Same Team, Same Script: BlackCaps lose in super over as India win their 1st T20I series in New Zealand

Team India won their maiden Twenty20 International (T20I) series in New Zealand after their victory in the third match on Wednesday in Hamilton.

The match got tied before Virat Kohli and Co won the Super Over. The result meant it was New Zealand's third loss in as many Super Overs – the streak that started with their loss in the World Cup final in 2019 against England. The same English side claimed a series win in New Zealand last year by winning the super over of the series decider.

The Indian team had a 2-0 lead in the five-match series ahead of the third fixture on Wednesday. Kane Williamson won the toss and put the touring side to bat. Opening batsman Rohit Sharma produced major fireworks with his 23-ball 50 before he got dismissed for 65 from 40 balls. The next scorer for India was the skipper Kohli who contributed with a knock of 27-ball 38. India managed to put 179 runs on the board in 20 overs.

New Zealand lost both the openers inside 55 runs when they began their chase. Captain Williamson led from the front as he did the majority of the scoring for the BlackCaps. Unfortunately, Williamson got out when New Zealand needed only two runs from three balls. Ross Taylor was bowled on the final ball when the match ended in a tie.

New Zealand batted first in the super over and Williamson, who missed his century by five runs, came out to bat along with Martin Guptill. The hosts scored 17 runs in six balls. Indian opener Rohit and KL Rahul scored only six runs off the first four deliveries before Rohit unleashed two big sixes off the final two deliveries to seal the match and series for India.

After yet another heartbreaking Super Over loss, New Zealand Captain Williamson said," Super overs haven't been too successful for us. India showed their experience in the crunch situation. We bowled well after they got off to a superb start. Very disappointing. It was nice to spend some time in the middle. It was disappointing not to cross the finishing lines. It is a game of small margins. It was a much better performance from us."

Meanwhile, Kohli admitted that New Zealand deserved to win. "I thought we were gone at one stage. I told our coach that they deserved to win. On the last ball, we had a discussion and we came to a conclusion that we had to hit the stumps. Rohit was superb for us. When Shami bowled those two dot balls, I thought we can go to super over.

In the super over, Kane came out and smashed Bumrah who is one of the best death over bowlers in World Cricket. There are a couple of guys who are sitting out like Sundar and Saini, they deserve to get a game," Kohli told in the post-match interview.