NZ vs IND Ball by Ball Commentary

A single to end the innings. Adam switches to around the wicket for the left-hander and looks for the yorker. Arshdeep exposes all three stumps to open up the off side. Singh bunts the low full toss wide of extra cover and takes a single.

OUT! CAUGHT! Wicket number 4 for Adam Milne. Bhuvi shows his cards early as he backs away and Milne follows him with a length ball with the seam staying upright. Kumar has a swing at it but the ball curves back in the air to catch the inner half. It is spooned down to long on, where Daryl Mitchell runs in off the ropes and slides to snaffle it safely. India are 190/8 with one ball left in the innings.

FOUR! Nicely done. Yorker attempted by Milne and it tails back in again. It comes out as a low full toss, on the pads. Kumar uses the angle and the pace to help it to the left of short fine leg for a boundary.

Bye. A bumper, over off. Prince makes room and throws his hands at the ball but is beaten for pace. It bursts through Tim Seifert's gloves and the batters sneak in a bye.

OUT! CAUGHT! Nitish Kumar Reddy holes out. Milne gets the ball to tail back into the right-hander and he keeps it very full. Reddy is deep in the crease and whips it away but he does not get the leverage to get under the ball. It goes only as far as deep mid-wicket, where Glenn Phillips moves forward and gobbles it up. India lose their last recognised batter with 4 balls left in the innings.

Hits the top of off, does Milne, Kumar slices the drive past point for a single.

FOUR! Reddy flashes and flashes hard. Tickner goes into the deck, well outside off. Reddy shuffles a bit and throws the kitchen sink at it. Gets a thickish outside edge and it races down to deep third.

Around off, on a back of a length. Kumar goes deep in the crease and guides it through third man for a single.

OUT! CAUGHT! Blair Tickner strikes back. It is the knuckleball that does the trick for Tickner. Dipping on the right-hander, full and in line with the off stump. Dhir has a swipe across the line and ends up cutting across the ball. Slices it off the outer half wide of extra cover, where Michael Bracewell moves to his left and dives to take the catch. We have seen some unusual celebrations throughout the history of the sport, but this one is a first as Tickner pulls out a Pokémon card and flashes it.

A good comeback by Tickner. Takes pace off and goes into the surface, outside off. Dhir flashes at the ball but can only connect with thin air.

SIX! That has gone the distance. Tickner goes searching for the yorker but it comes out as a low full toss, angled into the pads. Dhir picks it up off the pads and with the angle, it sails over the long leg fence for half a dozen.

Does not carry! Tickner dishes out the knuckleball and the seam stays upright, on a length, on off. Reddy hangs deep in the crease and clears the front leg to hit through the line. It is mishit towards wide long on, where Daryl Mitchell does not quite pick the ball straight away and runs around the ropes rather than running in. He dives forward eventually but the ball gets to him on the bounce. Just a single.

Good finish to the over. Duffy pushes the length up, just outside the off stump. Dhir leans inside the line and sinks to his right knee to play the scoop but is beaten on the inside edge and the ball brushes his front pad before going to the keeper.

Dug in short, over off. Dhir hops to flay it away but misses. That was a boundary opportunity with backward point and third man both up inside the circle.

FOUR! Good movement in the crease. Pace taken off, on the shorter side, keeping the line outside off. Dhir moves across the stumps to get closer to the line of the ball. Stands tall on top of the bounce and spanks it in the gap between extra cover and long off.

Delivers it on a hard length, over off. Reddy arches back and makes a late decision to dab it down. Blair Tickner at short third dives to his right and keeps the batters down to a single.

Drags the length back, on off. Reddy punches it firmly but straight to extra cover.

SIX! High and long enough. Bowled at 132 kph, on a length, on off. Reddy takes a step back in the crease and clears the front leg. He puts his head down and swings through the line. Gets it more from the lower half, and the blade turns in his hand, but he manages to clear the wide long on fence.

A good ball to end the over. Milne nails the yorker, on off. Naman can do nothing about it and digs it out back to the bowler.

FOUR! Through the gap. Milne pitches it up, outside off. Dhir gets the width to work with, and he throws his hands at the ball whilst opening the face of the bat. Slices it aerially past backward point, where Finn Allen dives to his left, but the ball stays out of his reach.

