India defeated New Zealand by 46 runs in Thiruvananthapuram to close the five-match T20I series 4-1 in their favour on Saturday (January 31).
The Men in Blue had secured the series by winning the first three games before the Black Caps registered a consolation victory in the penultimate fixture.
In the series finale, the hosts racked up a gigantic 271/5 in 20 overs on the back of Ishan Kishan’s maiden T20I hundred (103 off 43 balls). Kishan's knock, which came at a strike rate of nearly 240, was studded with six fours and 10 sixes. Suryakumar Yadav smashed 63 off 30 balls, while Hardik Pandya returned with 42 off 17.
During the chase, New Zealand got off to a fiery start, thanks to Finn Allen's 80 off 38, but they lost the plot after his dismissal.
Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh starred with the ball for India, claiming five wickets by conceding 51 runs in his four overs. Axar Patel dismissed three batters while Varun Chakaravarthy and Rinku Singh shared the remaining two scalps as the Kiwi innings eventually folded for 225 in 19.4 overs.
Cricket fraternity was full of praise for India’s comprehensive victory in the high-scoring fifth T20I.
Here are the reactions:
