NZ vs IND Ball by Ball Commentary

INDIA WIN BY 4 WICKETS! Full toss, on the pads, Nitish Kumar Reddy flicks this to the right of the deep mid-wicket fielder and comes back for the second to win the game for India. The reigning champions show once again why they are the team to beat in this format! The Indian players are absolutely pumped, and rightly so. This was no easy ride, but they dug deep, weathered the pressure and fought their way to a hard-earned victory.

WIDE! Bumper, a touch too high on the batter. Nitish Kumar Reddy looks for the uppercut but misses. Wide given.

Short and on middle and off, Tilak Varma cuts this to deep point and rotates the strike. 3 required off 2.

FIFTY FOR TILAK VARMA! He is playing at a strike rate of 200. Short and on middle and off, Tilak Varma flat-bats it to long on and pushes his partner through for the second run. The throw lacks the desired power and Varma gets home with the dive. Tilak, along with Nitish, has turned this game around for India.

FOUR! Tilak races to 48 and puts India within one big hit away from the win now. Pitched-up delivery, around off, Tilak Varma drills this in the gap between the mid off and extra cover fielders for four more runs. 6 needed off 4.

Short and on middle and leg, Nitish Kumar Reddy pulls this to the deep mid-wicket fielder for one run.

SIX! An ideal finish to the 19th over for India, 18 off it! Good length, wide of off, Tilak Varma stays leg side and smashes this up and over the fence towards the deep cover region for a massive six. What a knock Tilak is playing for the visitors.

Full and wide of off, Tilak Varma backs away to slice it over the point fielder but misses out completely.

FOUR! That has been hooked away for four more. Short and on middle and leg, Tilak Varma gets inside the line of the ball and hooks it towards the fine leg fence for a boundary. The 50-run stand comes up between these two batters, and the momentum has shifted towards India and how.

Good length, wide of off, Tilak Varma swings and misses. Expects a wide but it is called a fair one.

FOUR! That's what pressure does, even to the best in the business. Good length, wide of off, Tilak Varma pulls this flat towards the right of Glenn Phillips at mid-wicket for a boundary. The ball should have been stopped by Glenn, but he overran it and the ball went under him to the fence.

FOUR! Even the edges are finding their way to the fence for India now. Yorker, around leg, Tilak Varma shuffles across the stumps and looks for a paddle scoop but gets a top edge, and the ball flies over the short third fielder for a boundary behind the stumps.

Back of a length, around middle and leg, Tilak Varma pulls this to the deep mid-wicket fielder for one run. 17 from the over, 29 needed off 12 balls.

FOUR! Low full toss, on off, Tilak Varma settles deep inside the crease and smashes this past the right of the diving mid off fielder for yet another boundary. Excellent timing and placement by Tilak Varma. India go past 150.

Wide yorker, just inside the tramline outside off, Tilak Varma swings and misses. A rare dot in this partnership.

WIDE! Full and way too wide of off, Tilak Varma shuffles across the stumps and leaves it. Wided.

FOUR! Tilak Varma finds the fence this time. Good length, wide of off, Tilak shuffles across the stumps and pulls this in the gap towards the cow corner region for a boundary.

Short and on off, Nitish Kumar Reddy pulls this flat towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

SIX! 93-metre long hit by Reddy. Slower one, full and on off, Nitish Kumar Reddy gets right behind the line of the ball and smashes it deep into the crowd towards the long off region for a massive six. Perfect start to the 18th over for India.

On a length, around off, Varma nudges this through mid-wicket and collects yet another brace. 9 runs off the over, which is under par for the Men in Blue. India need 46 runs in 18 balls.

Short again, on off, Nitish Kumar Reddy pulls this towards the deep mid-wicket fielder and rotates the strike.

Short pitched, on off, Tilak Varma pulls this to deep mid-wicket for one run.

Good length, on the pads, Tilak Varma tucks this to the mid-wicket region and scampers back for two.

On a length, around middle and leg, Tilak Varma chips this in the empty space towards the deep mid-wicket region for a couple.

