Live Cricket Score - India vs New Zealand, 2nd T20I

India win

Wow, that was one 'interesting' game of cricket, wasn't it? Certainly something that we don't see often. A team crawling their way to 99 and the opposition chasing it down with a ball to spare. Things could have been different though as Tickner dropped Suryakumar in that final over and when India needed 3 from 2, the same batter cleared the mid off fielder for a boundary to seal the deal. 30 overs of spin were bowled in this game. Not sure if we will ever see something like this ever again in a T20 game featuring two big teams.

6 from 6

Hardik managed to find the boundary after 45 balls in India's innings. That's a rare sight in this format. You won't see 29 overs of spin in a single T20I game as well. We are certainly seeing a very different game tonight and it has come down to this. India need six from six and it's Tickner who comes on directly to bowl the final over. This weird game is all set to witness a weird finish.

13 from 12

Something has to give. Just wonder where this game is going to be won/lost. India keep picking the singles against spin and take it right down to the wire. Will New Zealand take a gamble and bring the field up? They have handed the ball to Ferguson now. This could be a game changing moment.

18 from 18

The cat and mouse game goes on as both the teams are pushing it until the end. New Zealand throw a surprise by introducing Mark Chapman in the 17th over and he does a decent job conceding only five. Santner has an over left and Lockie Ferguson hasn't bowled a single over.

Another run out

Needless!! Absolutely needless but India have sacrificed another wicket to a run out. Washington kept denying the tight single but Suryakumar just kept running. Washington decided to sacrifice his wicket as a result. Hardik is the new man in. This is a tricky scenario. India need 27 from the final five overs with six wickets in hand.

Sodhi falls

Wow, New Zealand are not going to give up without a fight. They have picked up another wicket here as Rahul Tripathi falls. He attempts a sweep but couldn't keep it down as he gets caught. This chase could really get tricky. India have handed Washington a promotion to counter spin with a left-right combo. Pretty good move.

Halfway mark

New Zealand are following a very similar template. If it was the quartet of Washington, Hooda, Chahal and Kuldeep for India, then it's Bracewell, Santner, Sodhi and Phillips for New Zealand. The visitors might even top India and end up bowling 15 overs of spin at this rate as they continue to make things difficult for the hosts. India move to 49/2 at the halfway stage. They need another 51 from the next ten overs.

Ishan gets run out

New Zealand saw Chapman get run out needlessly and India now see Ishan walk back to the pavilion in the same fashion. Ishan pushes one towards midwicket and wants two but gets sent back by Tripathi. It's tight but he is indeed run out. Can't really fault Tripathi there. Suryakumar Yadav is the new man in. Massive phase in the game for the visitors this as they need to get rid of this man early. If he stays for five overs, he is getting this done quite easily.

India make 29 in the powerplay

New Zealand ended up scoring 33 in the powerplay and India have scored four runs less. That's how difficult it's been to score against spin. But India had four options to exert pressure. It will be interesting to see who comes on to bowl in the middle overs for the visitors apart from Ish Sodhi.

Bracewell strikes

Wow, that turned a mile after pitching and caught Shubman offguard. He tries a pull but doesn't connect it properly and gets a top edge instead. India lose an early wicket. This surface is going to be challenging indeed even in the second half. Can Rahul Tripathi take the pitch out of the equation with a few lusty blows?

NZ introduce spin early

No surprises there as Santner introduces himself and Bracewell very early into the attack. Both these spinners aren't renowned for turning the ball a mile but they are making life difficult for Ishan Kishan here. India have made 16 in the first three overs but New Zealand do have reasons to get excited.

Target 100

Santner tried his best to get a few big hits in that final over but Arshdeep oozed class to deliver three dot balls as New Zealand finished with 99/8. It's been a shoddy display but the surface had a lot to do with that. If dew does settle in, India won't find it difficult to chase down 100 in 20 overs.

