Cricket Commentary

IND VS NZ

Final, 8-Mar-2026

255/5 20.0 oversRun Rate: 12.75
VS
159/10 19.0 overs Run Rate: 8.37
India beat New Zealand by 96 runs
India First Innings
Shivam Dube(26 | 8)*
Tilak Varma(8 | 6)
J Neesham|4|0|46|3
419.619.6: James Neesham to Shivam Dube, FOUR! Dube gets it through! 24 runs off the final over. India end up with 255 on the board. James Neesham bangs it into the surface and takes pace off. Dube hops and is made to reach out. He looks to force it away on the off side but does not quite get hold of it, but still manages to split the two fielders at extra cover and mid off and pick up a boundary.
6 Over | Run: 255/5 | Run Rate: 12.75
019.519.5: James Neesham to Shivam Dube, Missed out! Neesham serves it too straight, on a length, on the pads with fine leg inside the circle. Dube swings at it but does not connect. The ball clips the pads and goes towards backward square leg, but Dube wants to be on strike for the final ball, and he sends Tilak back.
419.419.4: James Neesham to Shivam Dube, FOUR! All the good work done by Neesham earlier is getting undone here. He lands this short and down the leg side, begging to be put away. Dube just helps it on its way over short fine for a boundary.
619.319.3: James Neesham to Shivam Dube, SIX MORE! That's effortless! James Neesham sticks to his fuller length and just outside off. Shivam Dube just extends his arms and launches it cleanly over the wide long off fence for half a dozen more.
619.219.2: James Neesham to Shivam Dube, SIX! 10 off the first 2 balls! Pitched up and just around off. Shivam Dube uses his long levers to fetch it and smokes it over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie. Neesham under pressure now.
419.119.1: James Neesham to Shivam Dube, FOUR! Just out of reach! Fuller one and on off, Shivam Dube looks to loft it over mid off but does not get it from the middle of the bat. It goes high in the air and Mitchell Santner turns around to go after it. He tries to grab it with his outstretched left hand but fails to reach it. The ball bounces off the turf and catches him above the right eye before dribbling towards the fence for a boundary.
218.618.6: Matt Henry to Tilak Varma, Drops safely! Fuller delivery, on middle, rolls his fingers to take pace off. Tilak Varma looks to loft it with a straight bat but mistimes it. It goes in the air but falls between deep mid-wicket and long on. Two taken. 
6 Over | Run: 231/5 | Run Rate: 12.16
118.518.5: Matt Henry to Shivam Dube, Short again and outside off, Shivam Dube cuts it away to deep point for one.
118.418.4: Matt Henry to Tilak Varma, Slower bumper, outside off. Tilak Varma reaches out but only manages to force it to extra cover for just a run.
118.318.3: Matt Henry to Shivam Dube, Back of a length and on off, Shivam Dube pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.
018.218.2: Matt Henry to Hardik Pandya, OUT! TAKEN! Matt Henry responds well here. He bangs this into the pitch, on off, takes pace off, but gets some extra bounce as well. Hardik Pandya tries to go straight and tries to flat-bat it down the ground but only manages to get a top edge. The ball flies high in the air towards mid off, where Mitchell Santner settles under it and takes a good catch.
618.118.1: Matt Henry to Hardik Pandya, SIX! BOOM! Change of bats has worked for Hardik Pandya. A full toss, on middle and leg. Pandya heaves hard across the line. Gets it from the inner half of the bat, but gets enough to clear the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie.
117.617.6: James Neesham to Hardik Pandya, Another short ball, outside off, Hardik Pandya reaches out and flat-bats it down to long off for one more.
6 Over | Run: 220/4 | Run Rate: 12.22
417.517.5: James Neesham to Hardik Pandya, FOUR! A superb effort in the deep, but it goes in vain! Bangs this into the pitch, on middle, slower again. Hardik Pandya pulls it but mistimes it a bit wide of deep mid-wicket. Glenn Phillips flings himself to his left, tries to grab it with his outstretched left hand, but the ball just evades him for a one-bounce four. If Phillips did not get to it, no one would have! 
217.417.4: James Neesham to Hardik Pandya, Still no timing! Fuller and around off, Hardik Pandya looks to slog it a bit too hard. Loses his shape and gets an inside edge towards the vacant mid-wicket region. He calls for two and gets it comfortably in the end.
117.317.3: James Neesham to Tilak Varma, Short of a length and outside off, keeping it away from the batter. Tilak Varma swats it down to long off for just a run.
117.217.2: James Neesham to Hardik Pandya, Back of a length and on off, gives no pace at all, Hardik Pandya heaves it with not much timing to deep mid-wicket for a single.
017.117.1: James Neesham to Hardik Pandya, No hat-trick! Fuller and on off, Hardik Pandya drives it straight to mid off.
116.616.6: Jacob Duffy to Hardik Pandya, Hard length and outside off, Hardik Pandya stabs it out through cover-point for one more. 
6 Over | Run: 211/4 | Run Rate: 12.41
116.516.5: Jacob Duffy to Tilak Varma, Fuller one and on middle and leg, Tilak Varma hoicks it towards deep mid-wicket for one.
216.416.4: Jacob Duffy to Tilak Varma, Uppish but safe! A pacy bouncer, on middle. Tilak Varma shuffles across to hook but gets a top edge over the keeper's head. Matt Henry from short fine chases after it and puts in a slide to make a fine stop, saving a couple of runs.
116.316.3: Jacob Duffy to Hardik Pandya, Short of a length and on middle, takes pace off, Hardik Pandya pulls it to deep mid-wicket for another run.
116.216.2: Jacob Duffy to Tilak Varma, CHANCE? Oh, yes. A sharp chance but Finn Allen has put it down. Duffy slams it on a hard length, outside off. Tilak's eyes light up as he sees the width on offer. Cuts it hard and picks the bones out of it but fails to hit it wide enough of Allen at backward point. Finn gets low and tries to take the catch around his left ankle but fails to cling on. It goes behind for a single. Allen grimaces in pain but he is staying on.
116.116.1: Jacob Duffy to Hardik Pandya, Pace taken off, on a good length, outside off. Pandya punches it on the up in front of square on the off side. The batters think about the second, but Glenn Phillips gets around to his left and keeps it to a single.
015.615.6: James Neesham to Suryakumar Yadav, OUT! CAUGHT! India lose their captain for a golden duck and it is three wickets in the over for James Neesham. He bangs this into the pitch, just around off. Suryakumar Yadav looks to target his favourite area towards long leg. He gets low and scoops it but does not get hold of it. Rachin Ravindra moves to his right and takes a superb sliding catch. The crowd has gone silent and India are 204/4 now.
6 Over | Run: 204/4 | Run Rate: 12.75
015.515.5: James Neesham to Ishan Kishan, OUT! TAKEN! Both set batters dismissed in the same over, and New Zealand have a sniff. James Neesham is thrilled to bits. Neesham switches to around the wicket and bowls it very full, on middle. Kishan hangs low to go down the ground. He takes it on the full and goes through with the shot. One hand comes off the bat handle, and he gets it only as far as long on. Mark Chapman moves to his right at long on and does the rest.
115.415.4: James Neesham to Hardik Pandya, On a short of a good length, outside off, Pandya hops and cuts it to deep cover for a single.