Back of a length, around off, Nitish Kumar Reddy dabs this to the third man region for a single. Nitish looks for the second but Tilak says no as the throw comes in quickly at the keeper's end. Tim Seifert gathers the ball on the bounce and hits the stumps on the other end with a direct hit. This is sent upstairs. Replay shows that Reddy made his ground with the dive.

Short and on off, Nitish Kumar Reddy pulls this to deep square leg and settles for a single. India need 55 runs off 24 balls.

Low full toss, on middle and off, Nitish Kumar Reddy sweeps this through the mid-wicket region for a brace.

On a length, on middle and leg, Nitish Kumar Reddy pushes this down to mid on and takes a single. A fumble by Mitchell Santner, who glides to his right from mid off allows the second here.

Slower one, short and on off, Nitish Kumar Reddy pulls this to the right of deep mid-wicket for a brace.

Good length, on the pads, Nitish Kumar Reddy tucks this through square leg for a couple of runs.

FOUR! Up and over for a boundary. Pitched-up delivery, around off, Nitish Kumar Reddy steps onto his front foot and lofts this over the mid off fielder for a boundary.

Flighted delivery, on off. Reddy drives it to long off for a single. Santner finishes with figures of 4-0-21-4, the third-best for him in T20Is, informs Ian Smith. India need 68 runs off 30 balls.

OUT! CAUGHT! The carrot was dangled, and Naman Dhir fell for the trap. This is skilful bowling by Mitchell Santner. He is not afraid to toss it up, and this is bowled at 74 kph, probably the slowest delivery of the night from the Kiwi skipper. Dhir is made to reach out for it as he hangs low and lunges across to go inside out. The ball dips on Naman, who ends up spooning it straight to extra cover, where Glenn Phillips bends and takes the catch around his right knee. Wicket number 4 for Santner as New Zealand nip the threat of Naman Dhir in the bud. 69 needed off 31 balls.

Looking to deny the left-hander any sort of room. Slanting in at the hips, on the shorter side. Varma shovels it towards deep backward square leg for a run.

Good hustle between the wickets. Pushed through at the pads, on a length. Tilak tucks it with soft hands in front of deep square leg. He takes the first run hard and comes charging back for the second run before the throw comes in from the deep.

Slightly short, in line with the off stump. Dhir cuts it past point and crosses over.

Angled in at the pads. Tilak helps it behind square leg with the angle for a single.

SIX! All the way. A bit of a drag down by Bracewell and he is made to pay for it. The ball spins back in and Dhir goes through with the shot, pulling it over the deep mid-wicket fence for a maximum. 15 runs off Michael's final over as he ends with figures of 4-0-35-0. 39 runs off the last 3 overs. 74 needed off 36 balls.

A bit of air given, fuller and on off. Varma reaches out and drives it square to deep point for one.

Skidding through, on off. Dhir cuts it square on the off side and gets to the other end. The 100 is up for India.

Loopy low full toss, on middle. Dhir powers it down the ground as one hand comes off the bat handle. Hits it to the left of long on for a couple of runs.

FOUR! One bounce and over the ropes. Darted in on a good length, on middle and leg. Dhir advances down the track and whips it away with flair despite not being to the pitch of the ball. Hits it to the left of the deep mid-wicket fielder for a four.

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

SIX! Straight as an arrow. Santner is not afraid to toss it up but ends up being a little too full this time, on middle. Dhir presses forward and is able to get under the ball. Launches it over the sight screen for a maximum. Still only 8 runs off the over. 89 needed off 42.

Fractionally short, on off. Naman hops back and cuts but picks out Bevon Jacobs at backward point.

Speared in, on a length, on middle. Dhir gets down on a knee for the sweep but gets a bottom edge as the ball rolls to short fine leg. He is keen for a single before being sent back. The throw comes in quickly and Tim Seifert breaks the stumps. The third umpire is called into action and Dhir has got home safely.

Tossed up, on off. Dhir gets low and forces the drive to the right of deep cover for a couple of runs.

On off, Naman angles it to backward point off the front foot.

