Bizarre end then, like it so often happens when DLS comes into play. India finished on 75 for 4, which was the par score according to DLS after the end of nine overs, when rain came falling. The game could not continue, and the end result: The third T20I ends in a tie with India taking the series 1-0. That's that then. Thank You for joining what has been a fun series. Sud's report will up soon. Pandya is all smiles as he collects the winner's trophy from Ravi Shastri. Off to the ODIs now. Till then, on behalf of Suds and Venkat, this is me, Ashish signing off. Ciao!
Hardik Pandya, the winning captain: We would have liked to won this game, but that is how it is. We don't mind getting a trophy and going back with a win. Offense is the best defense on this wicket. They have a good bowling attack and it was important we went ahead in the power play even though we lost a few wickets. A game like this would have given the opportunity to the rest of the batters. I would have liked to play the 20 overs, and would have liked to win it that way but these things can't be control. [On the ODIs] Will be good to watch, yes. I am going home, will be with my son and should be a good series.
Tim Southee, the New Zealand captain: The end with the bat was disappointing. We took early wickets, but unfortunately the weather came again. We left some runs out there. But it would have been an interesting game, if it went the full way. There was some confusion with the DLS. We will give Santner a bit of grief (on the misfield) but such things happen. It was a good bowling effort from us. Will be nice to get some one-day cricket against India. Hopefully will be a good crowd.
Suryakumar Yadav is the Player of the Series: Really happy with the way things went, would have loved to have a full game but I am glad we got the series win. The weather is not in our hands. The pressure is always here, but there is no fun when there is not. I am just enjoying my batting and not carrying any baggage. [On the ODIs] Can take a bit of time, but the approach and intent will be the same. These things are not in our control. We can just express ourselves. We would have loved to have a full game, but it's fine.
Mohammed Siraj is the Player of the Match: This wicket was not easy to bat on. I preferred to bowl the hard lengths. I was a standby in WC, and I was preparing myself to bowl the hard length and I executed the plans here. My plan was simple, bowl the hard lengths and I executed it. Not in our hands, the weather. All three matches, that was there. Good to get a win.
11.26pm Handshakes all around now. Looks like that that's that. Yes, confirmation coming in that the game has been called off. India win the series 1-0. We will have the post-match presentation in just a bit. Surya for Man of the Series, surely? Any inputs for Man of the Match here?
11.23pm No official word, but surely this game looks to be as good as done. The umpires are out on the outfield with their umbrellas up. A few handshakes in the India camp and NZ look despondent. If body language is anything to go by.
Here's Mitchell Santner: [On being aware of that par score] You are talking about that misfield is it? That one run could cost us, but a lot of goes in. We weren't aware at the time, but now we are. We would have liked 180 with such a platform. But it was a tough wicket to start on. We were one wicket away, if allowed to get out there. Myself included tried to pull the ball. We took that from the first innings. Lockie and Milne bowled some hostile spells. We tried to talk about adapting. The dimensions are slightly different. On that wicket, there was some peace and carry. Every ground in NZ is different. There are a couple of balls that spun there, hopefully the rain stops but we are pressed for time. [On the ODIs] First ODI is at Eden PArk, which is a different ground from this. So we will have to adjust.
Elsewhere, the goals have been flowing in the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Bukayo Saka has eclipsed Wayne Rooney (2 vs 1), while Gareth Bale kept up his incredible record of clutch goals (5). All the best stats from the opening two days of the World Cup, are here
11.15pm It is not raining currently, but the outfield would be quite damp. The umpires are out, presumably for a final inspection. India would certainly be the happier side. If the game does not continue, they win the series 1-0.
Pradeep: "India has reached (or at the) par score, so they should ideally be declared winners if the game stops here right??" They are at
For all the comments coming in asking if there have been any DLS ties previously, here's a list:
Tied Internationals with DL / DLS par score
SA vs SL in 2003 CWC (ODI) ENG-IND 2011 Lord's (ODI) SA vs WI 2013 CT (ODI) Gibraltar vs Malta 2021 (T20I)
11.01pm To reiterate; the DLS par score after nine overs was 75, and India are 75 for 4. The rain is absolutely pelting down at the moment. A restart looks bleak. So, if there is no further play, this game ends in a tie.