015.315.3: James Neesham to Hardik Pandya, On a hard length, on off, Hardik rises with the bounce and angles it to backward point.
015.215.2: James Neesham to Hardik Pandya, Into the wicket, on off, Hardik taps it off the back foot to mid off.
015.115.1: James Neesham to Sanju Samson, OUT! CAUGHT! James Neesham strikes on his return to the attack. Not the best of balls, but Neesham will take it. A high-full toss, around the waist, on off. Samson waits back to smash it down the ground but does not quite manage to get his hands through the ball in a fashion he would have liked. Hits it flat towards long on, where the sub fielder, Cole McConchie, runs across to his left and stays side on to complete the catch whilst ensuring he stays away from the boundary cushions. Samson has a look at the umpires but they are happy with the height. End of a top knock from Sanju.
414.614.6: Mitchell Santner to Ishan Kishan, FOUR! The 200 is up for India! Santner spears it in, full, almost in the blockhole, on middle. Kishan is deep in the crease and manages to get the leverage to go back over the bowler's head for a four.
6 Over | Run: 203/1 | Run Rate: 13.53
114.514.5: Mitchell Santner to Sanju Samson, Full and on off, knocked to long off for a single by Sanju.
114.414.4: Mitchell Santner to Ishan Kishan, FIFTY FOR KISHAN! India's pocket rocket has stood up on the big night of the final with a 23-ball half-century. Santner fires it in, full and on middle, Kishan wrists it off the front foot through mid-wicket for a run. He raises his bat to acknowledge the applause of the crowd. The 100-run stand also comes up between this pair.
014.314.3: Mitchell Santner to Ishan Kishan, Santner switches to over the wicket and pushes it through, short and outside off. Ishan attempts the switch hit but misses. Kishan is unhappy that the wide is not called, but he had moved across his stumps.
614.214.2: Mitchell Santner to Ishan Kishan, SIX! Just over! Across off, fuller in length. Kishan collapses his back knee and goes under the ball. He hits it against the angle, and even though the bat turns in his hand, he manages to clear the leaping deep mid-wicket fielder.
014.114.1: Mitchell Santner to Ishan Kishan, Near the tramline, on the shorter side. Kishan is made to reach out. The ball grazes the toe end of the blade before dribbling to short third.
613.613.6: Rachin Ravindra to Sanju Samson, SIX! A hat-trick of sixes! Just 2 runs off the first 3 balls, but the over ends up going for 20. Flighted delivery, on a good length, outside off. Samson gets the width to free his arms, and he stays still at the point of impact. Opens up the front hip and slams it inside out over extra cover for the third six in a row.
6 Over | Run: 191/1 | Run Rate: 13.64
613.513.5: Rachin Ravindra to Sanju Samson, SIX MORE! Outta here! Rachin Ravindra pulls his length back, on middle. This is fractionally short but enough for Samson to climb into it. He goes deep in the crease in a flash and pulls it way over deep mid-wicket for his 7th biggie.
613.413.4: Rachin Ravindra to Sanju Samson, SIX! Clean as a whistle! Rachin errs in length as he dishes it out right in the slot. This is on middle and leg. Samson puts his head down, holds his shape and smokes it towards the sight screen for a six.
113.313.3: Rachin Ravindra to Ishan Kishan, Flatter and shorter, outside off, this is heaved away to deep mid-wicket for a single.
113.213.2: Rachin Ravindra to Sanju Samson, Flighted delivery, keeps it wide on off, on a length. Sanju makes room to go inside out, but is slightly early into the shot. Chips it down to long off for a run.
013.113.1: Rachin Ravindra to Sanju Samson, Good stop! Darted in from around the wicket, on a length, on middle and leg. Samson knocks it down the strip. Rachin gets across and dives to his right to prevent the single.
112.612.6: Matt Henry to Sanju Samson, Good comeback from Henry after being hit for a six earlier in the over. Gets the yorker in, right in the blockhole. Samson gets his bat down and jams it out back past the bowler for one.
6 Over | Run: 171/1 | Run Rate: 13.15
112.512.5: Matt Henry to Ishan Kishan, Not in control but safe! Henry digs it in short and it skids through, outside off. Kishan backs away and flays at it. Ends up giving himself too much room. Spoons it aerially, but the ball drops in front of the rushing deep cover fielder. Just a single.
112.412.4: Matt Henry to Sanju Samson, Slanting into the pads, full in length. Samson just checks his shot as he whips it in front of deep mid-wicket. They cross.
112.312.3: Matt Henry to Ishan Kishan, Back to pace on, low full toss, on middle and leg. Kishan gets low and smears it to deep mid-wicket for a run.
612.212.2: Matt Henry to Ishan Kishan, SIX! Stand and deliver! Henry takes pace off and bowls it at 122.9 kph. Bangs it into the surface, but this comes at waist height, outside off. Kishan waits for the ball to arrive and pummels it over wide long on for a six.
012.112.1: Matt Henry to Ishan Kishan, Pushes it across the left-hander, on a good length. Kishan reaches out to force it away. Gets it right off the toe end of the blade towards mid off.
411.611.6: Lockie Ferguson to Sanju Samson, FOUR! Up and over! Lockie Ferguson hits the length hard and on off. Sanju Samson transfers his weight slightly on the back foot and muscles it over the mid off fielder for a boundary now. Ferguson has been taken for 24 runs in each of his opening two overs.
6 Over | Run: 161/1 | Run Rate: 13.42
111.511.5: Lockie Ferguson to Ishan Kishan, Back of a length and on off, Ishan Kishan swats it towards wide long on for one.
611.411.4: Lockie Ferguson to Ishan Kishan, SIX! The runs just keep on flowing here! Pitched up and on middle and off. Ishan Kishan manages to get right underneath it and smacks it flat and over the long on fence for the third six of the over.
111.311.3: Lockie Ferguson to Sanju Samson, From around the wicket now. The yorker is nailed, on middle and leg. Sanju digs it out to wide long on for a single. 150 UP FOR INDIA! In just 11.3 overs.
611.211.2: Lockie Ferguson to Sanju Samson, SIX! Back-to-back biggies! Lockie Ferguson overcorrects his length and goes full, on middle, in the slot as well. Sanju Samson gets his front foot out and tonks it over the bowler's head for half a dozen more. This also brings up the 50-run partnership between Samson and Kishan.
611.111.1: Lockie Ferguson to Sanju Samson, SIX! SMOKED! Lockie Ferguson bangs this into the pitch, on middle, not short enough to trouble the batter. Sanju Samson picks up the length early and hammers it over the deep square leg fence for a biggie.
110.610.6: Mitchell Santner to Sanju Samson, FIFTY FOR SAMSON! Another magnificent knock from him, and this is his third consecutive fifty in this tournament. Also, according to Natalie Germanos on air, Samson becomes the third player to score half-centuries in a T20 World Cup semi-final and a final. This is a quicker one, full and on leg, Sanju Samson drills it to long on for one more.
6 Over | Run: 137/1 | Run Rate: 12.45
010.510.5: Mitchell Santner to Sanju Samson, Drops it short and around off, Sanju Samson punches it wide of extra cover, where Rachin Ravindra dives to his right to make a clean stop this time.
110.410.4: Mitchell Santner to Ishan Kishan, Fires in a yorker, on middle, Ishan Kishan jams it down towards long on for one.
610.310.3: Mitchell Santner to Ishan Kishan, SIX! Into the stands! Tossed up, full and on middle and leg. Ishan Kishan clears his front leg, gets low and nails the slog sweep over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie.
110.210.2: Mitchell Santner to Sanju Samson, Flatter, full and on off, Sanju Samson drives it towards extra cover, where Rachin Ravindra only makes a half-stop and allows a run.
110.110.1: Mitchell Santner to Ishan Kishan, Drags his length back, on middle, Ishan Kishan heaves it towards wide long on for a single.
09.69.6: James Neesham to Sanju Samson, Nails the wide yorker this time, Sanju Samson tries to steer it away again, but this time, he does not make any contact.
6 Over | Run: 127/1 | Run Rate: 12.70
19.59.5: James Neesham to Ishan Kishan, Hits the length hard, on off, Ishan Kishan stabs it out in front of short cover for a run.
49.49.4: James Neesham to Ishan Kishan, FOUR! Sloppy fielding! A slower one, back of a length and outside off. Ishan Kishan cuts it away hard and wide of point. Rachin Ravindra dives to his left but lets it through for a boundary.
19.39.3: James Neesham to Sanju Samson, On a length and on off, Sanju Samson works it off the inner half of the bat through square leg for a single.
49.29.2: James Neesham to Sanju Samson, FOUR! Incredible shot! Nothing wrong with the ball, it is a yorker, on off. Sanju Samson waits for it, opens the face of the bat late and guides it past short third for a boundary.
29.19.1: James Neesham to Sanju Samson, In the air...SAFE! Fuller one and just outside off. Sanju Samson backs away to go over covers but slices it. It goes in the air but lands out of the reach of the backtracking point fielder. Two taken.
18.68.6: Mitchell Santner to Sanju Samson, A couple of quiet overs from Santner! Flighted, full and on off, Sanju Samson drills it to long off for one more.
6 Over | Run: 115/1 | Run Rate: 12.78
08.58.5: Mitchell Santner to Sanju Samson, A rare dot ball! Pushed through quicker, short and on off, angling in. Sanju Samson stays back and stabs it to short cover.
18.48.4: Mitchell Santner to Ishan Kishan, A low full toss, on middle and leg, Ishan Kishan clips it away to deep mid-wicket for one.
18.38.3: Mitchell Santner to Sanju Samson, Slows it up, shortish and on off, Sanju Samson pats it towards long off for another run.
18.28.2: Mitchell Santner to Ishan Kishan, Flatter, short and outside off, Ishan Kishan hangs back and punches it to the left of sweeper cover for a run.
18.18.1: Mitchell Santner to Sanju Samson, Tossed up, full and on off, Sanju Samson eases it down to long off for a single. Nelson on the board now.
47.67.6: Rachin Ravindra to Ishan Kishan, FOUR! Finds the gap again! A quicker one, short and outside off, Ishan plays off the back foot, and threads it between short third and backward point for a boundary. So 12 runs and a wicket from Rachin's first over.
6 Over | Run: 110/1 | Run Rate: 13.75
47.57.5: Rachin Ravindra to Ishan Kishan, FOUR! Tremendous timing! Drag-downer, spinning in from middle to leg. Ishan hangs deep inside the crease and knocks it through the mid on and mid-wicket gap for a boundary.
07.47.4: Rachin Ravindra to Ishan Kishan, Very full, wide on off. Ishan reaches out to force it away but ends up bunting it down on the off side.
27.37.3: Rachin Ravindra to Ishan Kishan, On a length, pushed a bit wide on off. Kishan extends his hands and slices it wide of sweeper cover. It is Glenn Phillips in the deep, who gets across quickly and slides to cut it off. Another couple for Ishan.
27.27.2: Rachin Ravindra to Ishan Kishan, Superb stop! Tossed up, full and on off. Kishan drills it all along the ground towards long on. Daryl Mitchell sprints and tumbles to his right to prevent the boundary. Two runs taken.
07.17.1: Rachin Ravindra to Abhishek Sharma, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND​​! Rachin Ravindra continues to have a dream run with the ball as he breaks this dangerous opening partnership. Rachin goes full and wide outside off. Abhishek reaches out for it as he looks to carve it behind square on the off side. He gets a faint outside edge instead, and Seifert takes a sharp catch behind the stumps. Had Abhishek left that, it would have been a wide. But he goes after providing a solid platform for his side.
16.66.6: Mitchell Santner to Abhishek Sharma, Pushed wide across the batter, on a length. Sharma gets on the back foot and cuts it to deep backward point for a single. A quiet over as just 6 runs come from it.
6 Over | Run: 98/0 | Run Rate: 14.00
16.56.5: Mitchell Santner to Sanju Samson, In-angler on a length, on middle, Sanju goes across and tucks it through mid on for a single.
46.46.4: Mitchell Santner to Sanju Samson, FOUR! Nicely done! Bowled from a bit wide of the crease, short and on top of off. Samson stays leg side of the ball, and his fast hands come into play. Cuts it to the right of the backward point fielder for a boundary.
06.36.3: Mitchell Santner to Sanju Samson, Drifting in on a length, this is punched to cover.
06.26.2: Mitchell Santner to Sanju Samson, Nicely floated up, full and around off. Sanju tries to smash that through cover, but the ball dips, spins and beats the outside edge.
06.16.1: Mitchell Santner to Sanju Samson, Pushed fuller, on off, Sanju gently eases it to the mid off fielder.
05.65.6: Jacob Duffy to Abhishek Sharma, A dot to end the Powerplay. On a hard length, Abhishek walks across the stumps and seeing that, Duffy pushes it away from the left-hander. Sharma ends up leaving the ball in the hope of getting a wide from the umpire, but gets nothing. 20 runs off the final over of the Powerplay. At the end of 6 overs, India are 92/0.
6 Over | Run: 92/0 | Run Rate: 15.33
45.55.5: Jacob Duffy to Abhishek Sharma, FOUR! FIFTY FOR ABHISHEK SHARMA! In just 18 balls. After a very underwhelming tournament, he has chosen a perfect occasion to make an impact. A hard-length delivery around the fifth stump. Abhishek stands tall and flat-bats it over the top of wide mid on for a boundary. The Indian dugout erupts in appreciation, with every player on their feet applauding the southpaw. This is the fastest fifty in this World Cup, informs Ravi Shastri on air.
25.45.4: Jacob Duffy to Abhishek Sharma, And again! A bouncer outside off, and Abhishek spots that there’s no one stationed on the leg side boundary. He shuffles across the stumps and goes for the pull, only to get a top edge that sails over square leg. Mark Chapman chases it from the circle and cuts it off before the ropes. The batters run a couple.
45.35.3: Jacob Duffy to Abhishek Sharma, FOUR! Just out of reach! Full outside off, Sharma swings hard across the line and skies it. Chapman gives it a chase and even puts in a dive, but the ball drops just beyond his reach. As he scrambles on the ground trying to pull it back in, he ends up nudging it onto the ropes instead.
65.25.2: Jacob Duffy to Abhishek Sharma, SIX! Nonchalantly played! A low full toss, around off, Abhishek Sharma gets on the front foot, maintains his shape and thumps it downtown for a six.
