Suryakumar Yadav India and New Zealand were looking to end their 3-match T2-0 series with a fiery clash at Napier, but the rain washed the flame out as the match ended in a tie via the DLS method. India had reached the par score of 75 runs in 9 overs during its chase of 161, set by New Zealand when rains came down.
The first innings started with New Zealand starting with the bat. Finn Allen had an early departure in a second consecutive match after falling to Arshdeep Singh in the second over. However, the Kiwis steadied their batting over partnerships featuring half-centurions Devon Conway and Glenn Phillips, along with Mark Chapman and Daryl Mitchell. India successfully skittled the BlackCaps lower order in devastating fashion, changing the score from 130-3 to bowling out the entire team by the time they reached 160. Arshdeep Singh and Mohamed Siraj picked up 4 wickets apiece.
India’s batting innings didn’t last long, as they could only take strike for 9 overs before the rain ended proceedings. In those 9 overs, all Indian batters hit some big shots but were led by captain Hardik Pandya scoring 30 runs. Tim Southee almost picked up another hat trick in this match after getting Suryakumar Yadav and Shreyas Iyer on consecutive deliveries. The 75 runs India put up were good enough to tie the match and ensure they clinch the series 1-0.
Suryakumar Yadav was named the Player of the Series for his sensational 111* run knock in the second T20I in a series adversely affected by rain. Former World Cup winner Zaheer Khan spoke about Yadav’s successful knock after the match on Prime Video.
“He’s had a terrific year” – Zaheer Khan on Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav continued his outstanding run of form with the bat and bagged the Player of the Series award 👏👏#TeamIndia | #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/OPmSnMFhLv
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 22, 2022
“He’s had a terrific year. He’s been in superb form and that 100 that we saw, 17 deliveries is all that took him to complete his second fifty. He was not even aiming for a hundred but it was just that kind of zone, and he was hitting all around the park. Mr. 360 degrees is making it count now.”
Former New Zealand cricketer and Prime Video commentator Simon Doull was effusive in his praise for Suryakumar Yadav,
“Sometimes, the late bloomers are good. The guys that come through when they are 26, 27, 28, sometimes they are better players. And they have had to graft, they have had to work harder to get to that age and figure out what goes wrong and what goes right. They actually understand some of the hardships. Some that are given it or earn it too early at 18, 19, 20, they soon peter out. Not a lot of them have genuinely long careers, the greats have. When you’ve earned it and been through a few ups and downs and then get an opportunity, you’re just a little battle-hardened. I see that in Suryakumar, he is battle-hardened player and he knows this game inside out now.”
The teams will now engage in a 3-match ODI series following the T20I series. The rain hampered the play but everyone will be hoping for clear skies and some classic ODI play over the next three matches.
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