STATS HIGHLIGHTS
Follow UsAfter a snoozefest in Lucknow, this series needed some spice and the third T20I provided exactly that. Batting first, India posted a mammoth total of 234/4, thanks to a sensational ton by Shubman Gill. However, what happened in the chase was least expected.
New Zealand were bundled out for 66, at one point of time, they were four down for seven runs. Eventually, Gill won by 60 runs against New Zealand and India won by 168 runs.
Glamorous Gill
When Gill was picked ahead of Prithvi Shaw, there were all sorts of critics around him. With a ton in his sixth innings, he certainly has silenced everyone. On his way to an unbeaten 126, Gill smashed a few records, and here is a list of them:
-Gill is now the fifth Indian after Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli to register a ton across all three formats.
-Across the limited over formats, he is only the fourth batter overall (Chris Gayle, Rohit, Martin Guptill) to hit a double ton in ODIs and a century in T20Is. Adding further, Gill and Rohit are the only two batters to achieve this feat in the same year, same tour, and against the same opposition. Rohit scored 208* (ODIs) and 118 (T20I) against Sri Lanka in 2017.
-At the age of 23 years and 146 days, Gill became the youngest Indian batter to hit a ton in T20Is. Also, he is the second youngest after Ahmed Shehzad (22 years and 127 days), to hit a ton across all formats.
-In his innings, Gill smashed 19 boundaries, 12 fours and seven sixes. These are the third most boundaries hit by an Indian batter in a T20I innings. Rohit in his knock of 118 against Sri Lanka in 2017, had hit 22 boundaries (4s/6s – 12/10), the most. Surya’s 117 against England in 2022, consisted of 20 boundaries (4s/6s – 14/6).
-His unbeaten score of 126, is the highest score by an Indian in T20Is. Previously, Virat Kohli had scored 122* against Afghanistan in 2022, the highest.
-This is also the highest score by any batter against New Zealand in the format. Richard Levi’s 117* in 2012, was the previous best.
Hardik and Gill accelerate at rapid pace
India were scoring at a good pace (125 in 12.3 overs) when Hardik Pandya and Gill joined together. With a great platform laid, both batters took on the bowlers and accelerated even better.
The pair put on a partnership of 103 in just 40 balls, for the fourth wicket. They scored at a run rate of 15.4. This is the best run rate in a 100+run partnership for an Indian pair.
New Zealand fumble early
Chasing a target of 235 was always a daunting task. For that to happen, New Zealand required a good start up top. But, their top order turned out to be a dud. None of their top four scored more than three.
Which is the reason why, they were four down for just seven runs. In a T20I innings only once had they lost their first four wickets earlier, and that came against Pakistan in 2010 in Christchurch (3/4).
Against India, New Zealand’s score of seven was the lowest total to which a team had lost its four wickets. Prior to this, South Africa in 2022 in Thiruvananthapuram, had lost four wickets for eight.
India went on to add another wicket, taking the tally to five. At the end of the sixth over, New Zealand were 30/5, which is the joint third-best bowling performance by India in the first six overs.
An all-time low against India
Yes, the target was massive, but New Zealand didn’t even put up a fight. They were bundled out for 66 in 12.1 overs, the least number of overs they have faced in a T20I innings. In terms of runs, only against Sri Lanka in 2014, and Bangladesh in 2021, they had scored less (60).
Against India, this is the lowest-ever total by a team in the format. Previously, Ireland in 2018, were skittled out for 70. Interestingly, before the second T20I, New Zealand never scored a total below 100 against India. Now, in consecutive matches, they have suffered low totals.
This is also the lowest total by any team on Indian soil. Bangladesh’s 70 against New Zealand at Eden Gardens in 2016, was the lowest.
Gigantic win
As an effect of being all-out for 66, New Zealand suffered a 168-run margin defeat. In T20Is, this is the biggest margin of win against a full member nation.
For a Test-playing nation, only Sri Lanka against Kenya in the 2007 World Cup, has a bigger win. They won that match by 172 runs.
FEW OTHER STATS
-At home, this was India’s 50th T20I win, the most by a team at home. New Zealand’s 44 wins is the next most wins for a team at home.
-In this innings, Blair Tickner conceded 50 runs in three overs at an economy of 16.7. Among New Zealand bowlers who have bowled three-plus overs in an innings, only Ben Wheeler against Australia in 2018, had conceded at a higher economy rate (20.2).
-India’s total of 234/4, is the third-highest total against New Zealand in T20Is. Australia’s 245/5 in 2018, is the highest score.