45.15.1: Jacob Duffy to Abhishek Sharma, FOUR! Edgy! A low full toss, on off, Abhishek advances and gives himself some room. He tries to go inside out through the off side, but only manages a fat outside edge. The ball shoots between the keeper and the short third fielder and goes for a boundary.
64.104.6: Matt Henry to Sanju Samson, SIX! Gets much more than enough on that. Henry bashes the length hard, over middle and leg. Sanju Samson picks the length in a trice and nails the pull shot, parking it behind the deep square leg fence for a six. End of a very lengthy over from Henry. 21 runs from it.
10 Over | Run: 72/0 | Run Rate: 14.40
24.94.5: Matt Henry to Sanju Samson, On a hard length, jagging back into the batter. Samson plays off the back foot and pulls it between the deep square leg and deep mid-wicket fielders for a couple of runs.
14.84.4: Matt Henry to Abhishek Sharma, At pace now, on a full length, outside off, Abhishek Sharma drives it through the vacant mid off region for a single.
64.74.3: Matt Henry to Abhishek Sharma, SIX! HIGH AND HANDSOME! Full and slow, wide outside off, Abhishek Sharma has enough time in the world to get under it and he clubs it cleanly behind long off for a huge six. Abhishek moves to 30 (12).
04.64.3: Matt Henry to Abhishek Sharma, WIDE! Not working at the moment for Henry. This is the fourth wide of the over. He goes miles outside the off pole and the tramline. Abhishek leaves.
14.54.2: Matt Henry to Sanju Samson, Short of a good length, nipping into the batter at chest height. Sanju Samson pulls it off the back foot and it goes on the bounce to the deep mid-wicket fielder for a single.
04.44.2: Matt Henry to Sanju Samson, WIDE! A bit too straight, down the leg stump line, slower at 117.2 kph. Samson gets inside the line, tries to pull, but fails to connect. Third wide of the over already.
14.34.1: Matt Henry to Abhishek Sharma, Around off, on a good length, at 124.4 kph, a cutter, it seems. Abhishek Sharma hangs back and cuts it to deep backward point for a single.
04.24.1: Matt Henry to Abhishek Sharma, WIDE! Again, Henry loses the radar and bowls outside the guideline, on the off side. Left alone by Sharma. Henry under pressure.
04.14.1: Matt Henry to Abhishek Sharma, WIDE! Far outside off, across the batter, and breaching the tramline. Abhishek ignores. Wide called.
43.93.6: Lockie Ferguson to Sanju Samson, FOUR! Sanju Samson gets it away this time. Sliding onto the pads, on a good length. Samson lets the ball come to him and tickles it fine of the man at short fine leg for a boundary. 24 runs off the over, 39 off the last 2. The 50 is up for India.
9 Over | Run: 51/0 | Run Rate: 12.75
03.83.5: Lockie Ferguson to Sanju Samson, Lockie Ferguson takes pace off and bowls it full, on off, Sanju gets low and steers it to point.
03.73.5: Lockie Ferguson to Sanju Samson, Wide! Down leg again, on a back of a length. Sanju misses out in putting it away. 20 runs off the over with a ball to go.
03.63.5: Lockie Ferguson to Sanju Samson, Wide! Too full, down leg. Samson swings to get it away but misses. Tim Seifert does well to move to his left and makes the stop.
63.53.4: Lockie Ferguson to Sanju Samson, SIX! Not where Samson intended but he will take it. Cross-seam delivery, slanting into the right-hander. Samson hangs deep in the crease and has a swipe across the line. Gets a leading edge that goes down to deep third. The fielder in the deep is a bit square and he can only watch it sail over the ropes for a six.
03.43.4: Lockie Ferguson to Sanju Samson, Wide! Sprayed down leg, on a back of a length. Samson swivels to pull it away but is beaten for pace.
13.33.3: Lockie Ferguson to Abhishek Sharma, Hits the hard length, over middle. Abhishek dabs it in front of point and takes a single.
63.23.2: Lockie Ferguson to Abhishek Sharma, SIX! All the way! Leg-cutter from Ferguson, fuller and outside off. Sharma has a big swing at it. Ends up slicing it slightly but gets more than enough on the bat to clear the wide long off fence for a six.
43.13.1: Lockie Ferguson to Abhishek Sharma, FOUR! Streaky, but they all count! Lockie Ferguson steams in from over the wicket and bashes the hard length, across off. Abhishek charges down the track and flays at it. Gets a thickish outside edge that goes over the vacant slip cordon and flies down to deep third for a boundary.
42.72.6: Jacob Duffy to Sanju Samson, FOUR! 15 runs off the over! Jacob pitches it up but ends up being a bit too full and finds no help through the air, on off. Sanju presents the full face of the bat and smacks it back over the bowler's head for the third boundary of the over.
7 Over | Run: 27/0 | Run Rate: 9.00
02.62.5: Jacob Duffy to Sanju Samson, At the sticks, angled in on a length. Samson has a hack across the line and shanks it off the inner half to mid-wicket.
12.52.4: Jacob Duffy to Abhishek Sharma, Just short! A heart-stopping moment for Abhishek Sharma. After being hit for a couple of fours on relatively full balls, Duffy responds by banging it in short, around middle and leg. Abhishek tries to take it on but the ball gets big on him. It goes flat towards deep square leg, where Glenn Phillips runs in off the ropes and puts in the dive but the ball drops short. Phillips does well to get his body behind the ball and prevents the ball from going past him. Just a single.
42.42.3: Jacob Duffy to Abhishek Sharma, FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries for the southpaw. Duffy stays full, on middle. Abhishek holds his shape and swings through the line. He does not try to overhit this one and lifts it back over the bowler's head for four more.
42.32.2: Jacob Duffy to Abhishek Sharma, FOUR! Up and over! Fuller in length, on middle and leg. Abhishek clears the front leg and clubs it over wide mid on. Not quite from the middle of the bat, but enough to clear the in-field and fetch Sharma his first boundary.
02.22.2: Jacob Duffy to Abhishek Sharma, Wide! Duffy pushes it across the left-hander, on a back of a length. Abhishek Sharma jumps out of the crease but the ball is out of his reach and he lets it go. The ball goes just beyond the tramline for a wide.
12.12.1: Jacob Duffy to Sanju Samson, A hint of away shape, on a good length, on off and middle. Samson waits back and turns it through square leg for a single.
21.61.6: Glenn Phillips to Abhishek Sharma, Great effort! Floated up by Glenn Phillips, full and on middle. Sharma does not move his feet much and just extends his hands into the drive. Plays it between extra cover and long off. Daryl Mitchell is quick across the ground at long off, to his right, and dives to push the ball away from the fence. He saves a couple of runs for his side. A tidy start from Phillips.
6 Over | Run: 12/0 | Run Rate: 6.00
11.51.5: Glenn Phillips to Sanju Samson, No air given by Glenn Phillips, on a good length, outside off. Samson knocks it watchfully to long on and gets to the other end.
11.41.4: Glenn Phillips to Abhishek Sharma, This is flatter and shorter, on off. Abhishek rides the bounce and taps it to long on. He is off the mark with a single.