PUT DOWN! That should have been taken. Bevon Jacobs is not having the best of nights in the field. Earlier, he lost a ball in the lights and gave Vaibhav Sooryavanshi a reprieve, but this time, he picked it up early but could not hold on. Floated up, on off. Dhir lunges across and carves it flat and straight to backward point. Jacobs moves to his right and gets the ball around his waist but he can't cling on as the ball drops to the ground.

That is some serious heat by Lockie Ferguson. A well-directed short ball, over middle at 144 kph. Varma swivels to hook it away but is beaten for pace as the ball climbs through to the keeper.

NO BALL! Ferguson has overstepped. Full and pushed across the left-hander. Varma reaches out and slices it to the right of deep point for a couple of runs. Free Hit coming up. 13 runs off the over with a ball to go.

At the hips, Dhir turns it away to deep square leg for a run.

On off, on a good length. Dhir punches it to cover.

Digs it on a hard length, angled away. Dhir rises up on his toes and runs it down to deep third for a single.

On a good length, on off. Dhir pushes it down to long on for a single.

SIX! That is a skimmer from Dhir. Fractionally short by Lockie but the line is down leg again. Naman does not move his feet much but picks it up with the angle of the bat. Hits it flat and wide to the left of the long leg fielder for a six.

Wide! Sprayed down leg. Dhir is beaten for pace on the glance.

Looped up, on off. Dhir lunges and eases it to long off for a single.

OUT! CAUGHT! Excellent teamwork by the Kiwis, who have been a lot better in the field compared to the opening game. Two wickets in 3 balls for Mitchell Santner and the New Zealand skipper is putting on a show tonight. Flatter and a bit shorter, on off. Axar gives the bowler a premeditated charge and looks to go down the ground. Skies it high back over the bowler's head. Finn Allen hugs the boundary cushions as he runs to his right from long on and keeps his eyes on the ball all the way through. He takes the catch and is aware that Daryl Mitchell is converging from long off. He lobs it towards him before going over the ropes and Mitchell does the rest.

Glenn Phillips nearly took out Santner there. On a good length, on off. Varma pushes it to the left of the bowler and waits for the ball to go past Santner before setting off for the run. Glenn Phillips charges across to his right and slides to cut it off, getting rid of the ball quickly. Santner had to duck quickly to avoid being hit by the throw.

OUT! CASTLED! Mitchell Santner dismisses his opposite number. India slip further. Nicely slowed down by Santner, bowled at 79.6 kph, hanging it up there, full and on middle. Iyer collapses his back knee and has a heave across the line. He is early into the shot, and the ball drifts in to sneak past the inside edge. It goes through the gap between the bat and the pad to crash into the sticks. India are 69/4, needing 112 runs off 57 balls.

Fired in full, on leg. Axar helps it to the left of short fine leg for one.

Speared in at the pads, on a good length. Axar is early to step out but manages to turn it away to the left of deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

Darted on off, Axar Patel cuts this off his back foot through point for one run.

SIX! Axar does well as he hits with the wind and it carries the ball over the ropes. Tossed up, on middle and leg, Axar Patel collapses his back knee and slogs sweeps this over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie.

Darted into the batter, on middle and leg, Shreyas Iyer punches this back past the bowler for a single.

Fuller on middle and off, Axar Patel looks for the sweep but gets it away from the toe of his bat and it lands behind the bowler for a single.

Quicker and flatter on middle and leg, Axar Patel punches this back to the bowler.

Tossed up, on off, Shreyas Iyer knocks this to long on for a single.

Pushed through on the pads, Axar Patel flicks this to mid-wicket. Just 2 runs and the big wicket of Abhishek Sharma. 125 needed from 66 balls.

Floated into the batter, on middle and leg, Patel tucks this to the left of the bowler.

OUT! CAUGHT! Abhishek Sharma falls prey to the skipper of NZ. Tossed up, on middle and leg, Abhishek Sharma connects with the slog sweep, but it's more height than distance, struck into the wind and towards the longer pocket at cow corner! Nathan Smith runs across from deep mid-wicket, keeps his eyes on the ball and completes a fine catch, all while keeping his balance inside the boundary. Santner has a smile on his face. A massive breakthrough for the Black Caps!

Tossed up, on off, Shreyas Iyer rolls this to long on for a single.

