4 balls, 2 runs needed with two set batsmen on the crease. How many times do you back bowling side to pull it off? But India did that miracle at Seddon Park. First, a terrific comeback by Shami in the 20th over overtook India to its first-ever Super-Over game and then Rohit Sharma did some Rohit Sharma things to take India to a miraculous win. Let’s look back 5 talking points of the match.
1. Vintage Rohit Sharma:
Kane Williamson finally changed the template of the series and invited India to bat. One aspect of the game which India are trying to get better in every series they play is to set a huge total while batting first.
Rohit & Rahul put up a fine opening stand. Rohit followed his tried and tested approach which is to take some time at the start, get comfortable with the conditions and makeup at the end.
And he changed that gear in the last over of the powerplay with 27 runs off Hamish Bennett. That overset the momentum for India. It’s quite ridiculous that he managed to follow the same tactic in the Super-Over as well.
2. Shivam Dube at 3:
With 2-0 up in the series and 89-run opening partnership, Virat Kohli & Co. sensed an opportunity to experiment and sent Shivam Dube at 3. But he couldn’t make this opportunity count.
Kiwis pulled things back nicely once the old ball started to hold up on the surface. Hamish Bennett who conceded 40 runs in first 2 overs, turned it around by sending Rohit and Shivam Dube back in the same over.
Even Kohli and Iyer couldn’t find it easy in the slowed-down surface. But some big hits at the end and 18 runs by Pandey and Jadeja in the last over, took India to a par score.
3. Kane Williamson’s masterclass:
New Zealand got a decent start but the way Chahal and Jadeja kept spinning the web around the Kiwis, they needed something exceptional to turn the tide.
Santner was promoted at 3 to counter Jadeja but totally looked out of place. Then who better than skipper himself to take the responsibility?
When you think of Williamson-the batsman, T20 is the last of the 3 formats to come in your mind. But today he was in the mood of putting off all those doubts.
Using feet against spinners, maneuvering the gaps, lining up slower ones- he was always looking one step ahead of the Indian bowlers. With boundaries in every over, the chase was always under control until his dismissal. It’s pity that such high-quality innings ended up on the losing side.
4. Williamson vs Bumrah & India’s dismal show on the field:
In terms of form, probably Williamson & Bumrah were sitting on the opposite ends today but that match-up was the highlight of the day.
43 runs required off 4 overs. First ball of 17th over by Bumrah- Williamson swung his bat and missed a slower one. But he adjusted very quickly and dispatched the next three to the boundary.
By the time, Bumrah switched back from slower ones to yorkers, the damage was done. Then in next over, he flicked a near-perfect yorker to fine leg to punch the final blow (almost).
In the last match press conference, Martin Guptill wished for 3 off nights of Bumrah to get New Zealand back in the series but not sure even he wouldn’t have thought about figures like 4-0-45-0.
Though Indian fielding contributed a fair bit. Jadeja dropped a catch running backward at the point region. Adding to that there were lots of misfields especially around boundary cost India big time. Even KL Rahul had a rough game with the gloves.
He conceded few byes and struggled throughout. Ian Smith on-air was quite critical of his glovework. Not taking off one glove in last over was also big tactical error by him which costed a crucial bye in the penultimate ball.
Also See: NZ vs IND Super Over T20: Williamson Shines, But Sharma, Shami Too Magical
5. Shami’s comeback in last over and the drama in the super-over:
9 required off last over. Shami couldn’t have bowl worst ball to start the over- full-toss and Taylor whacked over mid-wicket. But Shami held the nerves and used length balls quite effectively and when in the last over, Kiwis needed just one run, he nailed the yorker to take India to their first super-over.
In the Super-over, it was all New Zealand in the first 10 balls. Bumrah’s misery continued even in the super-over. A lap-sweep over fine-leg and couple of boundaries took their total to 17. In the chase, Rohit almost got run out in very first ball and struggled for timing in the first couple of deliveries he faced.
10 off 2 balls was looking way too many. But Southee couldn’t hold nerve and dished out two good-length balls. And Rohit made him pay big time and sealed the series for India.
Related Reading:
- Vitality T20 Blast 2020 Points Table and Match Results
- Vitality T20 Blast 2020 All Teams & Full Squads
- IPL 2020 All Teams, Players, Full Squads, Complete Schedule, Past Winners
- Vitality T20 Blast 2020 Full Match Schedule & Past Winners
- CPL 2020 – Where to watch? (TV / Livestream Options)
- CPL 2020 Points Table, Match Schedule & Results, All Past Winners
Bindu says
Who would you pick to bowl in the super over if you were the captain?
Rohit Yadav says
Bumrah without a doubt. He just had an off day otherwise he is too good bowler to ignore in super over.