01.31.3: Glenn Phillips to Abhishek Sharma, Angled in from wide of the crease, full and on middle and leg. Abhishek Sharma lunges and defends it out.
01.21.2: Glenn Phillips to Abhishek Sharma, From around the wicket for the left-hander. This is tossed up slightly, on off. A hint of turn, Sharma eases the drive to cover.
11.11.1: Glenn Phillips to Sanju Samson, Starts on a nagging length, on top of off, Samson punches it off the back foot to long on and crosses over.
10.60.6: Matt Henry to Sanju Samson, Good cricket! Matt pitches it up, on off and middle. Sanju presses forward and taps it with soft hands in front of mid on and scampers to the other end. 7 runs off the first over!
6 Over | Run: 7/0 | Run Rate: 7.00
60.50.5: Matt Henry to Sanju Samson, SIX! Sanju Samson and India are underway! Henry pulls the length back, outside off. This is fractionally short, but Samson is quick to pounce on it. He stands tall and thumps it off the front foot over the man at mid on for a flat six.
00.40.4: Matt Henry to Sanju Samson, Make that four dots. Henry pushes the length up, not a lot of movement in the air or off the deck. Samson plays it all along the ground to mid on.
00.30.3: Matt Henry to Sanju Samson, Around the off stump, on a length, Sanju hangs back and angles it to point from the crease. Three dots in a row.
00.20.2: Matt Henry to Sanju Samson, A loud shout for LBW, turned down! Mitchell Santner gestures that there was bat involved and New Zealand do not go upstairs. The UltraEdge confirms the inside edge. Nipping back in, on a good length, at the sticks. Samson brings his bat out in front and ekes out an inside edge onto the pads.
00.10.1: Matt Henry to Sanju Samson, Henry is right on the money! Angled in, on a good length, on middle. Samson is standing deep in his crease and he pats it back to the bowler with a straight bat.
New Zealand Second Innings
Jacob Duffy(3 | 5)*
Lockie Ferguson(6 | 7)
A Sharma|1|0|5|1
018.618.6: Abhishek Sharma to Jacob Duffy, OUT! CAUGHT! It is all over. Abhishek bowls it on a length outside off at 70.3 kph. Slower through the air, the ball grips and turns. Duffy goes for a flat-batted hit down the ground but mistimes it. Tilak Varma settles under it near the ropes and completes a fine catch. He lobs the ball up in the air, sensing he might step onto the ropes, but he is well inside the field and calmly takes it again. A comprehensive win for the Men in Blue as Eoin Morgan on air mentions that this is India's biggest win in a T20 World Cup match. The celebrations start in the Indian dugout and the noise is absolutely deafening at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The ghosts of 2023 have been exorcised in 2026 as INDIA WIN THE T20 WORLD CUP for the third time and defend their crown in a commanding fashion. India win by 96 runs.
6 Over | Run: 159/10 | Run Rate: 8.37
118.518.5: Abhishek Sharma to Lockie Ferguson, Slower through the air, full and outside off, Ferguson carves it to the left of mid off for a single.
118.418.4: Abhishek Sharma to Jacob Duffy, A touch short, on off, Jacob flat bats it over the bowler. Long on cuts it off to his left. One taken.
118.318.3: Abhishek Sharma to Lockie Ferguson, Dropped short, on top of off. Lockie Ferguson rocks back and tries to pull, but miscues it over mid on for a single.
118.218.2: Abhishek Sharma to Jacob Duffy, Duffy advances and slaps this length ball to deep extra cover for a single.
118.118.1: Abhishek Sharma to Lockie Ferguson, Short on off, Lockie shimmies down the track and mistimes the heave to long on for a single.
017.617.6: Jasprit Bumrah to Jacob Duffy, Deceived! Pace-off delivery, full and just outside the off stump line. Jacob Duffy swings for the hills, only to miss. A superb spell from Jasprit Bumrah as he ends with figures of 4-0-15-4. 
6 Over | Run: 154/9 | Run Rate: 8.56
117.517.5: Jasprit Bumrah to Lockie Ferguson, Once again, this is full and slow, on off. Lockie turns it to deep mid-wicket for a run.
117.417.4: Jasprit Bumrah to Jacob Duffy, Full toss on leg, whipped to deep mid-wicket for a single.
017.317.3: Jasprit Bumrah to Mitchell Santner, OUT! BOWLED! Bumrah has his fourth wicket of the finale. He rolls his fingers on the leather and takes pace off, executing the yorker. Lands the ball right at the base of the middle pole as Mitchell Santner tries to slog it over the leg side. He swings his bat months early before the ball arrives and misses. The ball dips below his bat and makes an absolute mess of the stumps.
017.217.2: Jasprit Bumrah to Mitchell Santner, Short and nipping away from middle. Santner stands tall and eases it straight to the backward point fielder.
017.117.1: Jasprit Bumrah to Mitchell Santner, That dipping slower one, just outside off, on a fuller length. Santner clears the front leg and has a swing across the line, but fails to connect.
116.816.6: Arshdeep Singh to Mitchell Santner, A toe-crushing yorker, tailing in from middle. Mitchell Santner flicks it through mid-wicket for a single.
8 Over | Run: 152/8 | Run Rate: 8.94
016.716.6: Arshdeep Singh to Mitchell Santner, WIDE! Slower short ball, far outside off. Santner lets it be as it breaches the tramline. 
416.616.5: Arshdeep Singh to Mitchell Santner, FOUR! In the gap! Singh misfires another full toss, on the pads. Santner backs away and heaves it to the leg side, bisecting the long on and deep mid-wicket fielders for a boundary. 150 UP FOR NEW ZEALAND!
116.516.4: Arshdeep Singh to Lockie Ferguson, Slips in a full toss, on off, Ferguson hits it on the bounce to long off for a run.
016.416.3: Arshdeep Singh to Lockie Ferguson, From around the stumps now. Full and on middle, Lockie drives it straight to the cover fielder.
116.316.2: Arshdeep Singh to Mitchell Santner, Seeing Santner shuffle outside leg, Arshdeep fires the yorker at the toes of the batter to cramp him for space. The Kiwi skipper carves it through mid off for a run.
016.216.2: Arshdeep Singh to Mitchell Santner, WIDE! Goes for the slower one, but way down the leg side on a fuller length. Santner swings his bat before the ball dips and misses to connect. Wided.
016.116.1: Arshdeep Singh to Mitchell Santner, A full toss that tails in from middle to leg. Santner drills it down to long on and denies the single.
115.715.6: Jasprit Bumrah to Mitchell Santner, Full toss, on off, Mitchell Santner forces it to long off for one more.
7 Over | Run: 143/8 | Run Rate: 8.94
115.615.5: Jasprit Bumrah to Lockie Ferguson, No hat-trick for Bumrah! In the blockhole, on middle, Lockie Ferguson manages to jam it out towards short third for one.
015.515.4: Jasprit Bumrah to Matt Henry, OUT! BOWLED'EM! Jasprit Bumrah is on a hat-trick now! This is another excellent slower yorker, dipping in, too good for any batter, let it be a tail-ender. Matt Henry backs away to play at it, but plays all over it, and the ball goes through to rattle the stumps once more.