Two in two

Arshdeep is using that short ball to great effect. He directs it quite well to Lockie Ferguson and he fends it off awkwardly to get caught for a duck. New Zealand are 83/8 after 18 overs.

The wickets keep tumbling

Arshdeep comes onto bowl right at the death and strikes immediately. He bowls a shortish delivery that Ish Sodhi mistimes, only for Hardik to pouch an easy catch at mid on.

A wicket for Hardik

On a night where the spinners have been making all the inroads, Hardik brings himself on for a second and final spell and finishes it off with a short ball that fetches him a wicket. Bracewell gets a top edge and Arshdeep judges it to perfection near the fine leg boundary. New Zealand are 80/6 after 17 overs. This is a real struggle to reach three figures.

Unnecessary

That was the last thing New Zealand needed. A lack of communication between Chapman and Bracewell sees the former get run out. New Zealand have lost half their side already now. They have posted only 62 on the board in 13 overs. This isn't a great advert for a slam bang format.

Kuldeep gets into the act

India have used four spinners today in the first ten overs and all four have now struck. Kuldeep is the latest to make an impact as he cleans up Daryl Mitchell. This surface is proving to be very challenging indeed.

The reverse sweep consumes another batter

This is indeed a freakish coincidence. Deepak Hooda has come in and he has struck immediately. Quite dramatically, it's the reverse sweep that's hurting New Zealand. The first two batters were dismissed after attempting to reverse and Glenn Phillips does the same, only to lose his stumps. India are in total control as Kuldeep Yadav enters the attack.

Conway falls

That's a huge wicket given what Conway did last game. India's spinners are taking control very early in the game. After Chahal bowled a wicket-maiden, Washington follows it up with a wicket as well. Conway also attempts a reverse sweep but the ball goes up after coming in contact with the glove, only to be caught by the keeper. New Zealand are in trouble and have fallen behind in the powerplay to only post 33.

Yuzi strikes

Hardik brings on Chahal very early in the innings and the move has paid off. Finn Allen was getting a bit frustrated after failing to find his fluency and that has cost him his wicket. He saw Chahal turn the ball a mile first up and wanted to bring out the reverse sweep to play the ball with the turn but fails to connect it with the bat. The ball hits his leg and goes on to hit the stumps. India strike early.

Toss - New Zealand opt to bat

Both captains wanted to bat first as they expect batting to get tougher in the second half of the game. New Zealand are unchanged and that definitely isn't surprising. India on the other hand have strengthened their spin attack by picking Yuzvendra Chahal in place of Umran Malik. The hosts are expecting KulCha to cause trouble.

Teams:

India (Playing XI): Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan(w), Rahul Tripathi, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya(c), Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Shivam Mavi, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh

New Zealand (Playing XI): Finn Allen, Devon Conway(w), Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner(c), Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Blair Tickner

Build up

Not often do India find themselves under a bit of pressure to keep a series alive at home. But a comprehensive defeat in the opening T20I has put them in a delicate position going into this game tonight in Lucknow. While their new-look T20I team is slowly taking shape under Hardik Pandya, there are slots up for grabs. And it starts right up top with both Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill looking shaky. Both these talented young batters haven't been able to nail down their positions and they know time is not necessarily on their side with Prithvi Shaw lurking. There have been calls for Shaw's inclusion in the T20I setup but Gill and Kishan might get another go tonight to showcase their skills.

From a bowling perspective, Kuldeep Yadav seems to be making an impact which augurs well for India. The seamers were taken apart for plenty in Ranchi and things might not get rosy for them tonight as well at a venue that has witnessed big scores in recent times. From a New Zealand perspective, they will be absolutely buzzing with that win after losing all three games in the ODI series. Mitchell Santner was at his absolute best with the ball on a surface that offered plenty of purchase for the spinners. That might not be the case tonight.

The visitors will also be pleased with the fact that Daryl Mitchell got some runs after missing out in the ODIs. Can they carry forward the momentum and seal the series or will India drag it to the decider? We will find out over the next few hours.