India v NZ 3rd T20I: Pandya leads the way as India blow away NZ to take series

India claimed the three-match T20I series against New Zealand with a massive 168 run win in the third and final game at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Wednesday. India claimed the series 2-1.

After opting to bat, India made 234 for four in their 20 overs and in their response New Zealand was shot out for a mere 66 in 12.1 overs.

India was well served a 80 run second wicket stand between Shubman Gill and Rahul Tripathi. Then Gill teamed up with Suryakumar Yadav to add 38 runs for the third wicket. Gill was not going to be silenced as he added 103 runs for the fourth wicket with captain Hardik Pandya. Gill remained unbeaten on 126 off 63 balls with 12 boundaries and seven sixes. India finished on 234 for four in their 20 overs.

In their response New Zealand kept losing wickets at regular intervals. New Zealand were reduced to seven for four. Then there was hope for some revival as captain Mitchell Santner and Daryl Mitchell added 32 runs for the sixth wicket. But thereafter normal service resumed as New Zealand collapsed without a fight. In the end New Zealand was bowled out for a paltry 66 in 12.1 overs. For India the best bowlers were Pandya (4-16), Arshdeep Singh (2-16), Umran Malik (2-9) and Shivam Mavi (2-12). 

Match Summary
India: 234-4 (20)
Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Ishan Kishan-1.2 ov), 2-87 (Rahul Tripathi-8.2 ov), 3-125 (Suryakumar Yadav-12.3 ov), 4-228 (Hardik Pandya-19.1 ov)

New Zealand: 66 (12.1)
Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Finn Allen-0.5 ov), 2-4 (Devon Conway-1.1 ov), 3-5 (Mark Chapman-1.6 ov), 4-7 (Glenn Phillips-2.4 ov), 5-21 (Michael Bracewell-4.3 ov), 6-53 (Mitchell Santner-8.3 ov), 7-53 (Ish Sodhi-8.5 ov), 8-54 (Lockie Ferguson-9.4 ov), 9-66 (Blair Tickner-11.5 ov), 10-66 (Daryl Mitchell-12.1 ov)

SCORECARD    

Playing XI
India: Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Shubman Gill, Rahul Tripathi,Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Hardik Pandya (captain), Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik, Shivam Mavi, Kuldeep Yadav

New Zealand: Finn Allen, Devon Conway (wicket-keeper), Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (captain), Lockie Ferguson, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner, Ben Lister

Match Details
Toss: India, elected to bat
Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Start time: 1230 hrs GMT
Match officials: Jayaraman Madanagopal, Nitin Menon (On-field Umpires); Anil Chaudhary (TV Umpire); KN Ananthapadmanabhan (Reserve Umpire); Javagal Srinath (Match-referee)

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