Speared in at the toes, a low full toss. Reddy whips it away through mid-wicket and gets to the other end.

At pace now, skidding through, on a short of a length. Reddy stays beside the line to glide it down to deep third but is beaten for pace.

FOUR! Daryl Mitchell's effort goes in vain. Slower one, bowled on a back of a length. Reddy powers the pull to the right of long on. Mitchell sprints to his right and slides to push the ball back inside with his right hand. He gets a bit of hand on it but it is not enough.

Full and angled in at the sticks. Reddy presents the full face of the bat and drives it too straight, hitting the sticks at the bowling end.

Another off-pace ball, on off, on a length. Reddy swipes it away to deep mid-wicket for one.

Takes pace off, fuller and on off. Dhir knocks it down to long off for a single.

FOUR! Banged away. This will only add to the frustration of Blair Tickner. Loopy slower one, dipping on the batter, a bit too full, on off. Dhir gets his hands through the line of the ball and cracks the drive past extra cover for a boundary.

PUT DOWN! That should have been taken. Simon Doull informs that this is the 15th dropped catch by New Zealand in this series. Tickner bashes the hard length and gets it high around the shoulder, outside off. Dhir reaches out to flay it away. Spoons it straight down the throat of Adam Milne at deep point, who could have taken another step or two to take the catch around his chest but he hangs back and bends to take the catch, and shells it. Dhir had given up and the batters did not run.

At 135 kph, angled into the pads, Reddy works this good-length ball to mid on for a single.

Starts with an off-pace delivery, on a good length, around off. Dhir waits on it and punches it to deep point for a single.

Dragged back, on middle, Nathan Smith swats it to deep mid-wicket for one more.

FOUR! Top shot! More air on this one, full and around off. Naman Dhir backs away a bit, brings his wrists into play, and lofts it beautifully over extra covers for a boundary.

Flighted, full and on off, Nitish Kumar Reddy drills it to long off for a run.

Floated, short and on off, Nitish Kumar Reddy stabs it out to short cover.

Excellent effort in the deep! A bit short, around off, Naman Dhir backs away and cuts it as the ball races through backward point. Bevon Jacobs in the deep covers a lot of ground to his left and dives to push the ball back inside. Three taken.

Tossed up, full and on middle, Nitish Kumar Reddy drives it to long off for a single.

Hard length and on off, Nitish Kumar Reddy runs it down to deep third for one.

Good length and on off, Nitish Kumar Reddy taps it towards cover.

OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! Nathan Smith eventually gets his man. He bangs this into the pitch, just around off. Tilak Varma steps across and tries to drag his pull shot but gets into an awkward position, and the ball bounces a bit more than he expects. It takes the top edge and goes into the air as Smith runs to his left and grabs it well. He straightaway points to the umpire to see if that is a legal delivery or not and gets the nod. Tilak fails to make the most of the life given to him. India lose half their side now.

On a length and on off, Naman Dhir pushes it towards cover, where a fumble allows one.

Much fuller and wide outside off, Tilak Varma reaches out and drills it to deep point for a run.

The celebrations have been cut short! Nathan Smith thought he had picked up a wicket, but he has overstepped here. Pace off, short of a length and on off, jumps off the deck. Tilak Varma looks to work it across the line but gets a leading edge. It loops up and wide of point, where Finn Allen moves to his right and dives to take a fine one-handed catch. However, it will mean nothing as it is a No Ball. Free Hit up next...

Fuller and on middle, angling in, Naman Dhir hoicks it off the inner half of the bat to deep square leg for a single.

Flatter, shortish and around off, Naman Dhir forces it down to long off for the sixth single of the over.

Drags his length back, around off, Tilak Varma stabs it out through covers for one more.

Short again, on middle and leg, Naman Dhir flicks it off the back foot through square leg for one.

Goes short, outside off, Tilak Varma reaches out and punches it to sweeper cover for another run.

Floated, full and on leg, Naman Dhir eases it down to long on for a run.

