Tilak, Nitish turn the tide as India take unassailable grip in T20I series

Christchurch, Oct 24 (UNI) Cricket has a wonderful way of reminding us that a match is never over until the last ball is bowled. At Hagley Oval on Saturday night, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner had India looking decidedly uncomfortable, but Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy turned a difficult chase into a memorable four-wicket victory, taking India to a 2-0 lead in the five-match T20 International series.

Chasing 181, India reached 181 for six in 19.5 overs, with Tilak unbeaten on 51 off just 26 deliveries and Nitish providing the perfect finishing touch with an unbeaten 26 off 13 balls. Their unbroken 69-run partnership for the seventh wicket was the difference between a New Zealand fightback and an Indian celebration. The chase had begun with the promise of a comfortable evening. Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma looked to give India an attacking start, but the New Zealand bowlers had other ideas. Samson made 14 before Jacob Duffy found his edge, while the 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who had the cricketing world watching with interest, could manage only four before Nathan Smith dismissed him.

There was a moment of fortune for the young left-hander when Bevon Jacobs failed to hold a catch at backward point off Michael Bracewell. The ball had been sliced high into the air, and Jacobs, running back, indicated that the floodlights had affected his vision. New Zealand were understandably frustrated, particularly Santner, who knew that a chance missed in a T20 game can sometimes become an expensive mistake.

Sooryavanshi, however, could not make the reprieve count. Abhishek's 27 offered some resistance, but Santner then began to weave his spell. His flight, drift and changes of pace made the Indian batters reach for deliveries that were not quite there to be hit. Shreyas Iyer was beaten by the drift and bowled, while Axar Patel departed after a boundary-side relay catch involving Daryl Mitchell and Finn Allen. Santner then removed Naman Dhir, who had threatened to change the course of the chase with a lively 31 off 17 balls.

At 112 for six, India still needed 69 runs, and New Zealand had every reason to believe they could defend their total. Santner finished with four wickets for 21 runs, a performance that would have won the contest on most nights. But Tilak had other plans. There was no panic in his approach, even as the required rate climbed. He picked his moments, waited for the loose delivery and then punished it. A boundary off Duffy was followed by another, while Nitish began to find his range at the other end. When Nitish launched Duffy over the infield for six, the Indian dugout came alive.

The final overs belonged to Tilak. He found boundaries off Nathan Smith, including a six over wide long-off, and forced New Zealand to rethink their plans. A misfield in the deep added to the hosts' discomfort, while Duffy's attempted wide yorker turned into a full delivery that Tilak dispatched through extra cover. The equation rapidly came within India's reach. Tilak brought up his half-century in the 20th over, but there was still work to be done. He and Nitish kept their heads, ran hard and ensured that the target was reached with one ball remaining. It was a finish built not on blind hitting but on the understanding of what the situation demanded.

Earlier, New Zealand had recovered from a poor start to post 180 for five. Tim Seifert, Daryl Mitchell and Finn Allen fell early, leaving the home side at 41 for three. Glenn Phillips then took charge with a powerful 70 off 43 balls, while Jacobs contributed 58 off 46. Their 116-run stand for the fourth wicket transformed the innings and gave New Zealand a total they would have fancied defending. Arshdeep Singh claimed two wickets for India, while Prince Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Nitish took one apiece.

For New Zealand, Santner's spell deserved a better result. For India, the night belonged to Tilak and Nitish, who showed that composure can be just as valuable as power in the shortest format. With a 2-0 series lead, India have put themselves firmly in control, while New Zealand must now find a way to turn promising performances into victories.

UNI BDN