Following India’s win against New Zealand in the second T20I at Ranchi, vice-captain KL Rahul expressed his happiness and said that his side did a great job in restricting opposition for 150 odd runs.
India crushed New Zealand by seven wickets in the second T20I to take an unassailable lead of 2-0 in the series. Bowling first, after winning the toss, India bowlers had no answers to the onslaught by Martin Guptill and Daryl Mitchell, who came out all guns blazing.
The Black Caps’ openers went after Indian bowlers from the ball 1 for their 48-run partnership and at one moment, it seemed that the visitors would post a mammoth total on the board.
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However, the spin duo of R Ashwin and Akshar Patel bowled sensationally, in what were dripping wet conditions, and slowed down the New Zealand innings. Debutant Harshal Patel executed his slower balls well and on account of his 2/25, the hosts restricted the Tim Southee-led side for a total of just 153 runs.
Chasing the target, Indian openers KL Rahul (65) and Rohit Sharma (55) stitched a 117-run partnership and took the game away from New Zealand.
Though Tim Southee bowled a brilliant spell and troubled India at the back end but Rishabh Pant smashed two back-to-back sixes and took his team home with 16 balls to spare.
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Indian batter KL Rahul, said that his side did well to pull the game back after the first six overs. He revealed that bowlers decided to take the pace off and were brave with the balls
"I think we did really well by pulling the game back after the first 6 overs, the bowlers had a discussion midway and decided maybe change of pace will work and they have to be brave with the ball and bluff the batsman a couple of times," KL Rahul said.
Rahul admitted that the pitch was good but dew made the ball soaking wet and it was hard for bowlers to bowl. He said that bowlers did a great job in restricting New Zealand to 150 odd after the kind of start they got.
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"Wicket was really good and the ball was soaking wet, so it was hard for the bowlers to bowl as well and initially it didn't grip as much as we thought it would and we played around with the field and really happy that we could restrict New Zealand for 150 odd after the kind of start they got," he said.
India and New Zealand will now play in the dead-rubber third T20I at Kolkata on 21st November.
(ANI inputs)