Tossed up, full and on middle, Tilak Varma clips it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Good length and on off, Naman Dhir tucks it to the leg side and sets off for the run, but is sent back. Back-to-back good overs for the Kiwis!

Pitched up, on middle and off, Naman Dhir knocks it down the pitch.

Back of a length and on middle, Naman Dhir keeps it out.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Nathan Smith strikes big here. He bowls a well-directed bumper, just around off, pace on this time. Shreyas Iyer makes his mind up early for the pull shot but the ball skids through to rush him and gets big on him. It takes the top edge and lobs up in the air behind, where Tim Seifert moves forward and takes a dolly. Fifty and out for the skipper, and India are 123/4.

WIDE! Bangs in a slower bouncer, on middle, but too high. Shreyas Iyer lets it go.

FOUR! FIFTY FOR IYER! Off just 22 balls. A superb knock from the Indian skipper, and this will do a whole lot of good for his confidence. Nathan Smith loses his grip and slips in a high full toss, around leg. Iyer steps across and just helps it on its way to the deep fine leg fence for a boundary.

Pace off, full and on off, Shreyas Iyer tucks it with soft hands towards mid-wicket and calls for two right away. He turns back and makes it comfortably.

Hard length and outside off, Shreyas Iyer punches it through cover-point for one more.

Short of a length and on middle, Tilak Varma heaves it to deep mid-wicket for one.

Pitched up, on off, Shreyas Iyer wrists it to deep square leg for another run.

Back of a length and on off, Tilak Varma dabs it down towards point for a single.

OUT! CAUGHT! Blair Tickner makes amends for his dropped catch. He comes around the wicket, serves this full and on middle, angling in a bit. Ishan Kishan steps across and tries to swipe across the line but gets it from the bottom half of the bat. He fails to get the distance as the ball flies straight to deep mid-wicket, where Nathan Smith pouches it safely. Kishan walks back after a fiery knock, and India are 112/3 now.

Slower delivery, on a length and on middle, Shreyas Iyer nudges it towards mid-wicket for  a single.

FOUR! That is powerfully hit. A lot fuller, wider on off. Kishan sinks to a knee and swats it away in front of square on the leg side. The ball skips across the turf and splits the fielders at deep mid-wicket and long on for another four. 27 runs off the over, and after a quiet start, India are motoring along.

SIX! Up, up and away! How often have we seen this? A dropped catch, followed by a six on the very next ball. Floated up from around the wicket, on off. Kishan dances down the track and launches it down the ground. One hand comes off the bat handle but it does not matter as he clears the long on fence with ease.

DROPPED! Blair Tickner has shelled it. Slowed down by Bracewell, on a good length, on off. Iyer gets down on a knee for the slog sweep but gets a top edge. It is skied towards short fine leg, where Tickner tries to settle under it but is always on the move and gets into a tangle. He fails to cling on and the ball drops to the ground.

SIX! Another biggie from the Indian skipper. Another ball, right in the slot by Bracewell, on off. Iyer needs no second invitation. He hangs deep in the crease and parks it onto the grass banks beyond the long off fence.

FOUR! Two is the call but Iyer will get two more than that. Bracewell tries to get it very full but ends up serving a low full toss, on middle. Iyer flicks it away off the pads and threads the gap, beating the diving deep mid-wicket fielder to his left.

SIX! Launched down the ground. Fired in full by Bracewell, on off. Iyer gets it in his wheelhouse and swings through the line, smacking it back over the sight screen for half a dozen.

Full and pushed through, near the tramline. Kishan goes for the reverse but is beaten on the outside edge as the ball goes away with the angle.

SIX! That has gone back many a mile and that brings up a FIFTY for Ishan Kishan. Santner errs in his length as he serves a bit too full, right in the slot, on off. Kishan just holds his shape and wallops it over long on for a biggie. First half-century of the series for Kishan.

Shorter and slower, on off. Kishan smashes it off the back foot to extra cover.

Wide! Pushed well wide on off, Kishan brings out the reverse but fails to connect.

FOUR! Wow, that's an incredible shot. Nearly a yorker by Santner, on middle. Kishan gets the front leg out of the way and brings his wrists into play. Whipping it away in helicopter style, hitting it in the gap between deep mid-wicket and long on for a four.

