Highlights, India vs New Zealand, 3rd T20I at Kolkata, Full Cricket Score: Men in Blue complete 3-0 sweep with 73-run win

23:06 (IST)

That's it from us in our coverage of the three-T20I series between India and New Zealand, with the Men in Blue emerging victors by a 3-0 scoreline as Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid begin their assignments as India T20I captain and head coach on a solid note.

Thanks for tuning in to our live coverage. Do return on Thursday morning for the first Test between the two sides at Kanpur. For now, this is Amit Banerjee signing off.

23:04 (IST)

India skipper Rohit Sharma (159 runs, 53 average, 154.36 strike rate) is the Player of the Series!

Rohit: It’s important to start well whenever I bat. That’s always been my mindset. Once you see the pitch and assess the conditions, you know what you need to do as a batter. We wanted to get as many as we could in the powerplay and then carry on. There’s some room for improvement in the middle overs, but credit to the lower order for the way they finished off. (Positives) Harshal. It’s not easy when you bowl with the wet ball and try and execute your skills. Batting front, obviously KL. HIs form is very critical to the team. Axar, and then today Chahal, playing after a long time. Lot of positives. Good to see Venkatesh Iyer bowling those overs. Can be very useful for us going forward. Teams around the world bat pretty deep. It’s a big plus. Harshal opens the batting for Haryana and is a good batter. We saw what Deepak did in Sri Lanka. Yuzi Chahal was looking forward to batting as well (laughs), but didn’t get the chance.

22:59 (IST)

Axar Patel is the Player of the Match for his figures of 3/9!

Axar: I used to bowl faster when geting hit for runs earlier, but these days focus on varying my pace. I also try and outthink the batters. Reading the batters and changing my pace is my approach. Was focusing on bowling the right areas as the wicket was offering a bit of help. This has been the best year for me with the Test debut and IPL comebacl. Confidence is also on a high after these performances. If you're getting 27 wickets in one series, you start believing you can do anything. Also important to reflect on the processes that led to 27 wickets, and try and implement them in the next game.

22:54 (IST)

Mitchell Santner, New Zealand captain: Tough one to predict about the dew. India also bowled very well at the top, especially Axar. Credit has to go to the way India played throughout the series. We were probably a little off. They’re always tough to beat at home. There were periods in every game when we were going well, and they always found a way to put pressure back on us. He’s obviously a great player for us, and with the schedule it’s understandable. Gives other guys an opportunity. You’re always looking ahead and trying out different guys. (Positives) The way Guptill batted at the top was great. Chappie getting to his fifty in the first game. 

22:43 (IST)

Rahul Dravid, India head coach: It was a really good series win. Everyone played really well. We’re also quite realistic, and we’ve got to keep our feet on the ground. Not easy for New Zealand to play a World Cup final, and then play three games in six days. We’ve got to learn some things and move on. It’s been really good to see some of the younger guys come through. We’ve given opportunities to some of the younger guys who haven’t got a lot of opportunities in the recent past. We need to keep building on those skills as we move forward. Great to see we have options, and we can mix and match. It’s a really long season, and a lot of matches being played. Nice to have different options and see different people step up.

22:43 (IST)

Harshal Patel: (On success) It’s a pendulum and is going to swing the other way sometimes, so you’ve got to be ready.  My skill sets won’t change overnight. I tried to do the same thing in the IPL and want to continue to do the same thing in international cricket. Execution is always a big part of the delivery. If you get it wrong, it can sail over the boundary even with tailenders. Sometimes your confidence is not upto the mark but you have to keep backing yourself. It’s a weapon I use very often and I bank on it.

Ishan Kishan: (On a boundary off Boult) He got me out in the World Cup, and I knew he’d try the same thing targeting my pads, so I was ready. (Keeping or opening) Whatever team asked me to do, I’ll do that. The coach and captain asked me to do the simple thing, what I did in the IPL and what gave me success. They asked me to go and watch the ball. Even if I got out, it was okay.

