भारत vs न्यूजीलैंड, पांचवां टी-20 Commentary, Live Updates

That's a wrap to the series - Now then, Suryakumar Yadav receives the trophy from the BCCI President Mithun Manhas and walks towards his teammates, who eagerly wait for their skipper to join them in their celebrations behind the Winners board. That wraps up a high-scoring series, with India taking it 4-1. New Zealand showed glimpses of fight but in patches and couldn’t consistently handle the Indian batting onslaught. Still, they won’t go home empty-handed, having beaten the Men in Blue 2-1 in the preceding ODI series. Both teams now turn their focus to the ICC T20 World Cup, starting next Saturday, 7th February, and will be playing their warm-up games ahead of the main event. Until then, we sign off from here, only to meet again the next time. Take care, cheers!

PLAYER OF THE SERIES - The victorious captain of India, Suryakumar Yadav, receives the award for being the leading run scorer of the series (242 runs). He says it feels incredible to have a performance like this after a long year and a long wait. He explains that he has stuck to his routine and trusted the process, knowing that he wasn’t out of form, just out of runs. Further adds that having a series like this just before the World Cup feels especially rewarding, while also reflecting on how he navigated a lean patch by going back to the drawing board and leaning on advice from close friends. He stresses that as a team, there’s always something to take from every game, win or lose. Says that they will analyse the five matches to build toward the World Cup. Acknowledging the challenges this format poses for bowlers, he says it’s all part of the learning curve. Yadav concludes that he’s thrilled the team has found momentum at the right time and is now eager to kick off their World Cup campaign.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Ishan Kishan (103 runs off 43 balls) says that he just wanted to watch the ball and play accordingly. Adds that the plan is to always go for runs even if you are close to a milestone, if the ball is there, you go for it, and think about winning games. Mentions that he is still not at his absolute best, but his focus is on the World Cup and he wants to carry this same form into the bigger competition as well.

The captain of New Zealand - Mitchell Santner reflects on the series, saying that it had been a valuable learning experience for the team. He admits that India is a very strong side and notes that playing in their conditions is always challenging. Adds that while it might seem like the boundaries were pushed back a bit for bowlers, he says that the cricket remained entertaining. Santner explains that the main objective for New Zealand was to challenge themselves and gauge where they stand. He highlights that being consistently put under pressure, both for bowlers and batters, provides important lessons. Although the results did not go their way, he feels there were plenty of takeaways from every game as the team now shifts focus to the World Cup. One key insight for the bowling unit, he notes, is the importance of limiting damage against quality batters on flat pitches. Adds that the goal is to turn potentially expensive overs into ones that concede 15 or 16 runs instead of going over 20s. Mentions that in modern T20 cricket, where totals like 230 can still be chased, managing these key moments is crucial. Overall, Santner describes the series as a significant learning experience that he hopes will put New Zealand in a stronger position heading into the World Cup.

... THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY ...

India's Arshdeep Singh is up for a quick chat - He says that it's a great learning for him to stay in the present and not worry too much about what happened in the first spell. Cheekily says that it is just for cameras that he looks calm, but he feels the pressure as well. Adds that lately he has been going for some runs and needs to have a chat with Morne Morkel to improve in that aspect. Mentions that he enjoyed some of the shots that Finn played, but could have done some better planning. Arshdeep tells that they knew that the Kiwis would come hard at them, and the talk in the huddle was about body language, to give their all and try and restrict them under 180. Further adds that they did score many runs, but he is happy to be on the winning side. Admits that the perfect game hasn't come yet, where everything clicks, but it is as good as it can come in the upcoming World Cup.

Sixes galore in Thiruvananthapuram - The match was defined by insane power hitting, with a total of 36 sixes struck across both innings. Ishan Kishan led the charge, hammering 10 of them in his 103, with 84 runs coming through fours and sixes. It was a statement knock at the right time, offering a strong case for himself just a week before the mega event. Finn Allen, meanwhile, carried his BBL form into a completely different and challenging setting, adapting swiftly and continuing his rich vein of form and runs.

From expensive to exceptional - India's recovery - In chases of this magnitude, the bowling side needs just one opening. India found theirs through Axar Patel when he fished out Allen and finished off with a three-for. Arshdeep Singh, after conceding 40 runs in his first two overs, roared back with an inspirational spell that ripped the heart out of the chase. He finished with a stunning five-wicket haul, giving away just 11 runs in his final two overs. The impact was immediate and brutal as New Zealand collapsed from 117 for 1 to 137 for 5 in a blink. From there, there were a few blips from the lower order, but they too, knew their fate was dead and buried.

