NZ vs IND Ball by Ball Commentary

SIX! That's it. The tourists have done it. India win by 4 wickets and take an early 1-0 lead in the series. Banged in short on the stumps, angling into the body. Naman Dhir stands tall and swings hard across the line, looking to pull, but gets a thick top edge. To his fortune, the ball loops all the way over the deep fine leg fence for six. Dhir is all smiles as he stays unbeaten on a 15-ball 42.

Nervy! Half a chance for a run out, but missed. Another full toss, on off, Nitish drills it down the ground towards mid off and sets off for a single. Santner dives like he is plunging into a swimming pool, scooping the ball up and flicking an underarm throw towards the bowler's end. But the shy misses its mark, forcing Reddy to dive desperately to make his ground safely. 2 runs needed off 3 balls.

Slightly short of a length, on top of middle, Dhir hangs back and jabs it with soft hands through square leg for a single. They think about the second but Milne is quick to sprint from short fine leg and dive to his left to prevent any other run.

FOUR! Up and over! That should be the game for India now. Henry completely misses the yorker and gifts a low full toss on the stumps. Dhir stands deep in the crease and despite the bottom hand coming off the handle, he clears mid off for a boundary. 4 needed off 5.

Spears it full on the off stump. Dhir opens his stance to go big, but cannot get underneath it and powers it down to long off for a single.

A wide yorker at 134 kph, outside the off stump. Dhir throws his bat at it and carves it wide of backward point. It slows down in the outfield and the sweeper cuts it off to his right. Two runs taken. 9 needed off 7. Big delivery coming up.

FOUR! A gift and Dhir accepts it gleefully. Adam misses the yorker, bowls a low full toss outside off, Dhir stays compact in the crease with a stable base and powers it between mid off and extra cover for a boundary. 11 needed off 8 balls now.

Angled into the bodyline on a good length. Nitish swooshes it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Pinpoint yorker by Milne, on the leg stump. Nitish jams the bat down in time and squeezes it back to the bowler. A crucial dot ball for the hosts.

OUT! CAUGHT BY THE SKIPPER! That's a fine catch diving forward under pressure by Santner. Back of a length, outside the off stump. It appears to be holding on the surface a bit and arrives a fraction late to the batter. Shreyas looks to loft it over cover, but cloths it to extra cover off the toe end. And we have another twist in the game as Iyer departs. India are 210/6, needing 16 runs from 11 balls.

FOUR! Off the outside edge but India will take it no matter how the runs come. Very full by Smith, outside off, Dhir attempts to smash that through covers, but gets a big outside edge. The ball goes flat and over the leaping short third fielder before speeding into the fence. Two massive overs for India, and they are in the driving seat now.

FOUR! Gets it away! Slower and shorter by Smith, at shoulder height. Naman waits, and waits and waits for it to arrive before he unleashes the pull shot. Gets a bit of a top edge but clears short fine leg for a boundary.

It's really slippery out there because of the dew around. Smith first slips in a full toss on the body and Iyer powers it down the ground to the left of long on. Santner runs in off the ropes, but slips a bit when he tries to pick the ball and fumbles. Now, the batters look to steal the second run, but Shreyas slips at the non-striker's end after completing the first.

Takes all the pace off and bashes it on a length, 117 kph, on middle, Naman Dhir has to really drag it with the pull shot to deep square leg's left for a single.

Back of a length, 139 kph, around off, Iyer covers the stumps by moving to the off side and punches it crisply down to long off for a single. 200 up for India! They need 26 runs from 16 balls.

Short of a length, following the batter. Shreyas shuffles to the leg side and pulls it to the right of the long on fielder. Finn Allen runs across and fields it. Two runs taken.

A wee bit short, outside the off stump. Iyer lets the ball dip and smashes it to widish long off for a single. 2/39 in 4 overs for Santner as he leaks 19 runs off his last over.