22:36 (IST)

Venkatesh Iyer: I was picked for both batting and bowling, good to get a bowl finally. Everyone aspires to play for the country. If the team wins comprehensively, it’s a special feeling. I’ve always maintained as a professional cricketer, you’ve got to be flexible as to where you want to bat. That’s something I’ve worked on, adapting to situations.

Yuzvendra Chahal: I realised my ball is going far towards leg side. Then I decided to target the off stump. Ball was gripping a little. Specially I was working on my googlies and topspinner. It’s helping me to confuse the batsman, and I’m happy with that.

22:33 (IST)

As clinical as it can get

This is the biggest win ever for Team India in the T20I against New Zealand - 73 runs. pic.twitter.com/cQRbT7fWTT

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) November 21, 2021

22:30 (IST)

After 17.2 overs,New Zealand 111/10 ( Trent Boult 2 , )

OUT! INDIA WIN BY 73 RUNS AND SWEEP THE SERIES 3-0! Chahar grabs the final wicket, with Ferguson getting a thick top edge while looking for another big hit. Chahar, who had earlier dropped Guptill off his own bowling, makes no mistake this time. NZ 111 all out

Ferguson c and b Chahar 14(8)

22:28 (IST)

After 17 overs,New Zealand 110/9 ( Lockie Ferguson 14 , Trent Boult 1)

Harshal grabs a second wicket as Sodhi this time hits the ball long enough for it to land in Suryakumar Yadav’s palms near long on, departing for 9. Ferguson then decides to have some fun with little to lose, smashing two sixes in three deliveries to guide the Black Caps past the 100-mark. 15 runs and a wicket from this over.

22:26 (IST)

OUT! Second wicket for Harshal, as Sodhi this time manages to hit straight to a fielder to depart for 9. Suryakumar grabs on to this safely after the ball fell short of him in the previous over. NZ 95/9

Sodhi c Yadav b Harshal 9(11)

22:23 (IST)

After 16 overs,New Zealand 95/8 ( Ish Sodhi 9 , Lockie Ferguson 1)

Venkatesh Iyer too is among the wickets with Adam Milne becoming his first international dismissal, hitting the ball straight to Rohit at cover first ball. He nearly gets a second off the final delivery, as a mishit by Sodhi falls just short of SKY near mid on. India two wickets away from a massive win!

22:21 (IST)

OUT! Maiden international wicket for Venkatesh Iyer as Adam Milne hits straight into the hands of Rohit Sharma at cover. NZ 93/8; need 92 off 29

Milne c Rohit b Venkatesh 7(6)

22:18 (IST)

After 15 overs,New Zealand 93/7 ( Adam Milne 7 , Ish Sodhi 8)

Superb final over from Yuzi Chahal, with just one coming from it, as he signs off with figures of 1/26 from four. The leggie did well to keep things tight after getting smashed for 16 runs in his second over. New Zealand need 92 from 30

22:14 (IST)

OUT! How good have the Indian fielders been today! Another terrific throw by Ishan Kishan at the striker's end, this time catching Santner short with a direct hit as the New Zealand skipper was dashing back for a second run. NZ 84/7

Santner run out (Kishan) 2(4)

22:12 (IST)

After 13 overs,New Zealand 83/6 ( Mitchell Santner (C) 1 , Adam Milne 6)

Harshal Patel returns. The wickets continue to tumble as Jimmy Neesham, who the Black Caps were hoping would somehow anchor the innings from here, gets a thick top edge that sends the ball high into the orbit near short third man. Rishabh Pant shouts for the catch, and ends up pulling off a terrific one. New batter Adam Milne, meanwhile, gets off the mark with a six off the last ball. Seven runs and a wicket from the over, with NZ needing 102 off 42.

