Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul guide India to seven wickets victory against NZ, clinch T20 series

India reached the winning target of 155 runs for the loss of three wickets in 17.2 overs.

Debutant Harshal Patel started his T20I career with a bang by picking up crucial wickets of Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips, who were major contributors for New Zealand, who ended at 153 for 6, setting India 154 runs target to seal the three-match T20I series here at JSCA International Stadium on Friday.

India won the first T20I at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Wednesday.
Continuing his superb IPL display, Harshal sent back Daryl and Phillips at the right time when both were looking to accelerate the run rate.

The Haryana lad almost had his third wicket of the very next ball after sending back Phillips in the 17th over. James Neesham (3) was comprehensively beaten and played early as he failed to pick the slower angling delivery from round the wicket.

Harshal ended with 2 for 25 in his stipulated four overs. Not only he, other bowlers also bowled brilliantly. Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel put on a good show in the middle overs despite the ball being wet.

Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and Deepak Chahar picked one wicket each and did not offer anything in the arc along with the spinners, who binded New Zealand from hitting boundaries in the last 29 balls.

Put into bat, New Zealand witnessed a good start as Martin Guptill and Daryl (31) put on 48 runs for the first wicket in just 4.2 overs, before Guptill (31) was caught by Rishabh Pant off Deepak Chahar.

In the ninth over, Mark Chapman (21 off 17) was sent back to the pavilion, with New Zealand reaching 79 for 2.

Daryl failed to raise the tempo as he scored 31 runs before getting out in the 13th over. The opener became the second wicket of Harshal after Suryakumar Yadav latched on to his lofted shot.

Phillips was then joined by Tim Seifert on the field. Both added 35 runs and 22 balls for the fourth wicket, taking their team to 125 for 4 in 15.1 overs. Seifert (13) was caught by Bhuvaneshwar Kumar off Ravichandran Ashwin who took the only wicket of the match.

Phillips and Neesham departed without making any impact. They were sent back by Harshal and Bhuvaneshwar.

Phillips made 34 off 21 balls studded with one boundary and 2 sixes, before was caught by substitute Ruturaj Gaikwad off debutant Harshal Patel.

Mitchell Santner and Adam Milne remained not out at 8 and 5, respectively.