India win T20 series 3-2 despite seven-wicket defeat to New Zealand in Hamilton

New Zealand beat India by seven wickets in the fifth and final match of the five-match T-20 series at Seddon Park in Hamilton today, but India took the series 3-2.

New Zealand won the toss and chose to field. Batting first, India scored 191 for 8 in 20 overs. New Zealand replied with 195 for 3 in 18 overs to win the match.

India's innings did not start well. Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma failed in this match. Ishan Kishan, who came in at number three, made 61 off 32 balls, an innings that included five sixes and five fours, at a strike rate of 190.62. Captain Shreyas Iyer added 50 off 23 balls. Tilak Varma also disappointed.

After Tilak was dismissed, Naman Dhir made 33 off 23 balls. Pace-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy contributed 22 off 17 balls. India finished on 191 for 8 in 20 overs.

For New Zealand, Adam Milne took four wickets. Nathan Smith and Blair Tickner supported him with two wickets each. Jacob Duffy and Mitchell Santner did not take a wicket.

Chasing 192, New Zealand made a poor start, with Finn Allen out for just 2. Opener and wicketkeeper Tim Seifert then scored 93 off 50 balls, with 11 fours and five sixes, at a strike rate of 186. Daryl Mitchell, who came in at number three, made 29.

Glenn Phillips also played a fine innings, making an unbeaten 65 off 38 balls. Bevan Jacobs took a single at the end and New Zealand won in just 18 overs with seven wickets in hand. Despite the win, New Zealand lost the series 2-3. For India, Arshdeep Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Varun Chakravarthy took one wicket each.

India's playing XI: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma, Nitish Reddy, Naman Dhir, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy.

New Zealand's playing XI: Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (wicketkeeper), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Bevan Jacobs, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (captain), Nathan Smith, Adam Milne, Jacob Duffy, Blair Tickner.