New Zealand refused to concede - If India’s initial assault was ruthless, New Zealand’s reply was even more ferocious in nature. In pursuit of 272, they lost Seifert in the very first over, mirroring India’s early setback with Samson early in the Powerplay, but it barely slowed them down. The Kiwis stormed to 79 for 1 in the Powerplay, comfortably eclipsing India, with Finn Allen leading the charge through an effortless half-century off just 22 balls. Alongside Rachin Ravindra, Allen stitched together a blazing 100-run partnership that put the chase firmly on track.

India unleashed a batting avalanche - India rolled the dice by batting first on a tacky surface, but the move looked risky early as Sanju Samson fell yet again for a single-digit score. Abhishek Sharma refused to let the innings stall, counter-attacking with intent and setting the stage for Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav to take over. That, however, was only the warm-up. What followed was a full-blown run feast. Kishan and SKY stitched together a brutal 137-run stand, turning the ground into a target range. Every corner, you name it, was found and attacked, every length punished. SKY cruised to his fifty, while Kishan went the distance with a commanding century. Hardik Pandya ensured the foot stayed on the pedal, smashing a breezy 42 off just 17 balls as India stormed to a towering 271. Such was the assault that the bowlers were reduced to mere spectators, watching the scoreboard spiral out of control.

A batter's paradise, a bowler's nightmare - It was one of those games where no bowler wanted the ball. Runs flowed freely, boundaries rained down, and sixes flew into the stands at will. New Zealand or India, it didn’t matter who was batting, the pitch offered a lot of generosity for the ones with the bat. Even a world-class operator like Jasprit Bumrah found no relief, as the surface showed absolutely no mercy to anyone with the ball in hand.

OUT! TAKEN! Rinku Singh wraps things up with a wicket! He drags his length back again, outside off. Ish Sodhi has to reach out for it again but only manages to slice it off the outer half of the bat. It lobs up in the air, and Arshdeep Singh at cover-point takes a dolly. He puts the ball in his pocket as he has taken a fifer here. INDIA WIN BY 46 RUNS!

Flatter, short and outside off, Ish Sodhi reaches out but shanks it off the toe-end towards point.

SIX! Just over! Tossed up, full and on middle, Ish Sodhi clears his front leg away and launches it down the ground. Abhishek Sharma at long on thinks he is the game, moves to his right but only watches it sail over his head for a biggie.

Short and around off, Jacob Duffy swats it to long off for a single.

Looped up, full and on middle, Ish Sodhi uses his feet and slogs it to deep mid-wicket for a brace.

Floated, full and on off, Jacob Duffy backs away and lofts it to long off for one.

A shout for LBW, but turned down! However, SKY takes the review here. Flatter, shortish and on middle and leg, Ish Sodhi looks to heave it across the line but misses and gets hit on the pads. Ball Tracking shows that it is missing the leg stump. The on-field calls remains.

SIX! That is a shot a top-order batter will be proud of! Tossed up, full and on middle, Ish Sodhi skips down the track, lofts it with a straight bat over the bowler's head for a biggie.

Superb effort in the deep! Short and around off, Ish Sodhi carves it away over extra cover. Rinku Singh from deep point covers a lot of ground to his right and dives to push the ball back inside just in time. He saves two runs for his side. Even with the match already in the bag, he is still putting his all on the field.

Flighted, full and on middle, Ish Sodhi drags it wide of long on for a couple of runs.

Who will bowl the penultimate over? Surprise, surprise. Abhishek Sharma to roll his arm over.

FOUR! Jasprit Bumrah goes for 58 in his 4 overs! He bowls this in the blockhole, angling into leg. Jacob Duffy backs away to dig it out, but gets it from the toe-end of the bat. The bounce takes it over Ishan Kishan as it races to the fine leg fence for a boundary.

Off cutter, short and outside off, Sodhi dabs it to the right of short third for a single. 200 up for New Zealand.

Slow again, on top of middle. Jacob heaves it to deep square leg for a single.

Short and slow, outside off, Jacob Duffy pulls it off the top edge. But the ball lands safely in the vast acreage of deep mid-wicket. Two taken.

Hard length and around off, Ish Sodhi punches it through cover-point for one.