FOUR! Finds the gap expertly! A bit short and too wide outside off. Enough width for Iyer to work with and he hangs back before powerfully cutting it to the off side. Manages to bisect the cover-point and backward point fielders for a boundary. India need 30 runs from 19 balls now.

Slows it up, full and outside off, Dhir reaches out in front and lofts it over extra cover for a single.

FOUR! Another heroic effort, this time by Phillips, but it's another boundary. A length ball angled wide of off, and Dhir rocks back to cut it ferociously behind square on the off side. Glenn Phillips sprints to his left and dives at full stretch, but the ball touches the boundary cushions before Phillips flicks it away. The TV umpire checks the replay and confirms the boundary.

SIX! Heart-in-mouth moment for Dhir. Excellent acrobatic effort by Smith but it goes in vain. Skidded in on a length at middle and leg, tempting the big swing. Dhir drops to one knee and heaves it towards deep mid-wicket, where Smith flings himself into the air to his left and gets both hands to it. But with the boundary right behind him, he cannot release the ball before tumbling over the rope, and that's a six.

WIDE! Fired beyond the tramline, outside off. Let through by Dhir.

Great work in the deep by Finn! Short of a length, outside off, Dhir stands tall and muscles it over wide mid off. Allen runs across from long off and slips due to the greasy outfield, but manages to save a couple of runs.

A lethal response by Smith. He nails in the yorker at the base of the leg stump. Iyer's head falls over as he tries to shovel it out but misses and it crashes into the leg stump. But it's a Free Hit so it won't count.

NO BALL! Oh, no! That's a vicious beamer by Smith. He slips in a full toss at chest height, on the bodyline. Iyer is cramped for room as he looks to pull and takes a blow on his gloves as the ball rolls to square leg. Iyer is wincing in pain, and Smith apologises straightaway.

A bit too full and straight, on leg. Iyer backs away, exposes the stumps to smash it through cover, but ends up hitting it straight to the fielder. Shows a bit of frustration, does Iyer.

Short of a length, slower one at 118 kph, Iyer controls the pull shot through mid-wicket and they hustle back for the second run.

Back of a length, outside off, Dhir tries to hit it straight, but gets it sliced aerially off the outside edge towards deep third. It goes on the bounce to Ferguson at deep third for a single.

Nips in from a length, on the stumps, Iyer tries to pull but the ball skids, takes the inside edge and rolls to deep square leg for a single.

Spears it full and on the pads, Shreyas flicks it to deep mid-wicket. Glenn Phillips dashes to his left and makes a fine stop, keeping it down to two runs.

DROPPED! Finn Allen is the guilty party. Shreyas Iyer had his heart in his mouth for a moment there. Ferguson bangs it in short, on off. Iyer stands tall and tries to drag the pull in front of square on the leg side. Hits it flat towards long on, where Allen comes in off the ropes and slides to take the catch. It clips his fingertips and drops to the ground. Two runs taken. How costly will this prove to be?

At 139 kph, on a hard length, on off. Iyer shuffles across the stumps. He is tucked up for room but still manages to run it down to the left of deep third for a brace.

Outside off, on a back of a length. Dhir punches it to deep cover for a single.

OUT! CAUGHT! A timely breakthrough for New Zealand. Ferguson hits the hard length and cramps the left-hander for room. Axar tries to tug it away in front of square on the leg side but cannot free his arms in the desired fashion. Spoons it tamely off the upper half of the blade. It balloons towards mid-wicket, where the sub fielder, Devon Conway dives in front and takes a good catch. India are 167/5, needing 59 runs off 33 balls.

Half a shout for caught behind. Lockie Ferguson seems to have heard something, but Tim Seifert does not go up. Pace off, on a back of a length, on middle. Axar rises up on his toes and tries to glide it down to deep third but misses.

Wide! Down leg, on a back of a length. Patel misses out on the glance.

Angled away, on a good length. Axar extends his hands and drives it to extra cover.

SIX! Beautifully picked up. 20 runs off the over, a much-needed one for India. Fractionally short, on middle and leg. Iyer hops back and gets inside the line of the ball. Shovels it off the pads and gets enough bat on it to clear the fielder at deep backward square leg.