Under-cutter, on off, Iyer hits this to the left of the bowler for no run.

Tossed up, on the pads, Abhishek Sharma clips this in front of square on the leg side for a single.

Fuller on middle and leg, Shreyas Iyer pushes this to the mid on fielder for no run.

Tossed up, on off, Abhishek Sharma cuts this to the left of the fielder at point for a single.

Fuller on off, Iyer punches this down the ground for a single.

Under-cutter, on middle and leg, Abhishek Sharma jumps down the track and hits this from the inner portion of his bat to long on for a single.

Quicker one, on off, Shreyas Iyer punches this away in the gap at cover off his back foot for a single.

Tossed up, around off, Abhishek Sharma drives this to sweeper cover for one run. The 50 is up for India.

WIDE PLUS ONE! Full and wide down the leg side. The keeper fails to gather it clean and the batters run a single.

Back of a length, around off, Shreyas Iyer punches this to sweeper cover for one run.

Full and on off, Abhishek Sharma pushes this down to the left of the mid off fielder for a single.

On a length, around off, Shreyas Iyer punches this through covers for a single.

Back of a length, on off, Shreyas Iyer blocks it out.

OUT! CAUGHT! Nathan Smith strikes in his first over. On a length, full and wide of off, Sooryavanshi gets up on his toes and thumps this flat and towards the left of short extra cover. Daryl Mitchell dives well to his left, takes a good low catch and holds onto it as he falls on the deck. Vaibhav falls cheaply. India are 44/2, needing 137 runs from 82 balls.

On a length, around off, shaping away from the batter. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi pats this to extra cover.

Slider, on middle and leg, Abhishek Sharma stands tall and pushes this to mid on for a dot. At the end of the Powerplay, India are 44/1.

Under-cutter, onto the batter, on middle and leg, Abhishek Sharma flicks this to mid-wicket.

Pushed through around off, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi chips this from the bottom of his bat to wide long off for a single.

Short of a length, around off, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi punches this to extra cover for no run.

Tossed up, on off, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi defends this off his front foot.

WHAT HAPPENED THERE? Fuller, on off, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi slices this towards point. Bevon Jacobs loses the ball completely in the lights and is left searching as the ball goes over him for a couple. An early reprieve for the teenager. Mitchell Santner is not happy one bit.

This is on a hard length, on off. Sooryavanshi hops and rides the bounce. Taps the ball on its head as he angles it to the left of the diving short third fielder for a single to get off the mark.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is greeted with a bumper, the line is outside off. Sooryavanshi sways away and lets it go.

OUT! TAKEN! Glenn Phillips nearly made a meal of that but managed to hold on and more importantly, Duffy's foot is behind the line this time. Jacob serves the back-of-the-hand slower one with the seam staying upright, on a good length, on middle. Samson has a hoick across the line but he is early into the shot, and the ball also dips on him. Skews it off a top edge towards point, where Glenn Phillips keeps his eyes on the swirling ball and completes the catch, though he ends up flat on his back! He gets up smiling, gesturing that the ball was moving around quite a bit. A safe pair of hands, if not quite a safe landing!

Into the wicket, on middle. Sharma rises up on his toes and tucks it wide of mid-wicket for one.

Leg bye. Following the batter with a fuller ball. Samson has a heave across the line but can't lay any bat on it. A leg bye is taken as the ball goes off the pads in front of point.

Around leg, on a good length. Sharma nudges it square on the leg side for a single.

Slower one, following the batter with a length ball. Samson eases it to the right of the bowler.

A bit fuller, on off. Samson makes a bit of room and plays a punchy drive to the left of long off for a couple of runs.

That had plenty of air miles on it, but it will be just a single. Another one pushed across the off stump, on a good length. Sharma leaves nothing in the tank as he swings to go big but slices it high in the air in the direction of the bowler.  Lockie Ferguson tries to settle under it but with it being a Free Hit ball, he opts not to go for the catch and lets the ball bounce beside him.

NO BALL, FOUR! Up and over. Ferguson lands it on a good length, on middle. Sharma opens up the front hip and gets his hands through into the lofted hit. He gets it well over Mitchell Santner at mid on for a four. The siren goes off as Ferguson has overstepped. Free Hit to follow.