FOUR! Oh..that is an outrageous shot! Jasprit Bumrah nails the yorker, outside off. Ish Sodhi somehow gets his bat down, opens the face and squeezes it out to the third man fence for a boundary. Bumrah can only smile.

Jacob Duffy is the last man in for New Zealand. Jasprit Bumrah (3-0-45-0) is back on for his final over. Didn't have a promising evening by his standards. Could he cap it off with a wicket?

OUT! TIMBER! Number nine goes now now. Axar Patel gives this one some more flight, full and on middle, Lockie Ferguson dances down the track to slog it across the line but misses a straight one as it goes through to rattle the stumps. India need just one wicket to win now.

Flatter, full and around off, Ish Sodhi uses his feet again to drive it through cover but gets an inside edge towards mid-wicket for one.

SIX! Gets hold of that one! Flighted, full and on middle, Ish Sodhi skips down the track and heaves it over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie.

Short and on leg, Lockie Ferguson works it through square leg for one.

Another missed stumping! Ishan Kishan has not had a great night behind the stumps. Arm ball, full and on middle, angling in, Ish Sodhi uses his feet to slog it but it looks like he misses. Kishan, behind the stumps, fails to gather it cleanly. They cross. Oh..on the replay, it shows that Sodhi did get some bat on that, maybe that's why Kishan missed it.

Short and around leg, Lockie Ferguson flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

A spell of two halves for Arshdeep Singh. Was carted for 40 runs in his first two overs. Came back strongly with a five-for and conceded just 11 runs in his last two. Axar Patel (3-0-23-2) to bowl out now.

A full toss, on off, Lockie Ferguson steers it wide of point. Sanju Samson dives to his right and makes a half-stop. They cross.

The batters keep coming in and going out. With the final rites being read, Lockie Ferguson walks in at number 10.

OUT! CHOPPED ON! Fifer for Arshdeep, and he is off running and celebrating here. He bowls a wide yorker, outside off. Daryl Mitchell gets into position to play the reverse scoop and takes it on the full as well. However, the ball goes off the toe-end of the bat and crashes onto the stumps. No idea how that ball hit the stumps from there, as even if Mitchell tried, he could not do it again. He departs for 26 off 12, and the Kiwis are 8 down now.

Right in the blockhole, on middle, Ish Sodhi jams it out through extra cover for one.

Another one bites the dust. Ish Sodhi is in at number 9.

OUT! DRAGGED ON! Number four for Arshdeep Singh. He bangs this into the pitch, on off, rolls his fingers to take pace off. Kyle Jamieson opens up his stance for the big heave across the line but goes through the shot early. He only manages to get a bottom edge back onto the stumps. New Zealand are 179/7 now.

FOUR! Just over! A deceptive slower bouncer, on middle, Kyle Jamieson looks to pull it away but gets a top edge behind. Ishan Kishan leaps high in the air but the ball still evades him and goes to the fence for a boundary. Arshdeep is telling Kishan that he could have done better but the ball was too high to be fair.

FOUR! That is a fine shot! Good length and around off, Kyle Jamieson backs away and punches it on the rise towards long off. Rinku Singh runs to his left from long on but has no chance of stopping that from going to the fence.

Good length, on off stump. Daryl goes down to sweep it between deep fine leg and deep square. Axar charges across from the latter position to his right, and they manage to come back for a couple of runs.

Flights it up, on a length, on off. Kyle Jamieson hangs back and tries to pull, but gets a thick inside edge onto the back thigh. It rolls past Kishan to his left for a single at deep fine leg.

A touch fuller, just outside off, Daryl Mitchell looks to drive it away, but gets a thick inside edge past the stumps towards short fine leg for a single.

Good length just outside off, turning back in and bouncing a bit extra. Mitchell drops to one knee to attempt the paddle but misses, and Kishan shuffles across behind the stumps, failing to gather it cleanly.

A touch full, on leg, Kyle misses to get any connection and the ball rolls off the pads to backward square leg. They get a leg bye.

Out goes Bevon and the crease has a new occupant. Kyle Jamieson is in at number 8.

OUT! CLEANED HIM UP! An absolute beauty from Varun. A deceptive googly from Varun Chakaravarthy, on a length, around off. It lands and skids and spins in dramatically. Bevon Jacobs does not pick the wrong' un and tries to drive it away, but without moving his feet. That creates a huge gap between the bat and pad and the ball sneaks through to crash into the stumps behind. Bevon Jacobs falls for 7 (11) and New Zealand are 166/6, needing 106 more off 35 balls.

