Player of the Match
Player of the Match

END OF OVER:
1 | NZ: 13/1

We're still waiting to see which Indian batsmen will come out today. Remember, Rohit was scampering for his abdomen guard the other day because he had packed his kit earlier

Midnight So India need 14 to win this time, for the second Super Over in three days. No Rohit Sharma today. Southee will bowl it today again, he wasn't quite on the mark the other day

0.6
1
Bumrah to Munro, 1 run, goes low and across for the expected yorker which Bumrah tries for the first time in the over and it's swept straight to Saini at short fine leg. It looks like a catch initially, but there's confusion and replays confirm the low full toss hit the ground after it went off the bat so it's not out
0.5
4
Bumrah to Munro, FOUR, short of length again, Munro cuts in the air for a bit and he slashes it wide of backward point for four crucial runs!
0.4
W
Bumrah to Seifert, OUT, lofted for the fourth straight time in the over from Seifert, it's gone pretty high as he can't connect to a back of length delivery properly and Washington takes it at deep point

TL Seifert c Washington Sundar b Bumrah

0.3
2
Bumrah to Seifert, 2 runs, dropped again, another tough chance, this time by KL Rahul! Short ball, Seifert pulls for a top edge, it's gone behind and Rahul runs back with his head down, then changes direction, gets both hands and can't hold on to it. Bumrahcover his face with his hands
0.2
4
Bumrah to Seifert, FOUR, bit of width on off now, he lofts it again, this time in the gap and nicely over the covers to get four wide of long-off
0.1
2
Bumrah to Seifert, 2 runs, dropped on the leg side as Seifert lofts the not so short ball to leg, Shreyas Iyer runs back from midwicket and gets both hand with a dive but can't hold on

12.30am That's it for today, we've had enough. New Zealand fans, I hope you're all sleeping already instead of reading this and maybe look forward to the next game - the last of the series - on 2nd February (no pressure). Indian fans, great start to your weekend, it can only get worse from here. It's goodbye and good luck from Vishal Dikshit and Shashank Kishore...Ciao!

Presentation now:

Kohli: There's something new I've learnt in the last couple of games: when the opposition is playing well, you stay calm till the end and try to come back. We couldn't have asked for more exciting games, we've never played Super Overs before and now we've won two. It shows the character of the team. Initially we thought of opening with Samson and KL in the Super Over, but then KL told me I should bat because of the experience and the options I'll bring. His two strikes were crucial and then you knock the ball into the gap and takes your team over the line. Sanju was fearless at the top of the order, we didn't quite read the pitch that well. He tried to take the momentum away, he should back himself. Saini was impressive with his pace again. We were very proud with the way we went about it.

Southee: It's very tough especially in the positions we put ourselves into. We have them a chance and they took them with both hands. We have a young bowling attack and, it is tough, when you haven't won and you play against a quality opposition in India, give them a sniff and make it tough for yourselves.

Thakur is the Man of the Match: I'm feeling good, we play for such nail-biting finishes, we couldn't have asked for anything more in these two games. After the last game we learnt that we should never lose hope. The wicket on the first ball of the last over was crucial because it made them nervous. Good contribution from me with the bat, I should have carried on and hopefully I'll get more next time

12.12am Kohli celebrates with his right arm punching the air, Samson joins him and they walk off the field to be hugged by Manish Pandey first up, the man who turned the match around for India. How New Zealand have managed to fluff this up again is beyond me and everyone, I guess! 11 to win off 12, seven to win from the last over with Taylor and an in-form Seifert out there and they both manage to get out in the first three balls of the over. India kept missing their direct hits too throughout the innings but Rahul didn't miss in the last over, he ran Seifert out, did the needful on the last ball to collect the throw and took it to the Super Over to then hit a six on the first ball in the chase. India will be thrilled to snatch these wins in the last two matches, not letting NZ win first, and then chasing it down with different batsmen in both games. New Zealand, what do I say...they have lots to think about and discuss about how to fight back, how to go over the line in the last over, and, well, how not to lose Super Overs. We'll get you the presentation once things start making sense again...

0.5
4
Southee to Kohli, FOUR, pulled to deep midwicket past a diving fielder in the ring and the captain has sealed this Super Over! New Zealand lose another Super Over and India are now 4-0 up
0.4
2
Southee to Kohli, 2 runs, Kohli has tapped this back of length bal towards mid-on, most of the fielders are deep so Southee has to go after it. Kohli screams for two and they make it back. Kohli turns around and gives a thumb up with a smile under the helmet

Four to get off three, Kohli on strike. Southee surrounded by Taylor and Mitchell. Long on and long off deep, like midwicket, third man and fine leg are in

0.3
W
Southee to Rahul, OUT, finds deep midwicket with that pull he top-edges off the short ball. Kuggeleijn is waiting in the deep and takes it nicely at deep square leg

KL Rahul c Kuggeleijn b Southee

0.2
4
Southee to Rahul, FOUR, makes room, Southee follows him with a short ball, Rahul pulls and he clears short fine leg with a slightly miscued pull. Four now
0.1
6
Southee to Rahul, SIX, a length delivery from Southee and Rahul smokes it on the leg side! A big swing of the bat, it's gone pretty high, a fielder is there but it lands beyond the rope

Rahul on strike. The field: deep midwicket, long on, third man, mid off and fine leg in the circle.

Slap your cheeks, stretch your legs, feed your pet, use the loo or fill your glass with your preferred beverage. It's about to begin...

New Zealand are in a huddle, some of them are smiling. And here we have Virat Kohli and KL Rahul

India in New Zealand 2019-20 News

New Zealand 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st22MJ GuptillC Munro
2nd74C MunroTL Seifert
3rd1TL SeifertTC Bruce
4th62LRPL TaylorTL Seifert
5th4DJ MitchellTL Seifert
6th1DJ MitchellMJ Santner
7th1MJ SantnerSC Kuggeleijn