12:02am That will be that from us for this game. Another thrilling contest, and we still have three more T20Is in this series. We hope you enjoyed our coverage and would love your company for all the cricket that is happening elsewhere. Until next time, from Chandan, Thilak and myself (Shashwat), it is goodbye!
Tilak Verma, Player of the Match: (Thoughts when he went in) I was just thinking about playing till the end. Before today's game, I was talking to Gautam sir and Kotak sir - that whole India believes in you and that if I bat till the end, we can win. Really proud of myself. I was saying to Naman that we can stay till the end. Wicket was slower. I was telling Naman we will push hard when the spinners were bowling. Unfortunately, Naman got out in Mitchell's last over. Otherwise, we could have won in the 18th. Hyderabadi guys (got together) after it, and I am glad we (Nitish and me) could finish the game. (On waiting for pace to attack) There was a plan like that. 4-5 doubles we got off the spinners and it was really crucial. We need that pace on this huge ground, and we finished off in style.
Shreyas Iyer, India captain: Every individual is a match-winner, and we got an example of it. When we lost consecutive wickets, thought the game was going away from us. Nitish and Tilak showed great character. Dhir also played a crucial innings. He (Dhir) is a phenomenal bowler too, and he brings in a lot of character. He is a comprehensive player. We played a lot of dot balls initially and that piled up the run-rate. When we went in, we wanted to cruise but they (NZ spinners) bowled beautifully. If we would have picked gaps and got boundaries, we could have cruised. (On the fielding) The message was to anticipate every ball that is coming to you, so that the opposition thinks twice about running twos.
Mitchell Santner, New Zealand captain: They played very well, and if we had gotten one more wicket (we could have won). They set up the chase really well. The way the guys started, it was outstanding. If they get off to a flier, it is tough. We did well to pull them back. Couple of No balls, a No ball wicket, stuff like that hurts (you). Those little moments, in the field or sloppy moments, that have hurt us a little. GP (Phillips) has done it for a long time now. Even Bevon. They played the situation really well. Kind of surface where if you spend time, you can cash in later. (On Henry's injury) Think it is precautionary and Lockie went off too. With the quick turnaround, there could be a little bit of rotation.
11:43pm Phew. What a game. And what a run-chase. India seemed out of it, especially when the required run-rate crept up and India slipped to 112-6. But that is when Tilak came into his own. He has developed a penchant for standing up when the chips are down, and that was on full display as he carved the ball to all parts. NKR probably started it all off with his intent, and in the end, India did it with a ball to spare.
Another close game NZ have been on the wrong end of. Their fielding and catching left a bit to be desired, and that is perhaps what cost them. Santner was excellent, though, tying the Indian batters in knots with his variations of pace and length. But the rest were unable to follow-through at the death, and that means NZ's margin for error in this series has now evaporated.
Aqueel: "It brilliant to see India middle order has won both the matches while there is good start from openers. 1 more win to seal the series"
George: "How many would have bet that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi would have the lowest strike rate among all batters from both sides today?"
2 off 2
