‘Nervous’ Team India script scintillating 6-run victory

TIL Desk Sports/ India captain Virat Kohli says the bowler-friendly conditions made the batsmen “nervous” after losing the toss before prevailing against New Zealand in the series-deciding third Twenty20 in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday. India beat New Zealand by six runs in the rain-curtailed match to claim the series 2-1. India had beaten the Kiwis in the ODIs with the same margin.

“I think we were really happy to get a game. This crowd deserved to watch some action. Ever since the ODIs started, we expected them to give a good fight. We were nervous to start here, with the damp pitch,” said Kohli after India won the eight overs a side contest. India made 67 for five and in response Kiwis could only reach 61 for six in eight overs.

Jasprit Bumrah starred with the ball, striking twice and bowling the all important penultimate over of the game. He ended with figures of two for nine in two overs. “We thought if we can take the run-rate up, it’s not going to be so easy. Rohit and MS (Dhoni) came up with Bumrah bowling the second last, and Hardik Pandya bowled the last over well.