IN THE AIR... LANDS SAFE! Hits the deck hard, does Bumrah. On top of off, Jacobs tries to club it downtown, but badly mistimes it off the toe end. The ball, luckily for him, lands safely in thereabouts of mid on. They cross. 22 runs from Bumrah's third over.

FOUR! Up and over! Pace on, full and on off, Bevon Jacobs stays leg side, and tonks it over the mid off fielder for a cracking boundary!

An attempted yorker, on middle, Daryl shovels it out and drills it down to long on for a single.

SIX! Clears the ropes yet again! Slower ball, nipping in from off, on a good length. Daryl Mitchell heaves it powerfully behind deep backward square leg for a huge six. 16 from the over, with 3 balls to go.

SIX! Goes all the way! Short of a good length, on middle and leg. Daryl Mitchell pulls it off the back foot. Gets it more off the top edge but the ball clears long leg fence for a six.

FOUR! Straight as an arrow! Full and straight, lasered on the stumps, Daryl Mitchell spanks it straight down the ground, and by the time Hardik could move a muscle, the ball races away for a boundary.

Short, outside off, slapped off the back foot to long on for a single.

Full and outside off, worked away to long off for one.

Slightly short, turning in prodigiously with some bounce. Bevon tries the pull shot, but the ball beats the inside edge and raps him on the back thigh.

FOUR BYES! Kishan misses collecting this and frustrations rise for Varun. Short and turning the other way, Bevon swings and misses. It beats him on the outside edge. Kishan fails to pick it and can’t make the stop, as the ball races away to the third man fence.

PUT DOWN! Abhishek Sharma is the guilty party and Varun Chakaravarthy is not a happy bowler at the moment. A touch short, on the stumps, skidding in. Bevon Jacobs is hurried on the back foot and tamely chips it to short mid-wicket. Abhishek Sharma dives to his left and the ball pops in and out of his palms.

NEARLY! That was so close to the leg stump. Around off, on a length, sharply spinning, almost square into the batter. Bevon Jacobs tries to work it across on the front foot, but the ball sneaks through the gate and beats the inside edge, scarily passing close to the leg stump. Good take from Ishan behind the sticks, to his left.

Much fuller, at 134.8 kph, on off, Bevon Jacobs muscles it down to long off for a single. A sensational over from Arshdeep Singh. A couple of wickets and just a single off it. New Zealand need 134 from 48 balls.

And again! Another half-tracker, on the leg stump. Bevon dodges the bullet fired at him and leaves.

A sharp bumper, on top of the stumps, Bevon Jacobs ducks under it and lets it fly back to the keeper.

Arshdeep Singh with the double strike in the over. That brings Bevon Jacobs out to the middle.

OUT! TAKEN! It is all going south for New Zealand now. Arshdeep goes pace on and into the pitch, short, on top of middle. Mitchell Santner is rushed onto his pull shot, but only manages to slice it straight up the chimney. The ball sails towards extra cover where Suryakumar Yadav gets under it and takes the dolly. Even before he took the catch, Arshdeep already started celebrating. A brilliant comeback from him in this spell. A silver duck for Mitchell Santner and the Kiwis are 137/5.

Nagging length, outside off, bunted down the pitch off the back foot.

Skipper Mitchell Santner walks out to bat, with his side in a spot of bother.

OUT! CAUGHT! Another set batter bites the dust. A knuckle ball from Singh, short and outside off. Rachin Ravindra gets deceived by the pace off. Is forced to reach for it and mistimes his pull shot off the top edge. Axar Patel runs in a bit off the ropes from deep square leg and takes a fine catch. Rachin Ravindra falls for 30 off 17 balls and from 117/1, New Zealand slide down to 137/4.

Arshdeep Singh (2-0-40-1) comes back into the attack now.

FOUR! PUNISHED! Serves it full and around off, Daryl Mitchell gets on top of it and bludgeons it downtown for a cracking boundary. New Zealand still need 135 from 54 balls.

On a length, on the stumps, this is clubbed down to long on for a single.

Dropped full, on off, drilled down to long on for a single.

Full and flat, around off, Daryl reverse sweeps off the inside edge to the first slip.