015.415.3: Jasprit Bumrah to James Neesham, OUT! CASTLED! Boom Boom strikes now. A pinpoint yorker, on middle, takes pace off as well. James Neesham clears his front leg to go big across the line but goes through the shot very early. He misses it completely as the ball goes through and hits the base of the middle stump.
115.315.2: Jasprit Bumrah to Mitchell Santner, Full toss, on leg, Mitchell Santner heaves it to deep mid-wicket for a single.
015.215.1: Jasprit Bumrah to Mitchell Santner, Good length and on off, Mitchell Santner pushes it to extra cover.
015.115.1: Jasprit Bumrah to Mitchell Santner, WIDE! Slower bouncer, on middle, but a bit too high. Mitchell Santner ducks under it. Another wide.
014.814.6: Arshdeep Singh to James Neesham, Another fine yorker, on middle, moves in, James Neesham jams it back to the bowler.
8 Over | Run: 139/6 | Run Rate: 9.27
214.714.5: Arshdeep Singh to James Neesham, A low full toss, on leg, James Neesham clips it away wide of deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs.
014.614.4: Arshdeep Singh to James Neesham, Gets the yorker right, on middle, tailing in, James Neesham looks to dig it out but misses and gets hit on his toes.
014.514.4: Arshdeep Singh to James Neesham, WIDE! Short but way outside off this time, James Neesham throws his bat but fails to reach it. Called a wide again.
014.414.4: Arshdeep Singh to James Neesham, WIDE! Pitched up but down the leg side, James Neesham shuffles across to scoop but misses. Wided.
114.314.3: Arshdeep Singh to Mitchell Santner, Full toss, on middle and leg, Mitchell Santner lofts it to long on for a single.
014.214.2: Arshdeep Singh to Mitchell Santner, A mix-up but no harm done! Fuller and on middle, angling in, Mitchell Santner looks to loft it but gets an inside edge onto his pads as the ball rolls towards backward point. Santner sets off for the run but is sent back. The fielder misses his shy at the batter's end, with Santner putting in a desperate dive to save himself.
014.114.1: Arshdeep Singh to Mitchell Santner, Clever bowling! Arshdeep Singh sees the batter back away, bangs this into the pitch, outside off, takes pace off as well. Mitchell Santner is too far away to reach out for the ball.
113.713.6: Hardik Pandya to Mitchell Santner, Right in the blockhole, on leg, Mitchell Santner tucks it away through mid-wicket for one more. 122 needed in 36 balls.
7 Over | Run: 134/6 | Run Rate: 9.57
113.613.5: Hardik Pandya to James Neesham, Short of a length and on middle, James Neesham pulls it to deep square leg for one.
113.513.4: Hardik Pandya to Mitchell Santner, Fuller and around leg, Mitchell Santner flicks it away to deep backward square leg for another run.
113.413.3: Hardik Pandya to James Neesham, Hard length and on middle, James Neesham heaves it to deep mid-wicket for a run.
013.313.3: Hardik Pandya to James Neesham, WIDE! Fuller but way outside off, James Neesham leaves it alone. Wided.
113.213.2: Hardik Pandya to Mitchell Santner, Back of a length and on leg, Mitchell Santner pulls it to deep square leg for a single.
013.113.1: Hardik Pandya to Mitchell Santner, A shout for LBW, but turned down! Hardik Pandya bowls a slower, dipping yorker, on middle and leg. Mitchell Santner tries to slog it away but the ball sneaks under his bat to hit his back toe. Pandya looks confident and convinces SKY to take the review. UltraEdge confirms no bat involved, but Ball Tracking shows it is pitching outside leg. The on-field call of Not Out stands.
412.612.6: Axar Patel to James Neesham, FOUR! Put away! Floated, full and on leg, James Neesham goes down and swipes it away to the deep fine leg fence for a boundary.
6 Over | Run: 128/6 | Run Rate: 9.85
012.512.5: Axar Patel to Daryl Mitchell, OUT! TAKEN! Axar Patel gets his third now. He bowls a juicy full toss, on middle. Daryl Mitchell tries to slog it away but gets it high on the bat. He loses his shape and mistimes the shot straight to deep mid-wicket, where Ishan Kishan takes his third catch of the game. The easiest one of the three. The Kiwis are six down now.
012.412.4: Axar Patel to Daryl Mitchell, Full and outside off, Daryl Mitchell reaches out in front for the sweep but is beaten.
112.312.3: Axar Patel to Mitchell Santner, Short and on leg, Mitchell Santner nudges it through mid-wicket for one.
412.212.2: Axar Patel to Mitchell Santner, FOUR! Misfield now! Flatter, full and outside off, Mitchell Santner drills it away towards point, where Hardik Pandya gets low but lets it through his legs for a boundary. The 50-run partnership comes up between Santner and Daryl Mitchell.
012.112.1: Axar Patel to Mitchell Santner, DROPPED! Hardik Pandya drops a sitter here! Floated, full and outisde off, Mitchell Santner throws his bat at it. He ends up slicing it in the air towards point, where Hardik Pandya moves to his right but spills it out.
111.611.6: Varun Chakaravarthy to Mitchell Santner, Quicker on middle, on a length, Santner punches it through cover for a run.
6 Over | Run: 119/5 | Run Rate: 9.92
611.511.5: Varun Chakaravarthy to Mitchell Santner, SIX! Hardik watches that as a bystander. A real slot ball again, on off. Mitchell Santner clears the front leg, crouches low and pumps it behind long on for a huge six. Geez, that is a long hit indeed.
611.411.4: Varun Chakaravarthy to Mitchell Santner, SIX! High and handsome! Varun pushes it full and on the stumps, from around the wicket. Mitchell Santner takes a couple of babysteps ahead and tonks it cleanly over the long off fence.
111.311.3: Varun Chakaravarthy to Daryl Mitchell, Around off, on a length, crunched through point for a single.
111.211.2: Varun Chakaravarthy to Mitchell Santner, Full again, around off. Santner gets down to slog sweep against the spin but gets a leading edge wide of short third for a single.
111.111.1: Varun Chakaravarthy to Daryl Mitchell, Full, googly that spins back in from off. Daryl heaves it off the inner half to deep square leg for a single.
110.710.6: Arshdeep Singh to Daryl Mitchell, Full and wide outside off at 134.3 kph. Mitchell lunges forward, reaches for it and throws his hands at the drive, but gets it off the toe end towards deep backward point for a single. And now Arshdeep and Mitchell share a handshake as the two come together at the non-striker’s end.
7 Over | Run: 103/5 | Run Rate: 9.36
010.610.5: Arshdeep Singh to Daryl Mitchell, It's heating up in the middle! A low full toss outside off by Arshdeep. Daryl Mitchell has already shuffled across again and tries to heave to the leg side, but gets it off the inner half. Arshdeep Singh collects the ball on his follow-through and throws it back at the batter in frustration. It strikes Mitchell on the pads, and he immediately throws his arms up in protest as Singh turns back to his bowling mark. That was absolutely needless from Arshdeep.
010.510.4: Arshdeep Singh to Daryl Mitchell, A bit too full, outside off, Daryl toe ends his drive to the cover fielder.
010.410.4: Arshdeep Singh to Daryl Mitchell, WIDE! Far beyond the cut strip as Daryl shuffles across off to thrash that away, but misses to connect. Wide called.
