India complete 3-0 clean sweep Hosts thrash New Zealand by 73 runs in 3rd T20I

KOLKATA: India produced a clinical all-round performance to thrash New Zealand by 73 runs in the third and final T20I and complete a 3-0 clean sweep in the three-match series at the iconic Eden Gardens, here on Sunday.

A fantastic fifty by captain Rohit Sharma (56 off 31 balls) and some late charge by the lower-order powered India to a competitive 184/7 in 20 overs.

Apart from Rohit, Ishan Kishan (29), Venkatesh Iyer (20) and Shreyas Iyer (25) also got good starts but they failed to capitalise. Mitchell Santner (3/27) was the highest wicket-taker for the Kiwis.

In reply, Martin Guptill's fifty (51 off 36 balls) went in vain as New Zealand were bowled out for 111 in 17.2 overs, losing by 73 runs.

Tim Seifert (17) and Lockie Ferguson (14) also chipped in with the bat for the Kiwis but it wasn't enough to save them from a huge loss. Axar Patel (3/9) was the most successful bowler for India.

After winning the toss and opting to bat first, opener Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan gave India a flying start. The duo looked in sublime touch and played some glorious hosts, taking India to 69/0 at the end of Power-play.

However, the Black Caps brought in spinners after the field restrictions were lifted and it did wonders for them. Bowling the 7th over, Kiwi stand-in captain Santner dismissed Ishan Kishan (29) and Suryakumar Yadav (0) in a gap of few deliveries to peg India back in the match.

With two wickets falling in quick succession, captain Rohit and Rishabh Pant had the responsibility to build a new partnership. But Pant (4), who had a shaky start in the middle, mistimed Santner's delivery to get out, leaving India in trouble at 83/3 after nine overs.

By losing crucial wickets, India lost the required momentum at the death overs and it was time for the two Patels (Harshal and Axar) to take the hosts to a competitive score. And, Harshal, who bats at the top score for Haryana, showed his batting skills and played a decent cameo of 18 runs before getting out to Lockie Ferguson in the 19th over.

In the end, Deepak Chahar (21) also hit two boundaries and a six in the last over of the innings to steer India to 184-7.

Brief scores: India 184/7 in 20 Overs (Rohit Sharma 56, Ishan Kishan 29; Mitchell Santner 3-27) beat New Zealand 111 all out in 17.2 overs (Martin Guptill 51, Tim Seifert 17, Axar Patel (3-9) by 73 runs. IANS

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