Black Caps capitulate as India inflict more Super Over misery
by Omnisport
New Zealand suffered an incredible collapse as they were condemned to more Super Over misery in the fourth T20 international with India.
Just two days after falling 3-0 behind in the five-match series in a Super Over at Hamilton having need three off five balls in the final over, New Zealand again fell short in an eliminator at Wellington after the 40 overs finished with the scores level.
It was a situation the Black Caps never should have been in.
They required seven off the final over with seven wickets in hand in pursuit of 166, but astonishingly lost four in Shardul Thakur's final six deliveries to slump to 165-7.
Tim Seifert and Colin Munro guided New Zealand to 13 off their one over, but Tim Southee - clubbed for 20 in Wednesday's Super Over - was unable to defend that as KL Rahul and Virat Kohli finished off another remarkable turnaround.
The defeat marks New Zealand's seventh in eight Super Overs in international cricket. Including their World Cup final defeat to England in July, they have lost six in a row in a run stretching back to September 2012.
India will look to complete a 5-0 whitewash at Mount Maunganui on Sunday.
Manish Pandey proved the star of India's innings with an unbeaten half-century off 36 balls, Rahul (39 off 26) and Thakur (20 off 15) also making important contributions.
Ish Sodhi (3-26) was pick of the bowlers for New Zealand, who appeared to be coasting to victory on the back of Munro's 47-ball 64 and Seifert's 39-ball 57.
New Zealand had the latter at the crease for the final regulation over, but Ross Taylor holed out to midwicket and, after Daryl Mitchell lofted over mid off for four, Seifert was run out by a Rahul direct hit.
The Black Caps still needed just two off as many deliveries. However, Mitchell sent a knuckleball to mid off and Mitchell Santner was run out off the final ball chasing a second that was never on the cards.
Jasprit Bumrah was sent on to restrict Seifert and Munro in the Super Over. Despite Seifert being given two reprieves through drops in the first three balls, the India seamer did his job in presenting the tourists with a manageable target.
It was one they reached with ease. Rahul hit a huge six on the leg side from the first ball and followed that with a pull for four and, though he then top-edged to give Southee a wicket and fray the nerves, Kohli wrapped up the win in style by finding the rope at deep midwicket.
Published 31 Jan 2020, 18:06 IST
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