The Black Caps have been handed their biggest-ever Twenty20 defeat to lose the series decider against India in Ahmedabad.
The hosts set a daunting task for the Black Caps after making 234 for four anchored by a superb Shubman Gill century who finished with 126 from 63 balls.
Gill recorded the highest Twenty20 score for an Indian batsman in an innings that included 12 fours and seven sixes.
New Zealand were bowled out for just 66 in 12.1 overs, the team’s third-lowest T20 total, to lose by 168 runs. It is the eighth biggest defeat in terms of runs in Twenty20 history and most between two full ICC members.
The Black Caps got their chase off to a horrible start losing three wickets in the opening 12 balls and were soon 21 for five. Daryl Mitchell (35) ensured they at least didn’t record their lowest T20 total.
Gill topped Virat Kohli’s 122 not out against Afghanistan last year.
“I am happy that my hard work in practice is paying off,” the player-of-the-match said. “I was backing myself to score big. It didn’t work against Sri Lanka, but I am glad it worked out now. It was my dream to play for India and I am very fortunate to be part of the team in all three formats.”
Batting first, India lost Ishan Kishan (1) to spin but Rahul Tripathi smacked 44 off 22 balls, including four fours and three sixes, to set the tempo for India in its biggest T20 win (by runs).
Tripathi and Gill added 80 off 42 balls for the second wicket, as the latter reached 50 off 35 balls.
Gill added another 38 runs with Suryakumar Yadav (24) before reaching his maiden T20 hundred off 54 balls.
He became the fifth Indian batsman to score a hundred in all three formats, after Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Lokesh Rahul and Virat Kohli.
Gill accelerated in the second part of his innings, scoring the second 50 off only 19 balls, including three fours and five sixes.
The hosts garnered 103 runs in the final seven overs thanks to Gill’s onslaught.
In doing so, he added 103 runs off only 40 balls with Hardik Pandya (30) for the fourth wicket as India notched its fifth-highest T20 total. All of the New Zealand bowlers were punished with pacer bowlers Blair Tickner going at 16.66 an over (1-50 from three) and Lockie Ferguson 0-54 from four overs at 13.50 an over. Debutant Benjamin Lister didn’t have the best introduction to international cricket finishing with 0-42 from four overs and was the last man standing on 0.
Chasing an improbable 235, India’s pacers were on the money from the word go, using the dew to full effect.
Pandya struck twice in two overs to remove Finn Allen (3) and Glenn Phillips (2). Suryakumar Yadav took identical leaping catches at slip to help dismiss both.
At the other end, Arshdeep Singh dismissed Devon Conway (1) and Mark Chapman (0).
New Zealand was down to 7-4 in 2.4 overs, and then 21-5 in 4.3 overs. Umran Malik bowled Michael Bracewell (8) to end the Black Caps’ ceremonial challenge.
Pandya finished with 4-16 from four overs. Singh (2-16), Malik (2-9) and Shivam Mavi (2-12) took a couple wickets each as only one over of spin was used.
Mitchell top-scored with 35 off 25 balls for the visitors, with Mitchell Santner (13) the only other batsman to reach double figures.
India had swept the three-match ODI series. Its next assignment is the four-test Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia beginning Feb. 9.
New Zealand flies home to host England in a two-test series starting Feb. 16.
