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Team India is just one match away from clinching three-match T20I series against New Zealand. While the first game was washed out due to rain, Hardik Pandya-led side delivered a clinical performance in the second T20Is at Bay Oval to take a 1-0 lead in the bilateral contest.
Top-seeded batter Suryakumar Yadav was again at his best as he smashed his second T20I century with an unbeaten knock of 111-runs in just 51 deliveries. The 32-year-old continued his sublime form on the international stage as he kept consistently making instrumental contributions to the team’s victory.
However, except for Suryakumar Yadav, none of the batters could impress with their performance at Bay Oval, and they will look forward to redeeming themselves. Meanwhile, Indian bowlers produced noteworthy contributions in the second T20Is, powered by Indian allrounder Deepak Hooda, who picked four wickets in the game. Yuzvendra Chahal, benched during T20 World Cup 2022 and not given a chance in a single match, made a statement with his performance as he picked two crucial wickets.
From the New Zealand side, Kane Williamson scored the highest on board as he contributed with 61-runs off 52 deliveries before the hosts bundled out at 126-10. Ahead of the series decider, New Zealand has suffered a big blow as their skipper and prolific batter Kane Williamson has been ruled out of the final match due to injuries, and experienced pacer Tim Southee has been trusted to lead the squad in a high-stake game.
New Zealand will heavily rely on the likes of Finn Allen, Devon Conway, and Glenn Phillips to post a competitive score on board, while bowlers led by Tim Southee will face a daunting task ahead of them in the form of Suryakumar Yadav. While the match will be nothing short of a blockbuster, weather predictions for the day might bring bad news for cricket fans from both countries.
According to the weather forecast, the shower is expected in the evening and clouds are likely to stay throughout the day. Temperature is likely to fluctuate from 21 deg Celsius to 17 deg Celsius, with humidity clocking up to 77 per cent.