22:07 (IST)

OUT! Superb catch by Rishabh Pant after Neesham slices the ball miles up in the air. Lost his footing after calling for the catch, and had a hard time settling under the ball — which eventually settles between his gloves. Has been a fine evening so far for the keeper after playing his part in a stumping, a run out and now a terrific catch. First wicket for Harshal. NZ 76/6
 

Neesham c Pant b Harshal 3(7)

22:04 (IST)

After 12 overs,New Zealand 76/5 ( James Neesham 3 , Mitchell Santner (C) 0)

Venkatesh Iyer given a second over. The wickets, meanwhile, continue to tumble as Seifert’s caught short of the crease at the striker’s end after being sent back by Neesham and slipping along the way, departing for 17. Iyer then greets captain Santner with a short ball. Six runs and a wicket from this over, with New Zealand having lost half their side and left needing 109 from 48. One would say a 3-0 sweep looks inevitable now, but strange things have happened in the sport before, especially in a format as fickle as this.

21:59 (IST)

OUT! The wickets continue to tumble for the Black Caps as Seifert's caught short of the crease at the striker's end after being sent back last minute by Neesham. That he slipped only made it more difficult for him to get back across the line. NZ 76/5

Seifert run out (Kishan/Pant) 17(18)

21:57 (IST)

After 11 overs,New Zealand 70/4 ( Tim Seifert (W) 14 , James Neesham 0)

Terrific comeback from Yuzi Chahal after getting smashed for 16 runs in his previous over, giving away just two from his third while getting the prized wicket of Guptill, who perishes right after bringing up his half-century. New Zealand need 115 off 54. Need a whirlwind innings from someone to get them through. Jimmy Neesham, who walks in after Guptill’s exit, is perfectly capable of pulling that off, as is Seifert.

21:52 (IST)

OUT! Yuzvendra Chahal gets the dangerman as Martin Guptill holes out to the man at long on while looking to smash the ball for a maximum. Suryakumar pouches this safely in front of the boundary rope. NZ 69/4

Guptill c Suryakumar b Chahal 51(36)

21:51 (IST)

After 10 overs,New Zealand 68/3 ( Martin Guptill 51 , Tim Seifert (W) 12)

Rohit brings Axar back into the attack, hoping to get a breakthrough — specifically Guptill, who brings up his half-century with a lovely square cut off the fourth delivery. Seven from the over. At the halfway stage, New Zealand are 68/3. India, on the other hand, had raced to 69/0 at the end of their poweplay.

21:49 (IST)

FOUR! Guptill cuts a wide delivery from Axar through the point region, bringing up his 20th T20I half-century in style! Takes 33 deliveries to reach the milestone, and will have to play a central role if New Zealand are to walk away with a consolation win today. NZ 68/3

21:44 (IST)

After 9 overs,New Zealand 61/3 ( Martin Guptill 47 , Tim Seifert (W) 9)

Chahal replaces Venkatesh. The leg-spinner, however, is smashed for two fours and a six, with 12 of those runs coming off Guptill’s bat. 16 from the over, just what the Black Caps needed to revive an innings that was going nowhere until now. New Zealand need 124 from 66.

21:40 (IST)

After 8 overs,New Zealand 45/3 ( Martin Guptill 36 , Tim Seifert (W) 4)

Harshal Patel, adjudged Player of the Match on debut on Friday, brought into the attack as Rohit opts for a change from both ends. He too begins on a tidy note, giving away four singles.

21:35 (IST)

After 7 overs,New Zealand 41/3 ( Martin Guptill 34 , Tim Seifert (W) 2)

Tidy start to Venkatesh Iyer’s spell after the powerplay as he gives away four singles from his first over, with new batter Tim Seifert getting off the mark in the process. India doing well to maintain the stranglehold on the Kiwis at the moment.

21:31 (IST)

After 6 overs,New Zealand 37/3 ( Martin Guptill 32 , Tim Seifert (W) 0)

Bhuvneshwar returns, replacing Chahal. Guptill, meanwhile, continues to attack, making room and bringing out the tennis forehand-like slap over extra cover to collect his third six of the innings, moving to 32 in quick time. New Zealand reach 37 at the end of the powerplay, losing three wickets along the way. The Black Caps need another 148 to win from 84.