10.52pm Right, then. The rain has picked up and the covers are being called for. India at par with where the DLS score should be. So, basically if the game stops now, it will be a tie. It is raining quite heavily.
Malli: "Will that Pant's four not given on his first ball be the difference in this game or the misfield on the last ball of the 9th over? Both fans can contemplate one of these two incidents if it becomes a tie." Absolutely.
Prasanna S: "If this game doesn't resume how much that miss field would have cost NZ, a series level vs series loss. " Indeed!
Sagar: "@Prasanna S More than that, the failure to review caught behind of Hardik. India would have been miles behind on DLS after that wicket." Also, this.
Yep, Siraj was the star of the innings. He picked up four wickets for just 17 after coming into bowl in the final over of the powerplay. At that stage, New Zealand were racing along. But he was successful in applying the brakes then and later ended the Conway-Phillips stand to bring India right back into this. Will New Zealand manage to do something similar to finish the series 1-1? Or will India canter home? Ashish Pant will be here with the reply shortly.
Mohammed Siraj: "I was on standbys for the T20 World Cup. I was preparing to bowl hard lengths in New Zealand conditions. If someone hits me from that length, then good shot. But my aim was to go for the hard lengths. 160-165 is a good total with the short boundaries."
9:53pm New Zealand have lost 8 for 30 in the last phase to fall well short of where they might have been. They were set for a tall finish, thanks to the base set by Conway and Phillips' 86-run partnership. The pair attacked at well after getting in. But once Phillips fell, the graph went only one way.
TG Southee b Patel 6 (7m 5b 1x4 0x6) SR: 120.00
Harshal for the last over.
END OF OVER:19 | 6 Runs 3 Wkts | NZ: 155/9 | RR: 8.15
- Tim Southee6 (4b)
- Lockie Ferguson0 (0b)
- Arshdeep Singh4-0-37-4
- Mohammed Siraj4-0-17-4
Over the wicket now.
Akram: "Malinga must have smiled at that Yorker !"
Lockie Ferguson will be at the non-striker's end.
AF Milne run out 0 (5m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
New Zealand captain Tim Southee is the penultimate batter in. Arshdeep on a hat-trick.
IS Sodhi b Arshdeep Singh 0 (1m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
Ish Sodhi is in at No. 9.
Mike George : "Last three overs 4 for 20. Probably the turning point of the match."
DJ Mitchell c †Pant b Arshdeep Singh 10 (16m 5b 2x4 0x6) SR: 200.00
END OF OVER:18 | 2 Runs 2 Wkts | NZ: 149/6 | RR: 8.27
- Adam Milne0 (1b)
- Daryl Mitchell10 (4b)
- Mohammed Siraj4-0-17-4
- Arshdeep Singh3-0-31-2
Milne it is.
Yusuf: "Siraj looks in the peak of his fitness. Not just bowling superbly but he has been throwing his body around. Great signs."
MJ Santner c Chahal b Mohammed Siraj 1 (3m 3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 33.33
Mitchell Santner in next.
Watch India tour of New Zealand LIVE on Prime Video from Nov 18 to 30
JDS Neesham c †Pant b Mohammed Siraj 0 (3m 3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
END OF OVER:17 | 12 Runs 1 Wkt | NZ: 147/4 | RR: 8.64
- James Neesham0 (2b)
- Daryl Mitchell9 (3b)
- Arshdeep Singh3-0-31-2
- Mohammed Siraj3-0-15-2
James Neesham is in at No. 6. Hold on to your hats!
Ashish: "I will give credit to Mitchell for the way he is looking at Arshdeep when he comes in to bowl. This is for all those saying that its easier to keep an eye on a spinner than a pacer while backing up."
DP Conway c Ishan Kishan b Arshdeep Singh 59 (82m 49b 5x4 2x6) SR: 120.40
Free hit... Arsh comes around the stumps.
Arshdeep back to bowl two of the last four overs perhaps.
Those of you in the US can watch NZ vs IND live on ESPN+ in English.