610.310.3: Arshdeep Singh to Daryl Mitchell, SIX! Clean as a whistle! Into the slot, on leg. Daryl Mitchell clears the front leg and sends it sailing 89 meters behind deep mid-wicket for a six. 100 UP FOR NEW ZEALAND!
610.210.2: Arshdeep Singh to Daryl Mitchell, SIX! Just goes over! It is that man again, Ishan Kishan, with a good effort. But it goes in vain this time. Fuller length around off. Mitchell shuffles across and heaves it across the line, getting enough on it to find Kishan at deep square leg. He takes the catch, but ends up stepping on the boundary ropes while doing so.
110.110.1: Arshdeep Singh to Mitchell Santner, Cannons onto the pads, on a fuller length, Santner pushes it through mid on for a single.
19.69.6: Hardik Pandya to Mitchell Santner, Off cutter, into the pitch, around middle. Mitchell Santner punches it straight down the ground for a single as long off cuts it off. At the halfway mark, New Zealand are crawling at 88/5.
6 Over | Run: 88/5 | Run Rate: 8.80
09.59.5: Hardik Pandya to Mitchell Santner, Pitched outside leg, full in length, Santner misses the flick shot and wears the ball on his front pad. The Kiwi skipper admonishes himself for not putting that away.
19.49.4: Hardik Pandya to Daryl Mitchell, Slower one, outside off, on a length, Daryl Mitchell slashes it to the right of deep point for a single.
19.39.3: Hardik Pandya to Mitchell Santner, Nagging length, around off, Santner punches it on the up through mid off for a single.
29.29.2: Hardik Pandya to Mitchell Santner, Length ball, slanting into the batter, Santner tucks it in the vast mid-wicket space for a couple.
09.19.1: Hardik Pandya to Mitchell Santner, Dug in short, over middle. Mitchell Santner ducks under it.
38.68.6: Varun Chakaravarthy to Mitchell Santner, Good effort in the deep by Tilak. Touch short, around middle, turning back in. Santner rocks back and punches it past the left of short extra cover. Tilak at long off runs to his right and slides near the ropes to keep the ball in play. Excellent running between the wickets by the batters as they pick up three runs. The replay shows that Varma has saved a run for his team.
6 Over | Run: 83/5 | Run Rate: 9.22
48.58.5: Varun Chakaravarthy to Mitchell Santner, FOUR! Edgy! Length delivery around the fifth stump, 92 kph. Santner rocks back, opens the bat face and punches it past the left of backward point for a boundary.
08.48.4: Varun Chakaravarthy to Mitchell Santner, Length ball, on off, sliding in, Santner punches it to cover.
08.38.3: Varun Chakaravarthy to Mitchell Santner, FOUR BYES! Goodness me, how has that missed the stumps? A googly on a length outside off. It sneaks past the outside edge and just sails over the top of the bails, outfoxing Samson as well and races behind to the fence.
08.28.2: Varun Chakaravarthy to Mitchell Santner, Full and outside off. Santner gets on the front foot, plays with the spin, stays leg side of the ball, opens the face of the bat and guides it towards short third.
08.18.1: Varun Chakaravarthy to Tim Seifert, OUT! CAUGHT IN THE DEEP! It is just like a hammer blow on the Kiwis. A spectacular catch from Ishan Kishan yet again. Seifert miscues the pull on this short ball towards the deep mid-wicket region. Kishan moves to his right at deep mid-wicket to take it. Sensing he might lose his balance, he lobs the ball up momentarily but keeps himself inside the field of play and safely completes the catch. Tim Seifert departs after a breezy knock, and New Zealand are 72/5 now.
17.67.6: Hardik Pandya to Tim Seifert, Bangs it in short and keeps it out of the hitting arc, near the tramline. Tim is made to reach out and he bunts it towards cover for a single.
6 Over | Run: 72/4 | Run Rate: 9.00
17.57.5: Hardik Pandya to Daryl Mitchell, Over off, pace taken off, on a short of a length. Mitchell hops deep in the crease and turns it in front of deep mid-wicket for a single to get off the mark.
07.47.4: Hardik Pandya to Mark Chapman, OUT! CHOPPED ON! Mark Chapman drops his head in disappointment. Pushed across the left-hander, on a good length, Chapman reaches out to thrash it through the off side, but the ball catches the inside edge and deflects back onto the stumps. After an expensive first over, Hardik has struck back in his second over. New Zealand are now 70/4, chasing 256.
07.37.3: Hardik Pandya to Mark Chapman, Hardik rolls his fingers over the ball, on a short of a good length. Mark does not pick the change of pace and goes through the pull early. Ends up connecting with fresh air.
17.27.2: Hardik Pandya to Tim Seifert, Into the deck, on off, Tim stands tall on his toes and whips it to wide long on for one.
17.17.1: Hardik Pandya to Mark Chapman, Short and wide on off, this is slapped to deep cover for a single.
66.66.6: Varun Chakaravarthy to Tim Seifert, SIX! The punches keep coming from Tim Seifert. He gets to his FIFTY in style. Varun Chakaravarthy offers a bit of flight, full and on off. Seifert just holds his shape and swings through the line to park it behind long on for a biggie. Back-to-back fifties for Seifert.
6 Over | Run: 68/3 | Run Rate: 9.71
26.56.5: Varun Chakaravarthy to Tim Seifert, Had to hurry! Around off, on a length, Tim whips it wide of deep mid-wicket and wants to come back for the second run. Ishan Kishan swoops in and gets rid of the ball quickly. Fires it on the bounce at the bowling end, where Varun Chakaravarthy fails to gather it and Chapman gets home with a dive. A clean pick-up could have been interesting.
66.46.4: Varun Chakaravarthy to Tim Seifert, SIX! Tim Seifert makes it look so easy! This is flighted up slightly, on a length, outside off. Seifert stays leg side of the ball and does not try to overhit this one. A clean swing of the arms and he pumps it over long on for a six.
16.36.3: Varun Chakaravarthy to Mark Chapman, A bit fuller, drifting in at the pads. Chapman nudges it through mid-wicket and turns the strike over.
06.26.2: Varun Chakaravarthy to Mark Chapman, From around the wicket for the left-hander, short and outside off, Chapman punches it off the back foot back towards the bowler.
16.16.1: Varun Chakaravarthy to Tim Seifert, Floats it up first up, full and on off. Tim Seifert presses forward and drives it down to long on for a single.
15.65.6: Jasprit Bumrah to Tim Seifert, Off-cutter, on a length, on middle. Tim is slightly early into the shot and chips it down to long on for a run. Another tidy over from Bumrah. At the end of the Powerplay, New Zealand are 52/3 in pursuit of 256.
6 Over | Run: 52/3 | Run Rate: 8.67
25.55.5: Jasprit Bumrah to Tim Seifert, Dug in short, on off. Tim Seifert gets on his toes and drags the pull in front of square, wide of deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs.
05.45.4: Jasprit Bumrah to Tim Seifert, Seifert will feel that he missed out. A dipping full toss, at thigh height, on off. Seifert looks to go across the line but ends up squeezing out an inside edge onto the pads and the ball goes nowhere.