Dug in short, on off, that is left alone for the keeper to collect.

Skidding through, on a back of a length. Samson mistimes the pull to the right of mid on for a single.

SIX! Taken, but Mitchell Santner can't stop himself from going into the boundary cushions. Fereguon hits the top of off with a seam-up ball. Samson takes on Santner at long off as he swings through the line. Hits it flat down the ground, where Santner moves to his left and takes the catch, but he can't slam the brakes in time and the momentum results in him stepping onto the boundary cushions.

Banged in short, outside off. Sharma lets it go. Abhishek has a look at the square leg umpire but the umpire is happy wih the height.

SIX! Incredible shot. Going away with the angle, on a length. Sharma dances down the track and stays leg side of the ball before carving it over the deep cover fence for half a dozen.

A bit fuller, on middle. Samson lofts it down the ground. Mitchell Santner runs to his right from long off and gathers it on the bounce, keeping the batters down to a single. Smiles exchanged between Henry and Samson, who were teammates in the IPL earlier this year for CSK.

Henry bowls the nip-backer, on a good length, around the leg stump. Sanju backs away and has a swipe across the line but is beaten on the inside edge and it sneaks past the leg stump.

The length is pulled back by Henry, on middle and leg. Samson swings a bit too hard and loses his shape in the process. Shanks it off the inner half towards mid-wicket. Abhishek is keen for a single but is sent back and he gets home in the nick of time.

FOUR! Hit with real authority. Henry attacks the stumps with a length delivery. Samson makes room for himself by moving to the leg side and swings through the line. Launches it back over the bowler's head and the mid off fielder stands no chance.

FOUR! That will add to the frustration for the home side. Across the off stump, on a back of a length. Sharma has a swing at it but the ball leaves him to take the outside edge. It flies between slip and short third for four more. In an over where New Zealand could have had Abhishek Sharma, it ends up going for 11 runs.

FOUR! Insult to injury! Duffy hits the top of off. Sharma opens up his stance and slams it back over the bowler's head. He does not quite get hold of it but manages to clear mid on and pick up a boundary.

DRAMA! Abhishek Sharma lives to fight on. How costly will this prove to be for New Zealand? A well-directed short ball, tucking the batter up for room. Sharma stays rooted to the crease and goes for the pull. Gets it high on the bat and it goes only as far as deep square leg, where Nathan Smith settles under it to do the rest, but it all goes in vain as Duffy has overstepped. Free Hit coming up.

Following Samson as he backs away. Sanju misses out on the flick and gets rapped on the pads. A leg bye is taken as the ball rolls on the leg side.

Leaving the left-hander, on a good length. Sharma dances down the track and has a swing at it. Slices it off the outer half towards deep backward point for a single. India are finally on the board in the chase.

Another swing and a miss. Bashed in on a hard length, on off. Sharma swings across for the pull but can't make any connection. Superb build up of pressure from New Zealand early on, 8 dots in a row.

A swing and a miss! Pushed across the left-hander, on the fuller side. Sharma swings for the hills, looking to go down the ground and is beaten on the outside edge.

Goes past the bat! Matt Henry begins with a probing maiden. Stark contrast from the first over the other night, when Henry went for 11 runs. In the corridor of off, on a good length. Samson has a loose poke at the ball.

Make that five dots in a row. Henry angles it in on a good length, on middle. Samson stays beside the line and brings his bat out in front to defend. It moves away off the seam to take the outer half before dribbling to point.

So far, so good from Henry. Straightening off a good length, on off and middle. Samson lunges for the block but the ball squirts off the outer half to point.

And again. Henry sticks to the full length and the line is just outside the off stump. Samson presents a straight bat for the block but the ball nips away ever so slightly to go past the outside edge.

Beaten! Samson takes a step back in the crease and makes a bit of room as well. Henry pushes the length up, keeping it in and around the off stump. Gets a hint of a nibble away as Sanju prods at the ball tentatively and is beaten past the outside edge.

Right on the money. Hits the back of a length, angled in on middle. Samson gets right behind the line and stabs it down the track.