TOUGH CHANCE! Angled away, on a back of a length, on off. Patel spanks it back towards the bowler. Henry sticks out his right hand but the ball does not stick in his grasp. The ball trickles past the stumps as the batters cross over.

FOUR! Smart batting. Angled away, on a good length. Patel walks across the stumps and sets up for the scoop. He uses the pace and gets it fine of the short fine leg fielder for a boundary.

Tucking the batter up for room, on a back of a length. Iyer knocks it through mid on for a single.

The length is dragged back, at the hips. Iyer tucks it with soft hands in the vacant square leg region. By the time any of the deep fielders can get in, Shreyas is back for the second.

SIX! Nicely done. Henry begins with a full ball, on off. Iyer presents the full face of the blade and leans into the lofted stroke with the man up at mid off. He does not try to overhit this one and just times it. Clears the long off fence for a six.

FOUR! Insult to injury! On a hard length, on off. Patel presses up on his toes, gets his hands high and slaps it to the left of deep point for a boundary. 80 runs needed off 42 balls.

PUT DOWN! And to make matters worse, Mitchell Santner seems to have injured himself as well. Angled away, on a length. Patel shimmies down the track and looks to go down the ground. Slices it a long way up over mid off. Santner backpedals but gets into a bit of a tangle and at the last moment, he tries to take the catch over his head but can't cling on and ends up landing hard on the ground. His neck gets jarred in the process.

A swing and a miss! Banged in short, over middle. Patel gives the bowler a premeditated charge and has a swoosh at it but fails to connect.

At the hips, Axar nudges it to mid-wicket.

Hurls it on a good length, on off. Iyer stands tall on top of the bounce and punches it wide of extra cover, where the fielder slides to his left to make the stop.

Ferguson pitches it up, on off. Iyer firms the drive down the deck with a straight bat. A sharp, low stop to his left by Ferguson.

SIX! Well struck! Bracewell gives a bit of air and ends up being a bit too full, on middle. Axar clears the front leg, puts his head down and swings through the line. Smacks it to the right of the long on fielder for a flat six. 87 needed off 48 balls.

Turning back in at the hips, fractionally short. Iyer nurdles it behind square leg for the 5th single of the over.

Bowls it flat and on a nagging length, on middle. Axar nudges it in front of square on the leg side for another single.

Pushed through, full and on middle. Iyer eases it to long on and rotates the strike.

At the hips, Patel goes back in the crease and flicks it away through square leg for a single.

Flat and short, around the hips. Iyer shovels it away off the pads but picks out short fine leg. Axar calls him through for a quick single.

FOUR! In the gap. Angled in at the pads, full in length. Axar crouches and heaves it away. Gets it wide enough of Glenn Phillips in the deep to his left for a boundary.

Full and on off. Iyer knocks it to long off for a single.

Fires it in full again, on middle. Axar smears it away towards mid-wicket for one.

OUT! CAUGHT! High but nowhere close to being long enough. Mitchell Santner strikes in successive overs. Flighted up, on middle. Kishan gets down on a knee for the slog sweep but gets it right off the bottom part of the bat. Skies it a long way up between deep mid-wicket and long on and it is an 85-metre hit in that region. Finn Allen charges across to his left from long on and slides to complete a safe catch. India are coming unstuck after a fiery start.

Fuller and speared in at the sticks. Iyer pushes it to deep cover for a run.

Darted in, on a length, around the off stump. Iyer walks across the stumps and scoops it past short fine leg for a couple of runs.

Shortish delivery again, on off, Iyer rocks back and slaps it through mid off for a single. At the halfway stage of the chase, India are 119/3, needing 107 runs from 60 balls.

Dropped short and drifted on the leg stump, Ishan presses back and pulls it to deep square leg for a single.

Slower through the air, at just 82 kph. Full on the stumps, Ishan leans on and pushes it back to Michael.

