off.

Pushed across the off stump, on a good length. Kishan stays back and angles it to backward point.

This is fuller in length, in the channel, inviting the drive. Axar is happy to let it go.

Fractionally short, on off. Patel gets on top of the bounce and punches it square but can't get it past cover-point.

Hurls it on a good length, on off and middle. Axar stays beside the line and dabs it to point.

Jagging back in off the surface. Kishan hops back to a full ball and tries to cover the line. It catches the inside edge and goes wide of mid-wicket. Axar Patel hurries to the other end and gets home before the throw arrives.

A bit fuller than the previous ball and closer to the off stump as well. Patel extends his hands and knocks it to the left of Mitchell Santner at mid off for a single.

Bowls it on a length, outside off. Patel does not move his feet at all and reaches out for the drive. He mishits it to the right of the bowler.

Beaten! Jamieson switches to around the stumps and bangs the length in hard, angling it down the leg side. Using his height, he extracts extra bounce as Ishan Kishan gets inside the line to pull, only for the ball to keep climbing and sail over his angled bat. There's a bit of an appeal for caught behind by Seifert, but it's turned down by the umpire. No interest from Jamieson, though. India end their Powerplay on 26/4.

Nice and full, outside off, Ishan lunges across to defend it to short cover.

Landing it outside leg and angling across, Ishan presses back and punches it to covers.

FOUR! Gloriously struck! In-between length, outside off, Ishan Kishan gets the width he desires, hops off and punches it behind square on the off side, finding the gap through the backward point region for a boundary.

Back of a length, deviating in with bounce, Ishan shoulders arms as the ball flies over the off stump.

Beats the outside edge! Kyle angles it across the left-hander, full and just outside off. Ishan Kishan is drawn onto the front foot to defend, but the ball keeps moving away, nibbling past the outside edge.

Short from around the stump. Lands it outside off and Axar leaves it alone.

FOUR! Terrific shot! Henry keeps hammering the short length outside off, but Axar rises onto his toes, rides the bounce and carves a crisp square cut along the ground through the gap between backward point and cover-point for four.

Short on off and it rears up a bit. Axar rides the bounce and taps it gently towards point.

Half-tracker outside off, Ishan steers it between backward point and cover-point for a quick single.

FOUR! No half measures on that one! Henry overpitches and pays the price. It is outside off and Kishan hits it through the line, leaves nothing in the tank and thumps it over mid off for a boundary. One bounce and into the fence.

Nipping in off the seam, on a good length, Ishan Kishan gets a bit across on the crease and tucks it to the mid-wicket fielder.

Maiden over! Short of a length, around off, Patel waits for it to arrive and fends it to the point region.

Three-quarter length, across off, Axar Patel tries to drive it through covers, but gets a thick inside edge and the ball squirts to mid-wicket.

Angling away from the left-hander, on a hard length. Patel rocks back and taps it to cover.

Banged in short at the armpits, Patel rides the bounce and drops it beside the pitch on the leg side.

A touch fuller than the previous ball, Axar watchfully knocks it back to the bowler.

BEATEN! Jamieson extracts more bounce off a good length, on top of off, nipping in. Axar Patel dangles his bat loosely away from his body and is beaten all ends up on the inside edge.

Slams it on a length, on off, Ishan rocks back by covering the stumps and bunts it to the off side.

FOUR! That's been punished! Much fuller and outside off, Ishan Kishan advances down the track, gets a good piece of wood on that and smashes it to the left of mid off for a boundary.

Nagging length, on leg, Kishan tucks it to short mid-wicket.

Moving away a bit, on the fuller side, on off. Kishan is caught in his crease but manages to stab it down on the off side.

Out comes the short ball, across off at 132 kph. Kishan thinks about going for a pull but then drops his hands and ducks under it.

Hits the top of the off stump, nibbling away. Kishan hangs back and tucks it to mid-wicket.

Short of a length, pitching on middle and leg. Axar stays put and tries to work it across, but gets late to bring his bat down and wears it on the thigh pad.

A bit full and outside the off stump. Axar drives it to pierce the gap at cover, but the fielder makes a diving stop to his left.

DROPPED! Kelly has shelled an easy chance here. On a back of a length and angled across from the leg-stump line. Axar is rushed by the bounce and finds himself in an awkward position. He tries to fend it away on the off side, and the ball gets chipped straight to Nick Kelly at backward point, who dives forward and spills the chance.

OUT! CAUGHT AT SECOND SLIP! And just like that, the Indian top four have been blown away in the wind. Good length, angled into the channel of off at 134 kph. The ball moves away off the surface as Gaikwad pushes forward to defend. Goes with hard hands and gets a thick outside edge. Bracewell at second slip gets low to his right and takes it cleanly. India are reeling at 9/4, chasing 334 runs.