The Kiwis just losing their way a little now. Daryl Mitchell is the next man in.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! Wicket number 2 for Axar and catch number two for Rinku as well. Back of a length on the middle stump line with no turn on offer. Phillips clears the front leg and goes hard down the ground, but it comes right off the bottom half of the bat and balloons straight up into the night sky. Rinku Singh at long on shuffles to his left, camps under it, and plucks a simple catch. Glenn Phillips departs for 7 (6) and suddenly, New Zealand have slipped a bit to 131/3.

Slides in from off, at 92.9 kph, GP backs away and punches it to cover.

DRINKS BREAK! The batters, irrespective of both sides, have just toyed around with the bat. Finn Allen just displayed a brave counterpunch and carted the ball in all corners of the park. If we dissect the innings, at halfway, India were 102/2, and New Zealand are well ahead with 131/2 on the board. But they still require 141 runs from 60 balls. It's a massive ask, and they will have to keep going at 12s and 13s an over, in fact, even that won't be enough.

Fuller and on off, Glenn Phillips drills it away towards mid off and sets off for the run. The throw comes in at the bowler's end, but Phillips is very quick and makes his ground. A chance for an overthrow, but Phillips has backed away bit too much.

FOUR! Gets it away this time! Bangs this into the pitch, on middle, does no bounce that much to trouble the batter. Glenn Phillips gets inside the line of it and plays no-look pull as the ball races to the deep square leg fence for a boundary.

Swing and a miss! Goes a bit fuller, outside off. Glenn Phillips goes chasing after it but fails to connect.

On a length and on middle, Glenn Phillips tucks it away with soft hands through mid-wicket and comes back for the second run.

Back of a length and on middle, Rachin Ravindra pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

SIX! Lovely pick up! Fuller one and on the pads, Rachin Ravindra picks it up off his pads and whips it over the deep backward square leg fielder for a biggie.

Take a bow, Finn Allen. That was some response in pursuit of this mammoth run chase. He trudges off, disappointed. But the Kiwi dugout admires his free-flowing knock. Took a long flight from Perth, landed here and just went on to his business like a routine. Now then, the platform is perfectly laid as Glenn Phillips walks in at number 4.

OUT! TAKEN! Axar Patel breaks the 100-run stand and gets the big fish here. Ishan Kishan would be a relieved man as he missed a stumping chance on the first ball of the over. Axar drags his length back, bowls this quicker, on middle. Finn Allen tries to swat it down the ground but just gets a bit cramped up and does not get the timing on that one as the ball hits the upper half of the bat. It flies towards long on, where Rinku Singh settles under it and pouches it safely. Allen goes back after a remarkable 80 off 38. New Zealand are 117/2, chasing 272.

Slightly shorter in length, on off, Finn Allen opens the face of his bat and guides it through backward point for a brace. That brings up the 100-run stand between these two batters.

Flatter, full and on middle, Rachin Ravindra goes down and swipes it to deep square leg for a run.

Short and around off, Finn Allen punches it thruough extra cover or a single.

FOUR! Put away! Short delivery, on middle, Finn Allen quickly moves back and pulls it away in the gap between deep square leg and deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

FOUR BYES! To add to the woes, it was a stumping chance! Axar Patel sees the batter advance and bowls an arm ball, full and angling into leg. Finn Allen has a big swing but misses. Ishan Kishan, behind the stumps, is guilty of watching the batter and letting the ball through as it rolls behind to the fence for a boundary.

SIX! Rachin Ravindra gets going now! Flighted, full and around off, Rachin Ravindra gets down on one knee and plays the slog sweep. He does not get it from the middle but gets enough to send it over the long on fence for a biggie. 17 runs off the over!

Dragged back and outside off, Finn Allen slaps it hard and wide of long off. He calls for two, but the fielder is quick to move to his right and throws it back to keep it one.

SIX! Into the crowd! Fires this one full, on middle and leg, in the slot as well. Finn Allen picks it up cleanly and whips it away. He does not even look at it as the ball sails way over the deep square leg fence for a biggie.

Flatter, shortish and around off, Rachin Ravindra forces it to wide long off for a run.

Uppish but safe! Flatter, full and outside off. Rachin Ravindra tries to reach out for it but loses his bottom hand. He slices it in the air over extra cover. SKY runs backwards and dives but fails to reach it. Two taken.

Shorter in length and around off, Finn Allen punches it to sweeper cover for a single.

Goes short again on leg, Finn Allen nudges it through mid-wicket for one. Fine comeback from Axar, after getting hit for a six on the first ball.

