Trent Boult took a four-wicket haul to restrict India for 156 for 7 AFP
Trent Boult took a four-wicket haul to restrict India for 156 for 7 AFP

India fell prey to the same trap they had set for New Zealand, as they lost the second T20I by 40 runs at Rajkot. The same had happened in the ODI series: the third and final match became a decider. Before both teams move to Thiruvananthapuram, let us have a look at the talking points of the second contest.

Martin Guptill, Colin Munro’s 105-run stand: What started the Kiwi dominance in this tie was the exquisite opening stand between Martin Guptill and Colin Munro. The pair put up a stand of 109 runs, which saw the beginning of total Kiwi dominance in the match, as Guptill contributed 45 in the stand, while Munro added 51.

Munro’s stellar innings of 109: It was Munro’s night as he went on to score his second T20I century. Munro’s ton came off just 58 deliveries, including seven fours and seven sixes, at a strike rate of 188. This innings certainly built the platform for the Kiwi dominance, and the Indians were more or less sure that they were up for something humungous.

Colin Munro, Tom Bruce’s stand of 56: Munro was involved in another healthy stand of 56 along with Tom Bruce, as both batsmen sealed New Zealand’s dominance in the tie. Munro’s 36 and Bruce’s 18 were enough to send India on to the back-foot in the first innings of the game.

Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer recover India: Having lost the openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma early, skipper Virat Kohli, along with debutant Shreyas Iyer set up a brief recovery for the Indians. Both contributed to a 54-run stand for the third wicket, with Kohli contributing 35 and Iyer contributing 18. However, they should have done more to allow India to get to a safe zone. In the process, Kohli also scored 7,000 runs in his T20 career and became the second-highest run-scorer in the T20Is.

Colin Munro flattens India to turf at Rajkot; New Zealand square series 1-1
Colin Munro flattens India to turf at Rajkot; New Zealand square series 1-1
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Virat Kohli-MS Dhoni fight back: Following his stand with Iyer, Kohli now had the job to bring India back in the contest, as he joined forces with MS Dhoni. Both men put up a stand of 56, as Kohli contributed 29 and Dhoni contributed 25 in the stand. However, the score was too big and the pressure was too much for the two most experienced Indian batsmen to handle, as they succumbed. Kohli went on to score a swashbuckling 65, yet ended up on the losing cause.

Trent Boult’s splendid 4 for 34: It was hardly a bowler’s show from India. However, the Kiwi bowlers made sure that they produce some gem, and it was Trent Boult who terrorised the Indian batsmen with his sheer pace, accuracy and lethal bowling. He claimed crucial wickets of Rohit, Dhawan, Dhoni and Akshar Patel, giving away just 34 runs.