OUT! CAUGHT IN THE DEEP! Tilak's struggles come to an end and the Kiwi spin duo are really tightening the noose here. Tossed up on a length outside leg, inviting the big shot. Tilak charges down the track and attempts to clear long on, but fails to get to the pitch of the delivery and has to reach for it in front of him. No power or timing on the shot, and he ends up dragging it off the toe end of the bat, offering Lockie Ferguson a straightforward catch at deep mid-wicket. Wicket number 2 for Bracewell and the hosts are delighted. India slip to 117/3, needing 109 runs from 63 balls.

Short on leg, Shreyas hangs back and chips it towards long on for a single.

Fired on a fuller length, on leg, Varma tries the reverse sweep. But the ball pops up, takes the glove and deflects on the helmet before running to the third man region. A single.

OUT! CHOPPED ON! Who else but Santner? Not a wicket-taking delivery by any means, by the way. It is short and wide outside off. Sanju Samson backs away a bit to play the cut shot but the ball holds on the surface and arrives a tad late. He swings his bat hard at it, but ends up inside edging it onto the off stump. Samson falls after an entertaining knock and India are 115/2, needing 111 runs.

Fractionally full and around off, Sanju punches it on the up to deep extra cover. He calls it for two and they will easily get it. Good running between the wickets.

Keeps attacking the leg stump, does Santner, on a fullish length. Tilak Varma uses his wrists and steers it behind square leg for a single. India are 113/1 and they need another 113 runs to win.

Quicker and shorter, on leg, Tilak gets a bit rushed up and whips it to short fine leg. More off the inside half of the bat.

Seeing Varma move to the leg side, Santner cunningly fires one outside leg, too full. Tilak is cramped for room and can only ease it back to the bowler.

Darted in at 93 kph, full on leg, Tilak tickles it to short fine leg, but straight to the fielder.

Tad short, sliding onto the pads, Varma goes deep in the crease and steers it through mid-wicket for a single.

Had to really hurry there! Pushed through, full and around off, Sanju pushes it wide of extra cover and calls Tilak for a single. The fielder is quick to pick and throw in motion, but misses his shy at the batting end. Varma was well in, even if the throw was on target.

Dips on the batter, short outside off, Tilak hangs back and slashes it to deep cover-point for a single.

Slows it through the air, fullish on the leg stump, sliding down. Tilak looks to whip it to the leg side but the ball rolls off the leading edge, back to the bowler.

A wee bit short and outside off, Samson cuts it to deep backward point for a single.

SIX! Samson is on a roll in Christchurch! Lands it full, on the leg stump. Samson stays leg side of the ball, takes the front foot out and bludgeons it over the long off fence for a six.

A bit full and on off, Samson presents the full face of his bat and drives it along the ground. One run at long off. Just 8 from Santner's first.

FOUR! A bit edgy, but in the gap! Shortish delivery, outside off, Sanju stays deep inside the crease and creates room. Cuts it uppishly off the outside edge, but it shoots between short third and backward point for a boundary. That brings up the 100 for India. They need 125 runs from 79 balls.

Drops it short and outside off, Samson rocks back and smashes it to the right of the cover fielder. The man there dives and gets a hand on it, but parries it to the left of long off. Bevon Jacobs cuts it off in the deep. Two runs taken.

Pitched full and outside off, Sanju pushes it to short cover.

That's a brilliant piece of fielding by Santner himself! He pushes it onto the pads, full and from around the stumps. Sanju drives it to the right of the bowler and Santner dives on his follow-through to save a few runs for sure.

Begins with a length ball, on the pads, sliding down further. Varma hangs back and turns it through backward square leg for a single.

Slides into the batter, full on middle, Varma presses forward to push it to the off side but the ball squirts off the inside edge towards mid-wicket for a single. India dominate the Powerplay with 94/1 on the board.

OUT! TAKEN! At long last, some relief for New Zealand. They needed that wicket badly. Michael lands it around the off stump and it spins and bounces off the track. Abhishek Sharma exposes the stumps by shuffling to the leg side and tries to cut it powerfully over point, but ends up slicing it off the outer portion of his willow. Adam Milne at short third takes a sharp catch with a reverse cup and India are 93/1, needing 133 runs in 85 balls.

FIFTY FOR SAMSON! Brilliant batting display so far and he gets to his milestone off just 23 balls. That's his 11th T20I half-century and he continues his rich vein of form in the shortest format. From around the stump, this is pitched full on leg, Samson works it down to long on for an easy single.

FOUR! Up and over and Samson gallops to 49! Around off and middle with the length pulled back by Bracewell. Sanju backs away, makes room and thumps it over the mid off fielder for a boundary.

SIX! That's disappeared! Juicy half-volley, on middle and leg. Easy pickings for Samson. He clears his front leg and absolutely smokes it over long on for a massive six. Insane ball striking by these two.

Starts with a short ball, outside off, Samson backs away and punches it on the bounce to mid off.

In the air...but lands safely. Henry lands it full, on middle. Sharma holds his shape, presents a straight bat and just swings through the line. He does not quite get hold of it but it drops safely down the ground before mid on or mid off can get there. Two runs taken.

Spears in the yorker, on off. Sharma squeezes it out to extra cover.

Wide! A slower bumper, over off. Sharma arches back and tries to play the upper cut over the keeper but does not connect. Too high for the umpire's liking.

At pace, on a good length, on middle. Samson has a swing at it. Shanks it off the inner half towards mid on for a single.

Cramping the batter for room, on a back of a length. Sanju mistimes the pull towards mid-wicket.

SIX! How did that go all the way? That looked like a mishit by Samson. Slower one, on a nagging length, on middle. Sanju is not to the pitch of the ball but still swings through the line. Skies it off the bottom half of the bat but has enough on it to clear the long on fence.

FOUR! Nearly went the distance. Henry steams in from over the wicket and dishes out the short ball, on middle and leg. Samson stands tall and unleashes the pull. Hits it flat and to the left of the deep square leg fielder. One bounce and over the ropes.

SIX! This is even bigger. Hit with absolute authority. Milne hits the back of a length at pace this time, but once again, he fails to get it high enough to trouble the batter. Sharma sets himself up in the crease and dispatches the pull way beyond the deep mid-wicket fence. 26 runs off the over as the onslaught continues. Among all those present on the grass bank, a man takes the catch, and his joy knows no bounds.

SIX! That sounded so sweet. Slower one by Milne, bowled into the deck, on off. This sits up to be hit around the waist, and Sharma pulls it over square leg for half a dozen. 20 runs so far with one ball left in the over.

Wide! Banged in short, outside off. Sharma lets it go. Wide given for height.

FOUR! Another teaser for Tim Seifert as the boundaries keep flowing. Milne delivers it full, angled away. Abhishek gives the bowler a premeditated charge and ends up getting too close to the ball. He hurriedly gets his bat down to squeeze it out. It flies past the leaping attempt of Tim Seifert to his left and races away.

Swinging back in, full and at the sticks. Abhishek clears the front leg and smears it away but it goes straight to the mid-wicket fielder.

This goes away from the left-hander and the length is pulled back. Sharma pushes away from his body and is beaten on the outside edge.

FIVE WIDES! Oh, dear. New Zealand are leaking runs far too easily. Milne gets the ball to shape back in but he starts too straight and it goes further down leg. Sharma tries to pick it up off the pads but fails to connect and Tim Seifert is beaten to his right despite the dive. The 50 comes up for India in 3.2 overs.

FOUR! Abhishek flashes and flashes hard. Leaving the left-hander, on a short of a good length. Sharma throws his hands at the ball. There is no one at slip and the outside edge flies past Tim Seifert, who flies to his left but stands no chance.

A dot to end the over. Pace off, on a back of a length, on middle. Samson plays all around it and wears it on the body. 22 runs off the over and India are off to a flying start.