What a peach of a delivery! Jamieson lands it around off stump, not quite full in length. Gaikwad steps forward to drive through the off side, but the ball kicks off the surface and nips sharply back in, cutting him in half. It beats the inside edge and carries through to the keeper.

Wide outside off, very full, inviting the drive. Kishan tries to smear it away, but gets an outside edge through the vacant short third region for a single.

Fuller ball, at 131 kph, on off, Ruturaj walks forward to negate any seam movement and flicks it to short mid-wicket.

Short on the bodyline, Ishan Kishan swivels and pulls it on the bounce to deep backward square leg for a single.

Slightly full on the stumps, Ishan skips down the track to whack it downtown, but gets the timing all wrong. Loses his shape a bit and hits it off the bottom end of the bat towards mid on.

Oh, a sharp nip-backer from outside off, Ishan Kishan gets on the front foot and looks to drive it to the off side, but gets an inside edge to the leg side.

Slams it into the pitch, on the leg stump, Ishan stabs it down the pitch.

Good length, outside off, Ishan covers the stumps and pats it to cover-point.

Fuller-length delivery, outside off, Ruturaj Gaikwad strides across on the front foot and slices it to the left of the diving backward point fielder for two more.

A tempter! Back of a length, in the channel of off, Ruturaj Gaikwad gets half-forward to block but sees the ball nibble away off the seam and zip past his bat.

Slightly short on the leg stump, Gaikwad uses his wrists to steer it through the gap between square leg and mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

Pushed down the leg stump, looking to swing back into the stumps, but it holds the line and goes straight on. Ruturaj Gaikwad misses his flick.

On top of off, short of a length, Ruturaj Gaikwad hops on his toes and dabs it with soft hands toward backward point.

Curves away, outside off on a good length, Ruturaj lets it through.

Full and stump-to-stump, Ruturaj Gaikwad presses forward and blocks it right under his eyes.

Full ball, outside off, Kishan gets on the front foot and stabs it to cover.

Fuller than a length, on off and shaping back in a touch, Ishan strides forward and pushes it back to Henry.

Skids through off a length, outside off, Ishan flashes hard at it to cut it square but ends up chopping it behind to the keeper.

At 131 kph, good length, around off, Ishan rocks back and punches it to short cover.

Length outside off, Ishan weighs back and cuts it to the point region. The fielder makes a sharp diving stop to his right.

Beats the bat! Jags back in with a bit of extra bounce on middle, Ishan Kishan is cramped for room, looks to work it across. Gets beaten on the inside edge and is struck on the flap of his front pad.

Swings away a shy bit, on a good length. It is wide of off and Gaikwad shoulders arms.

Short of a length, on leg, Kishan steers it to deep backward square leg for a single.

Rears up from the pitch, on a good length, Ishan Kishan rides the bounce and fends it to the leg side with soft hands.

Finally, India are off the mark! Length-delivery, outside off, Gaikwad steers it behind backward point for a single.

Back of a length, outside off, nipping away, Gaikwad is happy to leave this one too.

Good length, seaming away from outside off. This is left alone by Gaikwad.

OUT! LBW! Henry lands another gut-punch on India. He is on fire today. On a length and angled in from outside off, the ball nips back towards middle stump. Iyer, rooted in his crease, looks to defend but is beaten by the inward movement. The ball squeezes past the inside edge and thuds into the back pad, plumb in front of the stumps. A big shout for LBW, but it's turned down by Kumar Dharmasena. Henry is certain that he has got his man and convinces Santner to take the review. A flat line on the UltraEdge and the Ball Tracking confirms three reds, with the ball projected to crash the leg stump. India are in deep, deep trouble with 3 down and no runs on the board yet.

OUT! BOWLED! It keeps getting better and better for Henry, who has removed two of India’s most prolific batters in the very first over. Henry switches it up after the out-swingers, getting one to shape back in from a length. It stays a touch low, and Kohli, caught in his crease while attempting to defend, is undone by the movement as the ball grazes the inside edge and crashes into the stumps. Virat is left stunned at the crease, and India are 0/2 in a chase of 334.

Short of a length, angled into the channel outside off at 130 kph. Virat hops back, opens the bat face and steers it to the right of backward point.

Good-length delivery on middle and leg. Kohli flicks it to the fielder at mid-wicket.

Nearly gets the edge! Fuller than a good length, in the channel. It lands and nips away as Kohli looks to drive it away, but gets beaten on the outside edge.

OUT! EDGED AND CAUGHT! Henry couldn't have asked for a better start than this. He has had Rohit's number before as well, and he strikes first ball here. Henry finds extra bounce, and Rohit is completely squared up. The ball climbs awkwardly, kisses the shoulder of the bat and flies straight to slip, where Allen does the rest with a sharp catch. Rohit falls for a golden duck, and India are 0/1, chasing 334 runs.