Flighted, full and outside off, Rachin Ravindra goes down for the sweep but gets a bottom edge. The bounce takes it over the keeper's head and the batters cross for one.

Fires one full and on leg, Finn Allen flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Almost dragged on! Pushed through quicker, shortish and on middle, Finn Allen backs away to punche it but gets an inside edge onto his pads. It could have easily gone back onto the stumps.

Flatter, full and angling in, Finn Allen knocks it wide of the bowler. Axar quickly moves to his right and dives to make a good stop.

SIX! Gets greeted in style! Floated, short and just outside off, turns away. Finn Allen stays back, reaches out for it and swats it powerfully over the long off fence for a biggie.

India are into a huddle. You usually see these visuals at the drinks break, but since the runs have leaked, India are just taking some time off to slow up things. Suryakumar Yadav is in the center of that circle and is pumping up his troops after an ordinary Powerplay. Going by his expressions, he looked very animated and understandably so. New Zealand are 79/1 after the Powerplay. At the same stage, India were 54/2. Well, okay. Just one over for Bumrah, as Axar Patel replaces him.

Another short delivery, on middle, Rachin Ravindra pulls it away wide of long on for a couple of runs. 13 runs off Varun's first over. New Zealand are 79/1 at the end of the Powerplay!

A googly, short once more, on middle and leg, Finn Allen punches it to long on for a single.

SIX! Into the stands! Varun Chakaravarthy bowls a half-tracker, on middle. Finn Allen picks up the length early. rocks back and whacks it over the deep square leg fence for a biggie.

Quicker, shortish and angling into leg, Finn Allen moves back to work it away but gets hurried and the ball hits his pads.

FOUR! FIFTY FOR ALLEN! One chance, and he has made it count before the World Cup. This is his 6th half-century in T20Is, and it has come in just 22 balls. This is short again, on middle and leg. Finn Allen does not miss out this time and heaves it to deep mid-wicket or a boundary. He raises his bat to acknowledge his teammates.

Floated, short and on middle, turns in sharply. Finn Allen moves back to pull it but misses it completely and gets hit on the pads.

Laser straight, on off, on a hard length. Finn Allen tries to hit it across, but inside edges it onto the pads. The ball ricochets towards the point region for a single. 9 runs from Bumrah's first.

WIDE! For height! A half-tracker, outside off. It keeps taking off from the runway as Finn sways away from the line. Ishan leaps full-stretch and extends his right hand over his head and plucks the ball nicely. Wide called.

Cannons it on a fuller length, aimed at the pads, pitched slightly outside leg. Rachin tries to whip it across, but misses and the ball deflects off his front pad to widish backward point. They cross for a leg bye.

Hard length, around off, Allen dabs it off the back foot to the cover-point region for a quick run.

SIX! TAKE THAT, SAYS ALLEN! Proper response. Back of a length, outside off. Allen stands tall and with no intentions to keep it down, clubs it over long on for an 83-meter six.

SMELL THAT LEATHER, SAYS BUMRAH! A well-directed short ball, on top of off, nipping back in sharply. Finn Allen is a bit late on the pull shot, and is beaten all ends up.

On the money, is Bumrah! Slams the deck really hard, angling into the batter's bodyline. Finn Allen is rushed on the back foot as he tries to pull but gets beaten and takes a blow around his midriff.

Believe it or not, India were 55/2 at the end of the Powerplay. So, the Kiwis have already gone past that score and we are only 4 overs in. However, New Zealand will now have to face Jasprit Bumrah. It will be interesting to see how they battle him.

Skids through the deck, on off, on a length. Finn tries to heave it, but the ball rises up and gets sliced in the vacant mid on region for a single. 10 runs off the over. 23 from the last 2 for New Zealand.

Slams the deck hard, on middle, Rachin goes for a pull shot, but the ball beats the inside edge and is deflected off the back thigh pad to backward point for a leg bye.

FOUR! Just over! Hard length, outside off, a bit pace off. Rachin Ravindra does not time it well, but still, manages to clear the leaping mid off fielder for a boundary.

WHISKER! At 129.3 kph, this is slanted across on a good length. Rachin Ravindra does not move his feet at all and tries to punch it on the rise, but the ball keeps nibbling away and beats the outside edge by a kitten-whisker.

Hits the deck hard, outside off, Rachin stabs it to mid off.

