India Clinch Series 1-0 After Rain-hit 3rd T20I Ends in Tie at Napier

The rain played a spoilsport and thus steered India to victory. India in the Napier sealed the series with a tie as they posted 75/4 in 9 over in pursuit of 161 as the skies opened up. The Black Caps were bowled out for 160 in their innings. Under the Duckworth–Lewis–Stern method, the match was a rare draw in T20 cricket. India was at par with the DLS score when rain stopped play and hence the fixture was declared a tie.

Skipper Hardik Pandya was the top-scorer (30* off 18 balls) and kept his team in the hunt as the top four batters departed cheaply. Rishabh Pant (11), Ishan Kishan (11), Shreyas Iyer (0), and Suryakumar Yadav (13) failed with the bat.

India on Sunday won at Mount Maunganui, where the second match was held. Suryakumar Yadav smashed 111 off 51 balls in a 65-run win.

The first tie was washed out by heavy rain in Wellington on Friday.

Fast-bowler Mohammed Siraj was the man-of-the-match after restricting New Zealand to just 17 runs for four wickets, supported by Arshdeep Singh’s 4-37.

The teams meet again in Auckland on Friday when Eden Park hosts the first of three one-day internationals.