Twitter Goes Berserk As India Stage Stunning Comeback With Ball To Beat New Zealand In Fifth T20I

India beat New Zealand by seven runs in the fifth and final T20I to register a historic whitewash. Despite Virat Kohli rested and Rohit Sharma out of the field with an injury, the Men in Blue performed brilliantly under KL Rahul to defend 163. New Zealand were 116 for 3 in the 13th over at one stage before India’s bowlers turned the tide and restricted the hosts to 156 for 9.

Chasing 164, New Zealand were off to a disastrous start as they lost three wickets for just 17 runs. Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Martin Guptill for 3 before Washington Sundar accounted for Colin Munro. Tom Bruce was then run out for a three-ball duck.

But before India could make further inroads in the game, Tim Seifert and Ross Taylor steadied the ship. The two initially adapted a cautious approach as New Zealand crossed the 50-run mark in the eighth over. At that stage, it looked like the game is set for a tight finish before Taylor and Seifert blasted Shivam Dube for 34 runs in the tenth over to put New Zealand on top.

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As a result of that big over, New Zealand raced away to 98 for 3 by the end of the tenth over. But India soon clawed their way back in the game thanks to some impressive bowling from their pacers. In the 13th over, Saini broke the stand by dismissing Seifert for 50 and conceded just 3.

Bumrah picks up his second wicket. Mitchell goes for 2.

New Zealand 119/5 after 14 overs https://t.co/3a7zBdRNm2 #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/mAySfX4fP3

— BCCI (@BCCI) February 2, 2020

In the following over, Bumrah dismissed Daryl Mitchell while conceding just three before Washington Sundar conceded three in the 15th over. Things then went from bad to worse for New Zealand as Shardul Thakur picked up two wickets in the 17th over to reduce them to 132 to 7. On the first ball of the 18th over, Saini dismissed a well-set Taylor for 51 to all but end New Zealand’s hopes.

With 21 needed from the final over, Ish Sodhi raised New Zealand’s hopes by hitting two sixes off Thakur but the hosts eventually ended up on 156.

Earlier, India rode on their stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma’s fifty to post a challenging total of 163 for 3 in the allotted 50 overs. With Virat Kohli rested for the last game, Rohit Sharma led the side. Sanju Samson once again failed to deliver and was out for just two before KL Rahul and Rohit took charge.

The two added 94 runs for the second wicket to lay the foundation for the good total before Rahul departed for 45. Rohit and Shreyas Iyer then joined hands in the middle and mixed caution with aggression to take the team towards a good total. But in the seventeenth over, India suffered a huge blow when Rohit had to retire hurt after scoring 60.

In the final three overs, Iyer and Shivam Dube managed to score only 23. Iyer remained unbeaten on 30 off 29 balls while Dube scored 6 from 5 balls.

Here is how Twitter reacted to the match:

How do you struggle in a 164 run chase with a 34 run over in it…..

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 2, 2020

Chounk gaye? #WhiteWash #NZvInd pic.twitter.com/52eEv8TohA

— Sagar (@sagarcasm) February 2, 2020

3-12 in a 160+ run chase. Bumrah is back to his best. Love his calmness.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 2, 2020

New Zealand is the first team to lose a T20 International despite scoring more than 30 runs from one over. #NZvInd

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) February 2, 2020

India won the T-20 series with 3-0 and T-21 series with 2-0.#NZvIND

— sunil the cricketer (@1sInto2s) February 2, 2020

https://twitter.com/sagarcasm/status/1223918192344485888

https://twitter.com/Punnajiaka/status/1223913206025818112

https://twitter.com/divyabaid07/status/1223909492229730306

The game isn't over till Bumrah has overs left….. This is outstanding

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 2, 2020

New Zealand have hardly shown any intent today!
They were pretty good in the first 3 T20's but something's definitely off since the last 2!

Also shows how much impact Kane has on this team! #NZvIND

— Sahil (@sahil_mehta10) February 2, 2020

#NZvIND @gauravkapur
New Zealand: scores 34 off an over and gets into a strong position
Also New Zealand: starts losing wickets with literally no scoreboard pressure.
India : pic.twitter.com/KJoc5yzjcx

— Aniruddh (@AniruddhIngle) February 2, 2020

Long time since I saw an over go for 34 runs. That is the game there for New Zealand. And KL Rahul is probably wondering if he needed to make the change……

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 2, 2020

#NZvIND
Stuart board after seeing shivam dube pic.twitter.com/4bJgwGaZc5

— ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ (@Panditcasm) February 2, 2020

https://twitter.com/saraf_iam/status/1223909416337985536

KL Rahul:

Can Open? Yes

Can bat at middle? Yes

Can play finisher role? Yes

Can do keeping? Yes

Can do captaincy? Yes

— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) February 2, 2020

Rohit's out with an injury, now who will replace him as the captain?
KL Rahul :#INDvsNZt20 pic.twitter.com/uprk7kS5iv

— anonymemesly (@anonymemesly) February 2, 2020

Shreyas Iyer trying to hit in the slog overs.#INDvsNZ https://t.co/sj6MW4umEc

— Krishnan (@fxS0ciety) February 2, 2020

https://twitter.com/naalaYUCK/status/1223887118264459269

The finish from Iyer and Dube can be as poor as it can get. Dube doesn’t derserve a chance in the World cup squad next year. Iyer has never connected once when he moves around the crease. Getting 160 on a 190 pitch is absolutely poor. #NZvIND

— Chaitanya Somavajhala (@ChaitanSrk) February 2, 2020

Rishabh Pant right now after Sanju Samson's performance. #bachgayaPant pic.twitter.com/UOmp4mcaFz

— Mr. Gada (@kya_tapleek_hai) February 2, 2020

Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson :
"you don't know how to utilise chances"
"Because I am you"#INDvsNZ #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/cxN0eskI1d

— Chinny Potter (@vChaitanya937) February 2, 2020

https://twitter.com/Abhijee22691599/status/1223906007530688512

Sanju samson throws his wicket once more!

Le South INDIAN Fans* pic.twitter.com/QgHUUj0jaB

— SHUBMON GILL (@shubmon) February 2, 2020

https://twitter.com/nishant4_king/status/1223148962950987776