Auckland: Navdeep Saini and Ravindra Jadeja's 76-run stand for the eighth wicket took India tantalizingly close to an unlikely win. Saini was the aggressor in the partnership, scoring 45 off 49 balls and seemed to be turning the tables in India's favor after they were 153/7 at one point chasing 275 at Eden Park in Auckland.
However, he ended up losing his wicket while going for a big shot to debutant and man of the match Kyle Jamieson on 45.
"I will regret it when I go back and see the video," said Saini at the post-match press conference. "If I hadn't got out, maybe the result could have been different. I will regret that I took it so close and maybe could have gotten closer.
"We felt the wicket was flat and if we could stay till the end, the match could go close. So we were trying to contribute as much as possible and take the match to the end. Jadeja had told me that if you get a boundary ball hit it. Otherwise, take singles or doubles, try to keep patience and we can take the game to the end." IANS