India vs New Zealand, 3rd T20I: 5 reasons why India won the match

Modified Nov 07, 2017 23:40 IST

India New Zealand Cricket Trivandrum — The rain gods made way eventually as India won the decider at Trivandrum by 6 runs to clinch the series 2-1From despair to delight - That's exactly how one can describe how the events unfolded on and off the field at Trivandrum on Tuesday as India won the T20 series against New Zealand 2-1 in a dramatic manner.

# Recovering from the early blows

Manish Pandey India Cricket — Manish Pandey's innings was nothing spectacular but a much-needed one for India

In a shortened match such as the one at Trivandrum today, it was vital that India won the toss to gain a stranglehold on the match, but unfortunately for the home crowd, lady luck deserted Virat Kohli and New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson had no hesitation in choosing to field first.

The chasing team invariably holds an advantage in a T20 contest and that multiplies manifold when the overs get reduced. Batting to chase down a target becomes so much easier when you need to bat for fewer overs while still having all those 10 wickets in hand.

Well begun is half done would have been the motto for India no doubt, but it was anything but that as the Indian openers fell to Tim Southee off successive deliveries in the third over of the Indian innings.

There might have been a danger of the Indian batting falling apart after that but Kohli, Manish Pandey, and Hardik Pandya ensured that India got a respectable total on the board.