publish time

05/11/2017

author name Arab Times

publish time

05/11/2017

RAJKOT, India, Nov 4, (AFP): Opener Colin Munro hit a blistering century to help New Zealand down India by 40 runs in the second T20 international and level the series at 1-1 on Saturday.Munro smashed an unbeaten 58-ball 109 to propel the Kiwis to 196-2 and in reply, the hosts could only manage 156-7 at the batting-friendly Rajkot Stadium.Kiwi fast bowler Trent Boult claimed four wickets to flatten the Indian chase despite a valiant 42-ball 65 from Indian skipper Virat Kohli, who got little help from the other end.Boult hurt India’s reply with his left-arm pace to get two wickets in his very first over and send the openers trudging back to the pavilion.The left-handed Shikhar Dhawan was bowled for one while Sharma, who scored five, was caught behind as India were left struggling at 11-2 after two overs.Kiwi bowlers kept chipping away with regular wickets as Munro, who bowls right-arm medium pace, also contributed with Shreyas Iyer’s crucial scalp.Kohli tried his level best during his fifty-plus partnerships with Iyer, who made 23, and then Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who scored 49, but the climbing run-rate got to him.The star batsman finally fell to Mitchell Santner’s left-arm spin and with him India’s hopes faded away.Earlier, Munro put on 105 runs for the opening wicket with Martin Guptill (45), to lay a solid foundation after the Kiwis elected to bat first.Guptill hit Yuzvendra Chahal for two sixes and a four in the leg-spinner’s first over to make his intent clear.Chahal finally got his revenge after denying Guptill, who smashed 3 fours and 3 sixes in his 41-ball knock, a fifty but the damage had already been done.Munro made the most of his two reprieves, on 45 and 79, to register his second T20 ton — in just 54 balls — and pulverise the Indian bowling attack.Debutant paceman Mohammed Siraj gave away 53 runs in four overs but got his maiden international wicket in skipper Kane Williamson for 12.The left-handed Munro, who hit 7 fours and 7 sixes, and Tom Bruce, who scored 18, signed off with a 56-run unbeaten stand for the third wicket.The action now moves to the third and deciding match in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday.India vs New Zealand ScoreboardRAJKOT, India, Nov 4, (AFP): Final scoreboard of the second Twenty20 international between India and New Zealand in Rajkot on Saturday:NEW ZEALAND
  1. Guptill c Pandya b Chahal.. 45
  2. Munro not out................. 109
  3. Williamson c Sharma b Siraj 12
  4. Bruce not out.................... 18
Extras (lb2, w10)................... 12Total (2 wickets, 20 overs).... 196Fall of wickets: 1-105 (Guptill), 2-140 (Williamson)Did not bat: G. Phillips, C. de Grandhomme, H. Nicholls, M. Santner, A. Milne, I. Sodhi, T. BoultBowling: Kumar 4-0-29-0 (w2), Siraj 4-0-53-1 (w1), Bumrah 4-0-23-0, Chahal 4-0-36-1 (w2), Patel 3-0-39-0 (w5), Pandya 1-0-14-0INDIA
  1. Sharma c Phillips b Boult 5
  2. Dhawan b Boult..... 1
  3. Kohli c Phillips b Santner 65
  4. Iyer c & b Munro.. 23
  5. Pandya b Sodhi..... 1
  6. M.S. Dhoni c Santner b Boult    49
  7. Patel c Williamson b Boult 5
  8. Kumar not out....... 2
  9. Bumrah not out...... 1
Extras (b2, lb1, w1)... 4Total (7 wickets; 20 overs)       156Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Dhawan), 2-11 (Sharma), 3-65 (Iyer), 4-67 (Pandya), 5-123 (Kohli), 6-130 (Patel), 7-154 (Dhoni)Did not bat: M. Siraj, Y. ChahalBowling: Milne 4-0-30-0 (w1), Boult 4-0-34-4, Grandhomme 1-0-10-0, Santner 4-0-31-1, Sodhi 4-0-25-1, Munro 3-0-23-1Toss: New ZealandResult: New Zealand beat India by 40 runsSeries: The three-match series is tied at 1-1Umpires: Anil Chaudhary (IND) and Nandan (IND)TV Umpire: Chettithody Shamshuddin (IND)Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG)