If there was enough drama in the dying stages of the 3rd T20I at Hamilton, the 4th T20I provided more unbelievable moments for fans on both sides. The game yet again went down to the wire as Kiwis choked under pressure and saw the game slip through their hands. After being ahead in the game for a majority of the time, the home team couldn’t apply the finishing touches with the bat in hand.
Chasing a sub-par total of 166 in their 20 overs, New Zealand set up the chase with immense control. However, India never lost hope and always looked to bounce back with an opportunity anytime while defending the total. The twist in the tale did arrive for the second consecutive time in this series when Navdeep Saini bowled a brilliant 18th over to concede merely four runs.
However, were still in the driver’s seat with 7 runs to score in the last over. For India, it was Shardul Thakur who had the ball in the hand. Earlier in the day, Thakur already played a fine hand with the bat but didn’t witness an impressive outing with the ball. In the last over, he got the prized wicket of Ross Taylor to push the hosts on to the backfoot.
It was pressure time despite Daryll Mitchell, who scored a boundary off the next ball. The next ball saw another major turning point in the context of the game as Tim Siefert who was batting at 57, got run out after KL Rahul managed to hit the stumps. In the end, Kiwis lost two more wickets on the last two deliveries as they failed to get over the line, resulting in another Super Over in this series.
The Super Over, as always, hasn’t been much of a friend for the BlackCaps as they could only post 13 in their six balls. India bossed the last over as KL Rahul smacked first two balls for ten runs to set up an easy India win in the end. Tim Southee was once again at the receiving end as he couldn’t prevent the visitors to score 14 off the last over.
With a dramatic series of events that unfolded in the final few moments of the game, there was quite a lot of buzz in the social media.
Here’s how the Twitterati reacted on India’s Super over win in the 4th T20I at Wellington:
Harsha Bhogle:
4-0. Drama. Heartbreak again for New Zealand. India just too composed at the end. How good was that push for 2 from Virat! Could do that because Rahul had set it up.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 31, 2020
Gaurav Kalra:
breaking: the super over will be played before the main match in the final game of this series #NZvIND
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) January 31, 2020
Broken Cricket:
NZ to ICC:
Please schedule a Bilateral Super over series next time ?
— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) January 31, 2020
Michael Vaughan:
Lovely chaps the Kiwis but they are not very good at Super overs … !!! #NZvIND
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) January 31, 2020
Aakash Chopra:
Who wants to be Tim Southee tonight?? ?? #NZvInd #SuperOver
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 31, 2020
VVS Laxman:
Quite Incredible to have a #SuperOver in back to back matches. The Indian seamers were simply outstanding in the last 3 overs to defend 18 . Love this quality of fighting till the end from India. Great win #NZvsInd pic.twitter.com/Eq9lV83xcf
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) January 31, 2020
Gaurav Kapur:
Super over AGAIN ? #SuperOver #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/v77YXkZR2g
— Gaurav Kapur (@gauravkapur) January 31, 2020
Umang Pabari:
India’s last eight T20Is:
Tied (Won in Super Over)
Tied (Won in Super Over)
Won
Won
Won
Won
NR
Won #INDvsNZ— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) January 31, 2020
