Twitter Reactions: New Zealand pocket the T20I series with a close win in Hamilton

New Zealand have won the three-match T20I series against India. If the Indian Women lost the third T20 International by two runs earlier in the day, even the Men’s fell agonisingly short of the target by just four runs. Though it came that close due to the duo of Dinesh Karthik and Krunal Pandya who smacked sixes at will in the death overs. However, Tim Southee was good enough to take the team home in the final over and deny the visitors the final glory.

India began the chase on a poor note with Shikhar Dhawan being dismissed in the very first over by Mitchell Santner. Vijay Shankar and Rohit Sharma then made sure that they stayed abreast with the required run-rate. The former upped the ante after the powerplay but fell at the wrong time. However, the likes of Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya hit some lusty blows soon after coming out to the middle to keep India in the game.

Meanwhile, Rohit was playing the second fiddle from the other end. But after scoring 38 runs, even he got out and with MS Dhoni also failing, things looked tough for India. With 68 runs needing off the last five overs, Karthik and Krunal didn’t give up and brought the equation down to 16 off the final over. However, Southee’s experience came to the fore for New Zealand as they won the game by just four runs.

Munro lights up the Seddon Park

Earlier, after being invited to bat first, Colin Munro and Tim Seifert once again got the team off to a great start. Both of them made the most of the field restrictions. The latter though was dismissed in the controversial circumstances again by the third umpire. But Munro was not fussed much with the happenings at the other end. Moreover, the Indian players favoured him by dropping catches.

In no time, he managed to 72 runs off just 40 deliveries while the other batsmen chipped in with useful contributions as the Black Caps comfortably went past the 200-run mark. A decent last over from Khaleel Ahmed rather restricted them to 212/4 in 20 overs. But the score was just enough for the hosts to win a close series in the end.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

Brilliant hitting by DK but small mistakes have a big effect on the result in T20s. Was a mistake to not take that single with Krunal at the other end.#IndVsNZ

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) February 10, 2019

Dinesh Karthik thinks he was Dhoni. Okay absolutely fine. But he thought Krunal Pandya is Ashwin????? #NZvIND

— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) February 10, 2019

Now DK farms the strike vs Krunal.

This is Ambati vs Dhoni stuff.

— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) February 10, 2019

DK’s gonna get a lot of flak for not running 🙁

— S/R (@_whatsinaname) February 10, 2019

DK and Krunal have ensured a heady finish!

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) February 10, 2019

NZ were clinical with the bat (thanks to poor bowling from India) and they were superb on the field.

2-1 , much appreciated 👏👏#NZvIND

— srikrishna 🏏 (@1998Srikrishna) February 10, 2019

Love DK’s rare gift of being able to hit big shots crisply from the middle of the bat from ball no 1. One of the most dangerous batsman today with 3/4 overs to go. 👏👏👏🙏#INDvsNZt20

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) February 10, 2019

DK should have taken the single! 😐#NZvInd

— Leon Gunaseelan (@NoisyBoy2_1) February 10, 2019

Dinesh Karthick is like the police in Bollywood movies which arrives after the climax. 😒 #NZvIND

— Sumit (@_RKSumit) February 10, 2019

Can't blame either of Krunal or DK here. It was huge ask and both gave their best. You can't play with 3 regular bowlers in T20Is of which one is Khaleel and expect to get away every time.#NZvIND

— Gurkirat Singh Gill (@gurkiratsgill) February 10, 2019

Absolutely stupid of Dinesh Karthik to refuse a single. India lose by a scoring shot. #IndVsNz #NZvIND #t20

— BloggerDan (@DanBlogger) February 10, 2019

Nidhaas Trophy soch liya tha Fir se .#NZvIND

— Subodh Agarwal🏏 (@SubodhAgarwal1) February 10, 2019

Heart goes out to DK 😞 He tried enough 👍 pls don't be unfair with Shankar & DK @BCCI @imVkohli #NZvIND #TeamIndia #INDvNZ

— Entertainment Ground (@Rajesh_1947_) February 10, 2019

Great stuff @BLACKCAPS. Awesome series victory over @BCCI #NZvIND

— Christopher Bishop (@cjsbishop) February 10, 2019

@DineshKarthik lose my respect 😣😣 #NZvIND

— Sanchit Sahu 🇮🇳 (@SanchitSahu10) February 10, 2019

#NZvIND It's Dhoni!!!!!!
Draft la vachi irunthan waste ah pochi 🚶‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/4CtPf7Dhtd

— King Krunal Fc (@Ananth_offl) February 10, 2019

Krunal could have used that one single ball to make 4 runs. #NZvIND

— Piyush Prakash (@BeingPiyush) February 10, 2019

Both batsmen on the crease have the same Jersey Number 33. Pandya and Rohit. #NzvInd

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) February 10, 2019

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