FOUR! The runs just keep coming for the Kiwis. On a length, outside off, Rachin Ravindra hangs back and pulls it aerially. Gets a bit of a top edge, but clears the inner ring and it races away to the fence. 50 up for New Zealand!

The umpires are checking the ball again. However, it goes through the gauge cleanly, and it has been thrown to Hardik Pandya, who will bowl this over.

FOUR MORE! 23 runs from the over! Arshdeep goes for a yorker, but misses by a fraction and slips in a low full toss, around off. Finn Allen spanks it to the right of mid off. Hardik could only give a cursory glimpse at that ball from mid off as it screams toward the ropes. 2-0-40-1 so far for Singh.

FOUR! Geez, he is hitting the ball with some venom! On a hard length, outside off, trying to angle the ball in, but it stays straight. Finn Allen presses back and powers it through the point and cover gap for a cracking boundary.

SIX! That has pinged off the bat! Arshdeep goes pace on, full and on off, Finn Allen gets under it, clears the front leg and hoists it high and handsom over long on. It hangs up there for an eternity and gets deposited in the stands behind.

FOUR! A shot of a confident batter! Back of a length, outside off, Finn Allen hops on the toes to ride the bounce and nails the square cut over backward point for a boundary.

FOUR! Up and over! Pitched on middle and leg, on a fuller length. Finn Allen plays with the swing and slices it uppishly. Clears the infield and gets a boundary at deep cover.

Full and on the pads, whipped away off the inner half to deep fine leg for a single.

On a hard length, on top of off. Allen rides the bounce and bunts it down the pitch.

DROPPED? Yes, a tough chance. Hardik couldn't even manage to get the fingertips on it. Pace off, on a good length, outside the off pole. Finn Allen shuffles a long way across the stumps to scoop, but he is put off by the lack of pace. The ball pops off the bottom end and flies over Hardik, who leaps and curves like a rubberband with his right hand stretched up to pluck the ball, but it lands safely.

Gentle away shape, on a fuller length, around off. Finn Allen plays from the crease and dabs it with soft hands to short third.

Away-angler, on a length, outside off, Allen presses back and knocks it to cover, but cannot get it past the protection there.

BEATEN! Angles in and then seams away from a length, outside off. Finn Allen plays the initial line, away from his body, looking to block. But the ball whistles past his outside edge, on the bounce to Kishan behind.

The umpires are not happy with the condition of the current ball, as it has hit the concrete part of the ground. Out comes the briefcase, and Jasprit Bumrah selects the replacement ball.

SIX! UP, UP, AND AWAY! He has made that look so, so easy. A slower one to start from Pandya, full and around off. Allen stands tall and effortlessly sails it over the sightscreen for a huge six.

Early blow for New Zealand. Rachin Ravindra walks out to bat at number 3. Also, Hardik Pandya to share the attack.

OUT! CAUGHT! A soft, soft dismissal and India have their first wicket. Singh bashes the hard length and gets a bit of an extra lift on the leg stump. Tim Seifert just checks the flick shot, but hits it off the higher end of the bat and fails to keep it along the ground. Ends up chipping it straight to Hardik Pandya at short mid-wicket, who takes a sitter around his chest. Tim Seifert perishes on 5 (3) and New Zealand are 17/1, chasing 272.

Arshdeep Singh is not happy with that wide call. Can the Kiwis make the most of the extra ball?

Way too short, pitching almost halfway, down leg. Tim Seifert misses the pull shot, as the ball goes over his head and keeps flying. Ishan leaps but the ball bursts through his gloves and rolls behind. They cross for a couple. Three wides.

Hard length, on the pads. Finn Allen gets squared up and tucks it to the mid on region for a quick run.

FOUR! Timed to perfection! Outside leg, on a fractionally fuller length. Tries to angle it away from the batter, but it remains straight. Allen flicks it behind square and the quick outfield means, the ball beats the sprinting deep mid-wicket fielder to his right for a boundary.

FOUR! That's some way to get the first runs in the series! Much fuller, swinging back in on leg. Finn Allen plays with a straight bat and hits it off the sweet spot. Drives it down the ground for a boundary.

On a back of a length, outside leg, at 132.8 kph, Tim lets the ball curve back and nudges it past square leg for a single to get off the mark.

EDGED, FOUR! Streaky, but they will take it. Swings away from middle, on a good length. Tim Seifert brings the bat at an angle to block, but gets a thick outside edge. The ball shoots exactly between the backward point and short third fielders for a boundary.