15.35.3: Jasprit Bumrah to Mark Chapman, Not in control but Chapman gets away with it! Bumrah hits the hard length, over middle. Chapman charges down the track and has a swipe across the line. The ball kicks up a bit to catch the top edge and it flies down to deep third. Tilak Varma runs in off the ropes and puts in the dive, but the ball does not carry. It deflects away from his body for a single.
05.25.2: Jasprit Bumrah to Mark Chapman, Nails the yorker, on middle. Mark hurriedly gets his bat down and keeps it out.
15.15.1: Jasprit Bumrah to Tim Seifert, Angled in, on a good length, on off and middle. Tim checks his drive as he plays it to long on for a single.
04.64.6: Axar Patel to Mark Chapman, Keeps the stumps in play, on a length, Mark pushes it back to Axar. End of another successful over from Patel.
6 Over | Run: 47/3 | Run Rate: 9.40
04.54.5: Axar Patel to Glenn Phillips, OUT! TIMBER! The leg stump goes for a toss. Wickets off successive overs for Axar Patel. Under-cutter by Patel, full and sliding on with the arm, on middle and leg. Glenn Phillips stays rooted to the crease and swings hard at it to force it away. The ball keeps coming into him and skids through to go past the inside edge before uprooting the leg pole. New Zealand are 3 down for 47, chasing 256.
04.44.4: Axar Patel to Glenn Phillips, This skids through and it is a bit fuller at the sticks. GP plays it back to Axar.
44.34.3: Axar Patel to Glenn Phillips, FOUR! Nicely done! Pushed through by Axar, on a nagging length, on middle. Glenn Phillips picks up the length early and hits it over the man at mid on for a boundary.
14.24.2: Axar Patel to Tim Seifert, Flatter and fuller, outside off, Tim gets the front leg out of the way again and slams it towards long off for a single.
64.14.1: Axar Patel to Tim Seifert, SIX! That has gone back many a mile! Axar drops it a bit too short, on middle. Seifert rocks back, clears the front leg and pummels it over wide long on for a biggie.
03.63.6: Jasprit Bumrah to Glenn Phillips, Overpitched and on off, Glenn Phillips drills it towards extra cover.
6 Over | Run: 36/2 | Run Rate: 9.00
13.53.5: Jasprit Bumrah to Tim Seifert, Low full toss, tailing back in on the pads. Seifert clips it through square leg for a single.
03.43.4: Jasprit Bumrah to Tim Seifert, Short of a length and outside off, Tim Seifert hops up to cut it away but ends up chopping it into the pitch, behind to the keeper.
23.33.3: Jasprit Bumrah to Tim Seifert, Pace off, full and outside off, Tim Seifert reaches out and slices it over extra cover for a brace.
13.23.2: Jasprit Bumrah to Glenn Phillips, Fuller and on off, Glenn Phillips drives it towards mid off for one.
03.13.1: Jasprit Bumrah to Rachin Ravindra, OUT! CAUGHT! Jasprit Bumrah once again strikes first ball. He did it in the semis and now in the final as well. Starts with a slower one, full and on leg, Rachin Ravindra looks to flick it away but goes through the shot early. Gets it from the toe-end of the bat as the ball flies in the air towards deep square leg, where Ishan Kishan runs forward and dives to take a superb catch, inches above the ground. The ball almost pops out of his grasp, but he does well to keep hold of it, even as his cap briefly blocks his vision while he tumbles to the ground. New Zealand are 32/2, chasing 256 runs.
02.62.6: Axar Patel to Tim Seifert, Slows it up, full and on middle, Tim Seifert looks to push it away but gets an inside edge onto his pads.
6 Over | Run: 32/1 | Run Rate: 10.67
12.52.5: Axar Patel to Rachin Ravindra, Flatter, full and on leg, Rachin Ravindra swipes it to the left of deep square leg for a run.
02.42.4: Axar Patel to Finn Allen, OUT! TAKEN! Axar Patel draws first blood. He bowls this short again, on middle, angling in. Finn Allen tries to move back and pull it but does not get enough room to free his arms. He ends up hitting it much straighter and down the throat of long on, where Tilak Varma takes an easy catch ahead of the ropes. The centurion from the last game walks back early here. New Zealand are 31/1, chasing 256.
42.32.3: Axar Patel to Finn Allen, FOUR! Nice shot! Quicker one, shortish and on off. Finn Allen moves back and swats it down the ground, beating long on to his left for a boundary.
12.22.2: Axar Patel to Tim Seifert, Short again and on middle, angling in, Tim Seifert stays back and nudges it through mid-wicket for a run.
12.12.1: Axar Patel to Finn Allen, Dragged back and on middle, Finn Allen rocks back and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.
41.61.6: Hardik Pandya to Tim Seifert, FOUR! 21 runs off the over! Goes back to his fuller length and on off. Tim Seifert gets underneath it and blasts it over the bowler's head for four more runs.
6 Over | Run: 25/0 | Run Rate: 12.50
41.51.5: Hardik Pandya to Tim Seifert, FOUR! Gets it through! Back of a length and around off. Tim Seifert hangs back and punches it between extra cover and mid off for a boundary now.
01.41.4: Hardik Pandya to Tim Seifert, Good length and on off, Tim Seifert heaves it off the inner half of the bat towards mid-wicket.
61.31.3: Hardik Pandya to Tim Seifert, SIX! Innovative and effective! Pitches it up and just on off. Tim Seifert moves across early, gets into position and nails the scoop this time over the fine leg fence for another biggie.
61.21.2: Hardik Pandya to Tim Seifert, SIX! BANG! First one of the chase! Fuller in length and on middle. Tim Seifert clears his front leg out and tonks it over the long on fence for a biggie.
11.11.1: Hardik Pandya to Finn Allen, Hardik Pandya lands this back of a length and on middle, Finn Allen shuffles across and scoops it wide of deep fine leg for a single.
10.60.6: Arshdeep Singh to Finn Allen, Low full toss, on off, Finn Allen bunts it out to mid off for one.
6 Over | Run: 4/0 | Run Rate: 4.00
20.50.5: Arshdeep Singh to Finn Allen, DROPPED! A big chance goes begging! Arshdeep Singh sticks to the fuller length, on off, moving away, takes pace off as well. Finn Allen looks to loft it away but his bat turns in his hands and he mistimes it high in the air. Shivam Dube backpedals at mid off, settles under it and tries to reverse cup it, but the ball bursts through his hands and drops to the ground. Two taken. Allen gets an early life here. Ian Bishop informs on air that this is the 15th dropped catch from India in this World Cup, the most by any team.
00.40.4: Arshdeep Singh to Finn Allen, Full again and on middle, shapes in a touch, Finn Allen drills it towards mid on. 4 balls and just 1 run so far.
00.30.3: Arshdeep Singh to Tim Seifert, Pitched up and on middle, swinging in sharply, Tim Seifert looks to flick but misses as the ball goes off his pads towards short fine. A leg bye taken. New Zealand are underway with extras.
00.20.2: Arshdeep Singh to Tim Seifert, Swing and a miss! Back of a length and on off, angling across the right-hander. Tim Seifert has a big heave across the line but fails to connect.
00.10.1: Arshdeep Singh to Tim Seifert, A dot to start! Arshdeep Singh serves this full and on off, shaping in, Tim Seifert bunts it out towards mid off.
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