The deciding third and final T20I between India and New Zealand got called off due to rain, and the vistors clinched the series 1-0. Before the rain arrived, the scores were level on DLS, thanks to Indian captain Hardik Pandya‘s unbeaten 30 off 18.
In the chase of 161, India were in a spot of bother after losing three wickets for 21 inside three overs. But Pandya calmed things down and took India to 75/4 after nine overs to put the tourists at par with the DLS requirement.
Earlier, Indian bowlers staged a brilliant comeback to bowl out New Zealand for 160 after Devon Conway (59) and Glenn Phillips (54) smashed respective half-centuries and were looking set to take the hosts to a formidable total.
The duo formed an impressive 86-run partnership for the third wicket after Black Caps lost two wickets for 44 inside the powerplay. However, Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh bowled brilliantly to fashion the batting collapse of the hosts, picking four wickets each to pack the home team for 160.
Suryakumar Yadav, who finished the series with 124 runs at a strike rate of 203.27 with one century, was named Player of the Series. In the post-match presentation, Surya said: “Really happy with the way things went till now, would have loved to have a full game here, and as Siraj said, the weather is not in our hands. The pressure is always there, and at the same time, I’m enjoying my batting, just going there and expressing myself. Not carrying any baggage out there. The intent and approach will remain the same. We can just go out and express ourselves, would have loved a full game, but that’s fine.”
Here is how Twitter reacted:
Mohammed Siraj is adjudged Player of the Match for his brilliant bowling figures of 4/17 as the final T20I ends in a tie on DLS.
Scorecard – https://t.co/rUlivZ308H #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/kSHPp8wFTx
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 22, 2022
The rain has the final say in Napier and the match is tied. Congratulations to @BCCI who win the Sterling Reserve T20 series 1-0 🤝 #NZvIND #CricketNation pic.twitter.com/FmHy6SVQ3z
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) November 22, 2022
Players captaining in most tied men’s T20Is:
3 – Tim Southee🇳🇿
2 – Virat Kohli 🇮🇳
2 – Eoin Morgan🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
2 – Pieter Seelaar🇳🇱
2 – Ross Taylor🇳🇿
2 – Daniel Vettori 🇳🇿3 out of 22 matches captained by Southee were tied.
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) November 22, 2022
Game tied, India 🇮🇳 take the series #SparkSport #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/2lKnJaIUbJ
— Spark Sport (@sparknzsport) November 22, 2022
1.5 matches in the three-match #NZvInd series. Young Indian Bowlers have given a good account of themselves. Not much to feel good about in the batting department except the brilliance of SKY.
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) November 22, 2022
it’s a tie on DLS. India seal the T20I series 1-0.#NZvIND #3rdT20I pic.twitter.com/ZkO4U4vl3u
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) November 22, 2022
Captain Hardik Pandya with the series winning trophy. pic.twitter.com/BMr5NsQGVd
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) November 22, 2022
A crucial 3️⃣0️⃣ by Captain Pandya helps #TeamIndia secure a tie, and win the 🏆.. 🙌😍🇮🇳#NZvIND #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/KAL8GHP9lc
— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) November 22, 2022
3rd T20I abandoned. Match tied. India wins series 1-0. #NZvInd
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) November 22, 2022
India finish on par with the DLS score and the match ends in a tie 👀
🇮🇳 take the series 1-0 👏
📝 Scorecard: https://t.co/UAVgFPPafs pic.twitter.com/Zttel3CUcM
— ICC (@ICC) November 22, 2022
That’s the end of today’s play.
🇮🇳 take the series but they would have loved to have a full game. 🙄#PlayBold #TeamIndia #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/Y3FjbT1Qbu
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) November 22, 2022