21:28 (IST)

After 5 overs,New Zealand 30/3 ( Martin Guptill 25 , Tim Seifert (W) 0)

Brilliant, just brilliant from Axar as he gets rid of Glenn Phillips in this over, the batter missing completely while going for a switch hit to see his leg stump get knocked over. Just one from the over. India very much in control a the moment.

21:26 (IST)

BOWLED! Glenn Phillips shapes for the switch hit. Axar spots his shift in stance early and fires a quicker delivery along the leg stump. The ball skids through to beat Phillips' bat swing, and hits the pole. NZ 30/3

Phillips b Axar 0(4)

21:23 (IST)

After 4 overs,New Zealand 29/2 ( Martin Guptill 24 , Glenn Phillips 0)

Change from both ends, with Chahal replacing Chahar. Barring a maximum in the third delivery, with Guptill smashing the ball into the stands over wide long on, it is a tidy over from the leggie with just one single and four dots aside from the six.

21:20 (IST)

After 3 overs,New Zealand 22/2 ( Martin Guptill 17 , Glenn Phillips 0)

MaMagical over from Axar Patel to get rid of Daryl Mitchell and Mark Chapman. Mitchell found Harshal Patel at covers while Chapman was stumped by Pant. Martin Guptill and Glenn Phillips will look to revive the innings. 

21:18 (IST)

OUT! Chapman is stumped by Rishabh Pant, and it's a double blow for the Kiwis after a quick start to the chase. Chapman st Pant b Axar 0

21:16 (IST)

OUT! Tossed up ball from Harshal and Mitchell looks to play for the loft, only to find Harshal Patel at cover. Daryl Mitchell c Harshal Patel b Axar 5

21:14 (IST)

After 2 overs,New Zealand 21/0 ( Martin Guptill 16 , Daryl Mitchell 5)

A very confident start this from Guptill and Mitchell, aggregating 21 runs from the first two overs. In the second over, Guptill went big for a maximum, launching one over the long-on fence. But guess what, Guptill is dropped off Chahar in the final ball of the second over! Will this prove costly? 

21:11 (IST)

SIX! Guptill goes big this time for the first six of the chase. Launched over long-on boundary! 

21:05 (IST)

FOUR! Full and wide from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Guptill plays this high over the extra cover boundary for thefirst four of the chase. 

21:01 (IST)

Time for New Zealand's chase. They need 185 runs to win and avoid a clean sweep. Martin Guptill and Daryl Mitchell walk out to open for the Kiwis. Bhuveshwar Kumar with the ball for India. Here we go!

20:50 (IST)

After 20 overs,India 184/7 ( Axar Patel 2 , Deepak Chahar 21)

Adam Milne bowls the final over. Deepak Chahar hits the ball towards opposite ends of the wicket to collect a boundary off each of the first two deliveries. He then works the ball towards deep midwicket to come back for a second with the two fielders in the deep nearly colliding. SIX! Chahar rocks back and smokes the ball over long on for a maximum, getting the Men in Blue past 180. Mishits towards wide mid on off the fifth, coming back for a second, before collecting a single off the last ball. 19 from the final over, with Chahar remaining unbeaten on 21.

India set New Zealand 185 to win the third T20I after opting to bat. 

20:42 (IST)

OUT! Harshal Patel pays the price for standing too deep in his crease, disturbing the stumps while bringing his blade down for a cut. Lockie Ferguson is rewarded with a wicket, which will make him feel slightly better after a very expensive run so far. IND 162/7

Harshal Patel hit wicket b Ferguson 18(11)

20:37 (IST)

After 18 overs,India 156/6 ( Axar Patel 1 , Harshal Patel 12)

Would’ve been a tidy final over for Boult had it not been for a misfield by Santner at deep point after Harshal went for a cut in the fourth delivery. The sloppiness continues as a needless throw by Chapman at the non-striker’s end results in an overthrow. Eight from the over as Boult signs off with figures of 1/31.

20:32 (IST)

After 17 overs,India 148/6 ( Axar Patel 1 , Harshal Patel 6)

Pace from both ends now as Milne returns, and strikes right away as Shreyas holes out to long on in the first delivery. The two Iyers make way for the two Patels, with Axar and Harshal at the crease at the moment. Harshal gets off the mark in style, slapping a wide, back-of-length ball over mid off off the third ball for a boundary. Eight runs and a wicket from the over.

20:29 (IST)

OUT! One Iyer follows the other back to the dugout! Milne gets his first wicket now as Shreyas ends up mishitting the ball down the ground. Mitchell takes a few steps forward and completes the catch with a slide. IND 140/6

Shreyas c Mitchell b Milne 25(20)

20:28 (IST)

After 16 overs,India 140/5 ( Shreyas Iyer 25 , Axar Patel 0)

Trent Boult’s back. Another misfield by the Black Caps, this time by Neesham at the point region that allows Shreyas to come back for a brace in the second delivery. Boult fires a steep bouncer in the third delivery that is called a wide. Venkatesh Iyer looks to smash the ball out of the ground in the penultimate delivery, but is deceived by the knuckle ball, skieing it towards deep midwicket where its easily pouched by Chapman. Six runs and a wicket from the over.

20:23 (IST)

OUT! Venkatesh's stay at the crease comes to an end as Trent Boult strikes! Was the knuckle ball that Venkatesh tries to smash into the stands, but ended up skieing towards the deep midwicket region with no timing. Mark Chapman settles under the ball and completes a safe catch. IND 139/5

Venkatesh c Chapman b Boult 20(15)

20:19 (IST)

After 15 overs,India 134/4 ( Shreyas Iyer 21 , Venkatesh Iyer 19)

Santner bowls out his final over, with both spinners getting done with their quotas by now. Venkatesh continues to bat with confidence, charging down the track in the third delivery to smash the ball towards the long off fence for a four, stretching the partnership to 30. Ball’s changed midway through the over, perhaps getting too wet and difficult to grip. Seven from the over, with Santner finishing with outstanding figures of 3/27, turning the game on its head at a time when the Men in Blue were in complete control with Rohit and Kishan dominating the seamers.

20:13 (IST)

After 14 overs,India 127/4 ( Shreyas Iyer 20 , Venkatesh Iyer 13)

The two Iyers decide to attack Sodhi in his final over of the evening — Shreyas cutting the ball behind point off the second, followed by Venkatesh getting down on one knee and slog-sweeping towards deep midwicket for a maximum. 13 from the over as Sodhi signs off with 1/31.

20:10 (IST)

After 13 overs,India 114/4 ( Shreyas Iyer 15 , Venkatesh Iyer 5)

Pace finally brought back into play as Ferguson replaces Santner — who has been the standout bowler so far this evening. He gives away six from his third over.

20:05 (IST)

After 12 overs,India 108/4 ( Shreyas Iyer 13 , Venkatesh Iyer 2)

Just when the situation was starting to brighten for the hosts, Sodhi sticks his right hand out to complete a superb one-handed catch off his own bowling to dismiss Rohit for 56. One Iyer joins another as Venkatesh joins Shreyas at the crease.

20:02 (IST)

OUT! What a catch by Sodhi as he removes the dangerman! Rohit steps out of his crease and smacks the ball down the ground; Sodhi simply sticks his right hand out and the ball somehow sticks to his palm. Rohit's masterclass comes to an end. IND 103/4

Rohit c and b Sodhi 56(31)

20:01 (IST)

After 11 overs,India 103/3 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 56 , Shreyas Iyer 10)

Rohit releases the pressure with a boundary off the third delivery of Santner’s third over, bringing up his half-century in just 27 balls. He lofts the ball towards the cow corner fence, with a misfield allowing him to dash back for a second. Iyer collects a boundary off the last ball to bring up the 100 for the hosts. 13 from the over.