Smashed onto the stumps! Very full, on off. Kishan can't get under the ball and hits it too straight, right onto the stumps at the bowling end.

A bit of air given, full and on off. Iyer pushes it down to long off for a single.

Flighted delivery, on middle. Iyer leans on and works it with the spin behind square leg for one more run.

Not all that short, spinning away, on off. Kishan mistimes the pull down to long on for one.

Direct hit! Tossed up, on off. Kishan gets forward and angles it towards backward point. He sets off for the run before being sent back and Bevon Jacobs is quick onto the ball and scores a direct hit at the batting end. A quick check upstairs but Ishan had got back in by then.

Missed out! Dragged down, on off. Iyer forces it away but straight to deep point. Just a single.

Wide! Well wide on off, skidding through. Iyer lets it go. The 50-run stand comes up between these two batters.

SIX! Onto the grass bank! This is dropped short by Bracewell, on middle. Iyer rocks onto the back foot and uses the depth of the crease to pull it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

Speared in on a good length, on middle. Kishan nurdles it in front of square on the leg side and rotates the strike.

Curving away with the angle, on the shorter side. Kishan spanks it to deep point for another single.

Shorter and darted in on middle, Iyer goes back in the crease and flicks it away through mid-wicket for a single.

Outstanding work in the field! On a good length, on off. Kishan shimmies down the track and even though he is not to the pitch of the ball, he swings through the line. One hand comes off the bat handle as Ishan lofts it back over the bowler's head. Daryl Mitchell is quick to his left from long on and slides to flick the ball towards the converging Finn Allen, keeping the batters down to a single.

Slows it down, fuller and on off. Iyer lunges and eases it to long off for one more run.

Shorter and going across. Kishan thumps it to deep cover and rotates the strike.

SIX! Ishan Kishan survives, much to the delight of the Indian faithful at Seddon Park. Flighted up, around off. Kishan collapses his back knee and is able to get under the ball as he swings down the ground. He does not quite get hold of it and Allen is in business at long on. Finn runs to his right and stays side on. He leaps to take the catch, and just before he goes over the ropes, he lobs it in the air and comes back in to take the catch. The third umpire is called into action. He has a couple of angles to work with, one from behind and one in front of Allen. He asks for a split screen and, after going through the footage frame by frame, concludes that Allen had not let go of the ball when his right toe landed on the ground.

Tickner finishes well. Nice and full, honing in on the off stump. It seams away a touch as Iyer presents a straight bat to block it out. At the end of the Powerplay, India are 50/2, with 27 runs coming off the last 2 overs.

Fractionally short and not all that wide either, Kishan slaps it to deep point and gets to the other end. India's 50 comes up.

FOUR! Good manipulation of the field. Cross-seam ball, on off and middle, on a good length. Kishan walks across the stumps and crouches to shovel it past the diving short fine leg fielder to his right. 12 runs off the over already, with 2 balls still to go.

Angled in at the hips, it kicks up a bit as Iyer nurdles it to the left of short fine leg for one.

Tucking the batter up for room, on a back of a length. Kishan is hurried on the pull but gets it away behind square leg for a single.

SIX! All the way. Tickner steams in from around the wicket, bowls it on a hard length, on off. Kishan's weight stays back, and he hops to flay it away. He uses the pace, and it flies over the deep third fence, where the fielder on the ropes is stationed square.

Short of a length and on off, Shreyas Iyer dabs it down to point. 16 runs off the over!

FOUR! Shot of the match so far! A half-volley and around off. Shreyas Iyer leans into the drive, meets the ball right under his eyes and creams it through covers for four more runs.

Dug into the surface, on middle and leg, Ishan Kishan hops up and hooks it through short fine leg for a run.

FOUR! Powered away! Length delivery, around off. Ishan Kishan stands tall, takes no half-measures and thumps it down to the long off fence for a boundary.

On a length and on middle, Shreyas Iyer clips it towards mid-wicket for a single.

SIX! Gets greeted with a bang! Nathan Smith serves this full, but angling into the pads. Shreyas Iyer picks it up and, using his wrists, whips it over the deep backward square leg fence for a biggie.

Short of a length and outside off, Ishan Kishan hops up and cuts but finds point. Top over from Milne again!

Hard length and just around off, Ishan Kishan stabs it out towards cover.

This is excellent bowling! Just back of a length and on middle, it jags back in sharply. Ishan Kishan gets tucked up in his crease and fails to work it away, getting hit on his body.

Pitched up and outside off, angling further away, Ishan Kishan tries to reach out and throws his bat at it but misses.

WIDE! On a length but down the leg side, Ishan Kishan swings at it but misses. Wided.

Fuller and on middle and leg, Shreyas Iyer flicks it away to deep mid-wicket for a single.

OUT! TAKEN! Adam Milne picks up a wicket on the first ball of his over once again. He goes fuller and on middle, gets it to shape away late. Sanju Samson stays in his crease and tries to flick it across the line but closes the bat face early. Gets a leading edge as the ball goes miles up in the air over extra cover, where Michael Bracewell runs over his right shoulder, keeps his eyes on the ball, and dives to take a superb catch. End of a scratchy stay from Samson. India are 19/2 now, with both openers back in the shed.

Hits the deck hard and around off, Sanju Samson opens the bat face and guides it towards backward point for one. Duffy ends the over well. After getting hit for 12 in the first 3, he gives away just 14 runs.

Swing and a miss! Touch fuller and on off, shaping away a touch. Sanju Samson moves to the leg side and tries to hit it through the line but misses.

Pace off, on a length and on off, Ishan Kishan pats it down towards point for a single.

FOUR! Nicely done! Back of a length and around leg, there to be put away. Ishan Kishan stays inside the line of it and, with a flick of the wrists, helps it to the fine leg fence for a boundary.

Goes fuller and on middle, shaping in, Ishan Kishan flicks it away through mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

SIX! Width on offer, and it disappears! Short of a length and well outside off. Ishan Kishan gets the chance to free his arms and smashes it over the deep point fence for the first biggie of the game.

Uppish but safe! Fuller one and on middle, shapes away again. Sanju Samson looks to clip it across the line but gets a leading edge that just drops over extra cover for a brace.

Nicely bowled! Dug into the surface, just around off, shaping away with some bounce. Sanju Samson is caught on his crease and just wafts at it, but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Short of a length and around leg, Ishan Kishan looks to hook it away but misses as the ball goes off his midriff towards square leg. A leg bye taken.

Hits the deck hard, on middle, shapes away a bit. Ishan Kishan shapes up for the pull but has to check his shot and keeps it out to the leg side.

Jaffa! Just back of a length and on middle, it nips away sharply off the deck. Ishan Kishan gets squared up, trying to play at it as the ball zips past the outside edge.

OUT! IN THE AIR....GONE! Adam Milne draws first blood right away. He lands this on a good length, on middle and leg. Abhishek Sharma backs away and tries to loft it down the ground, but this is just not full enough to get under it. He hits it from the toe-end of the bat as the ball goes straight up in the air. Daryl Mitchell at mid on settles under the high ball and takes a good catch. Abhishek departs cheaply, and India are 2/1 now.

Hard length and on middle, angling into the batter. Sanju Samson backs away but does not have much room and clips it to square leg.

Extra bounce now! Jacob Duffy lands this on a back of a length and on off, takes off sharply. Sanju Samson stays back and has a poke at it but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Pitched up and just on off, shapes away. Sanju Samson backs away and tries to go big down the ground but fails to connect as the ball dies down on the keeper.

Almost a mess-up! Fuller delivery, on middle, shaping in. Abhishek Sharma looks to loft it away but gets an inside edge towards deep square leg. Nathan Smith fails to judge the spin and overruns it to his right, but then dives in the opposite direction to stop it well. They cross.

Good fielding! Back of a length and on off, shaping away again. Sanju Samson opens the bat face again and steers it wide of short third. It travels quickly, but Blair Tickner dives to his right to make a half-stop. Just a single and India are underway!

Hint of movement! Jacob Duffy starts with a full delivery, on off, shaping away. Sanju Samson opens the bat face and pushes it to cover-point.