FIVE WIDES! It is going from bad to worse for Lockie Ferguson. 22 runs off the over with a ball still to go. Ferguson spots Samson backing away and he follows him with a hard-length delivery. It keeps going further down leg as Sanju swings and misses. Tim Seifert dives to his left, but the ball stays out of his reach and goes into the fence.

FOUR! Hit hard and wide enough. Ferguson sticks to the full length but this is a bit too full, on off. Samson is able to get under the ball and lofts it downtown. Hits it away from the reach of Mitchell Santner at mid off and picks up another boundary.

SIX! All the way. Hooping back in, on the fuller side, on middle and leg. Right in the hitting arc and Samson puts his head before mowing it over the wide long on fence for a six.

FOUR! A comical error in the field. Lockie pushes the length up, on off. Samson gets his hands through the line and has a swing at it. He does not quite get hold of it but manages to clear extra cover. Glenn Phillips and Mitchell Santner give chase but there is no communication between them. Both put in a slide and get in the way of each other. Neither is able to lay a hand on the ball as it trickles into the boundary cushions.

Hits the back of a length, outside off. Sharma glides it behind point with an open bat face for a single.

Moving away in the air, flirting with the tramline. Abhishek shoulders arms. He is perplexed that it is not called a wide.

TWO WIDES! Prodigious movement but no control. Ferguson gets the ball to shape back in but it goes down leg. Samson fails to lay any bat on the tickle. Tim Seifert flings himself to his left and gets a glove on it. It dribbles wide of short fine leg, before it is mopped up. They cross.

Nearly dragged it back onto the stumps. In and around the off stump, on a good length. Sanju stays leg side of the ball and tries to run it down to deep third. Chops it down just past the off stump before Abhishek calls him through for a quick single. Milne goes for 9 runs in his first over in his comeback game. India need 206 runs in 108 balls.

Milne pitches it up and gets the ball to swing away. Samson leans into the stroke and angles the drive to the man at backward point, who is in really tight.

A big swing and a miss! Milne bashes the hard length, tucking the batter up for room. Samson moves towards the leg side and has a heave across the line but only connects with thin air.

FOUR! Helped away. Perhaps expecting the short ball, Samson backs away. Milne responds by following him with a length delivery. Sanju uses the pace and the angle of the ball to glance it down to the vacant deep fine leg fence.

FOUR! Enough bat on it to find the fence. Slanting back in, on a length, on middle and leg. Samson presents the full face of the bat and launches it over mid on. The ball drops just in front of the boundary cushions before trickling beyond.

Lovely shape first up for Milne. It won't be there for long, as we saw when India bowled. Starts full and it curves away from the right-hander. Sanju fishes at the ball away from his body and is beaten past the outside edge.

SIX! Up, up and away! Henry pushes it across the left-hander, more on the fuller side. Bread-and-butter stuff for Sharma, who feasts on the width. He frees his arms and carves it over cover for half a dozen.

Hits the back of a length, on off, nipping back in, on off. Sanju looks to keep it out off the back foot. Ekes out an inside edge onto the thigh pad. A single is taken as the ball drops on the off side.

Wowza! That is an absolute seed by Henry. Nip-backer on a good length, on middle. Samson does not move his feet at all and has a tentative prod at the ball. The ball jags back a long way to cut Samson in half. It sneaks past the inside edge and luckily for him, the bounce takes the ball over the stumps. Tim Seifert flings himself to his left to catch the ball.

FOUR! Samson and India are on their way. Henry goes into the deck, on off. Samson picks up the length early and hangs back in the crease. He swings across for the pull and even though the bat turns in his hand, he gets it well to the left of deep square leg for a boundary.

Drags the length back, on top of off. Samson presses back in the crease, rides the bounce and glides it down to short third with an open bat face.

Goes past the bat! A little bit of an away shape, on a good length, in the channel. Samson takes a step down the track and has a fiddle at the ball. Gets beaten on the outside edge.