SLIM WIN: The third T20I, which was reduced to an eight-over-a-side clash due to rain, saw India edge out New Zealand by just six runs to triumph 2-1 in the three-match series. PHOTO: AFP
Rain reduced the third match of the series in Thiruvananthapuram to a 48 ball lottery and Kohli's side were stronger in the boundary chase and smarter in the bowling battle.
While Manish Pandey hit 17 off 11 balls, Hardik Pandya made 14 and Kohli 13 in India's 67-5, the home side owe a particular debt to man-of-the-match bowler Jasprit Bumrah in the six run victory.
His two overs cost just nine runs while he claimed the key wickets of big-hitting Colin Munro and Henry Nicholls. Indian coach Ravi Shastri hailed Bumrah, who cannot get a Test place, as a "thinking bowler".
Pandey and Kohli both hit a six and a four in quickfire innings that New Zealand just could not match as they reached 61-6.
Pandey went to a spectacular catch off Trent Boult that highlighted a night of brilliant fielding.
He fired the ball toward the long-on boundary producing a full length dive by Mitchell Santner who deflected the ball to stop it going over the line and set up the catch by Colin de Grandhomme.
New Zealand started aggressively. Munro hit his first ball for a six, but made only seven before he was caught in the second over trying to hit Bumrah.
Captain Kane Williamson and Glenn Phillips went in successive balls in the fifth over leaving New Zealand facing a struggle to defend their number one place in 20 over cricket.
Though the result could have gone either way with just two balls remaining, New Zealand reached just 61-6 with de Grandhomme making an unbeaten 17.
"You would be lying if you said you were not tense," said Shastri. "They saved the best for the last in terms of fielding, the electricity was there."
Shastri said that while 67 was not an automatic match-winning score, the fielding and good start by the bowlers had put pressure on New Zealand.
India had never beaten New Zealand in a T20 match going into this series.
New Zealand's defeat means Pakistan remain the number one ranked team in T20Is.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