India clinch rain-hit thriller to win T20I series against New Zealand

India pipped New Zealand by six runs in a rain-truncated Twenty20 thriller to win the three-match series 2-1 in Thiruvananthapuram Tuesday. Put into bat after steady rain had reduced the third and final match to an eight-over shootout, host India posted 67-5 at Greenfield International Stadium. New Zealand wobbled early in their chase of a modest target and eventually managed 61-6 in a contest which stood out for disciplined bowling and some exemplary catching from both sides.

T 2704 - BAADDDUUUMMMBAA !! India beats NZ in T20 also in cricket ! what a game ! PROUD TO BE AN INDIAN .. thank you team India ! Congrats pic.twitter.com/BdJm4oroVE

— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) November 7, 2017

Earlier, India managed only seven runs in the first two overs as Trent Boult and Mitchell Santner bowled with tremendous discipline. Tim Southee wrecked the Indian top order in his first over, dismissing openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma off successive deliveries with Santner taking both the catches. Virat Kohli made 13 off six balls before Boult took a catch in the deep off Ish Sodhi (2-23) to send back the India captain.

Updated ICC T20I rankings after today's match between India and New Zealand #Cricket pic.twitter.com/A2DbF0InH3

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) November 7, 2017

Manish Pandey top-scored for India with 17 before falling to a spectacular piece of fielding by Santner. Pandey had hit Boult towards long-on where a sprinting Santner dived to take the catch but realising momentum was taking him across the rope, the fielder threw the ball to Colin de Grandhomme who was nearby to complete the dismissal. Like their opponent, New Zealand too lost openers Martin Guptill and Colin Munro cheaply and never really got going.

India has the most number of International cricket grounds in the world. pic.twitter.com/gHKL727fG3

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) November 6, 2017

Wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals, leaving New Zealand needing 19 runs off the last over from Hardik Pandya but they managed only 12. Jasprit Bumrah (2-9) was the pick of the Indian bowlers while De Grandhomme's 17 not out was the highest for New Zealand.BRIEF SCORENew Zealand 61/6 in eight overs (De Grandhomme 17*, Bumrah 2/9) lost to India 67/5 in eight overs (Manish 17, Sodhi 2/23) by six runs