On 29 January 2023, team India locked horns with New Zealand in the second game of the ongoing three-match T20I series. The match took place in Lucknow. However, the home side were coming off after losing the series opener in Ranchi. So, they were looking to win this match to keep them alive in the series.
While the Kiwis were looking to win this match to seal the series. Speaking about the match, Mitchell Santner won the toss and opted to bat first. However, the visitors did not make any changes to their winning playing XI from the last match. But, India made one change as Yuzvendra Chahal came in place of Umran Malik.
India defeated New Zealand by six wickets in the second T20I
For the Kiwis, Finn Allen and Devon Conway came out to open the innings. But, Indian bowlers had a fantastic outing as New Zealand scored only 99 runs for eight wickets in 20 overs. Both Allen and Conway scored 11 runs each. Mark Chapman scored 14 runs off 21 balls while Mitchell Bracewell scored 14 runs off 22 balls. Skipper Santner remained not out on 19* runs off 23 balls, including one four. For the Men in Blue, Arshdeep Singh took two wickets for seven runs in two overs. Apart from him, Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Deepak Hooda, and Kuldeep Yadav took one wicket each.
In reply, Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill came out to open the innings for team India. But, Gill scored just 11 runs off nine balls, including two fours. Ishan Kishan score 19 runs off 32 balls. Rahul Tripathi failed again. Then, Suryakumar Yadav scored 26* runs off 31 balls. Hardik Pandya scored 15* runs off 20 balls. Both these players managed to hit one boundary each. Thus, India managed to win the match by six wickets with just one ball to spare and leveled the series 1-1 with one more match to go.
Here is how fans have reacted to the victory of team India over the Kiwis in the second T20I:
Kitni mehnaat karni padi 🙄🙄 wah 🙏🏻🙏🏻 #INDVsNZT20 #NailBiter #NZvsInd
— Kuldeep Singh (@JackNeil51) January 29, 2023
What a close game that was..#INDVsNZT20 #Cricket
— Aashutosh Tiwari (@Aashuto86540490) January 29, 2023
Low-scoring thriller at Lucknow! What a game of cricket we've had here! Incredible. Box office action! It's SKY once again who seals the game for India. Great nerves, i must say 👏#surya #INDVsNZT20 #TeamIndia #sky
— Sayanta Sengupta (@sayanta2001) January 29, 2023
India won 🤩🇮🇳 and series level 1-1 👏🏻 onto the 3T20 in Ahemdabad Now 🤞#INDVsNZT20
— _deepak.jain1827 (@Deepakjain1827) January 29, 2023
Kyaa faayda bhaii itna bdiya stadium bnaane ka agar pitches aisi bnaani hai to #INDVsNZT20 #Lucknow
— Saharsh Badyal (@saharsh_badyal) January 29, 2023
20 over test match finally over. #INDVsNZT20
— mitochondria 🔬 (@clearlynotasimp) January 29, 2023
What a pathetic performance by both teams, what a terrible match. I feel bad for the people who showed up to watch this 💩#INDVsNZT20
— Nishant Chauhan (@nishant_ch) January 29, 2023
100 runs target or match last over tak gya 🤣🤣 #INDVsNZT20
— Arslan Arif (@ArslanArif66) January 29, 2023