Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh secured his second five-wicket haul in T20Is as India triumphed over New Zealand by 46 runs in the fifth match, clinching the series 4-1 at the Greenfield International Stadium. India, choosing to bat first, posted a strong 271/5, with Ishan Kishan scoring a rapid century and Suryakumar Yadav contributing 63 runs. Hardik Pandya’s quick 42 off 17 balls boosted India to their third-highest total in T20Is.
New Zealand’s chase was led by Finn Allen’s explosive 80 off 38 balls, but his dismissal triggered a collapse as they were bowled out for 225 in 19.4 overs. Arshdeep, after conceding 40 runs in his initial two overs, bounced back to claim 5-51, supported by Axar Patel (3-33) and Varun Chakaravarthy (1-36). India’s victory marked a dominant series performance, with Kishan’s wicketkeeping hinting at potential strategies for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Arshdeep’s early overs saw Allen’s aggressive start with boundaries, but his crucial wickets turned the game in India’s favor. Allen’s aggressive approach, including a quick half-century, was countered by India’s bowlers, with Axar dismissing him for 80. Despite some late resistance from New Zealand, India’s bowlers continued to make breakthroughs, securing a convincing win ahead of the T20 World Cup.
