3rd T20I: India’s clinical bowling keeps New Zealand to 153 for 9

NEW DELHI: Wrist-spinner Ravi Bishnoi marked his return with a superb spell alongside the experienced duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya as India tightened the screws on New Zealand, restricting them to an under-par 153/9 in the third T20I on Sunday.

Playing for India after nearly a year, Bishnoi, who came in for rested Varun Chakravarthy, grabbed the opportunity with both hands. He finished with impressive figures of 2 for 18, maintaining relentless control through the middle overs after Suryakumar Yadav opted to bowl first.

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India struck early inside the powerplay, putting the visitors on the back foot and reducing them to 36/3.

Early breakthroughs and Hardik’s brilliance

Hardik Pandya (2/23) set the tone in the opening over with a stunning backward-running catch to dismiss Devon Conway (1). He then struck again in his next over as Rachin Ravindra (4) mistimed a short delivery, and Bishnoi at deep square leg completed the formalities.

Jasprit Bumrah, introduced as the second change, made an immediate impact and was again the pick of the bowlers, finishing with three for 17. Returning after being rested for the Raipur game, he dismissed Tim Seifert (12) with a full delivery that angled in and uprooted the off-stump.

Bishnoi keeps batters in check

Bishnoi then bowled with precision, denying the batters any momentum. He prevented Glenn Phillips from reaching a deserved fifty, dismissing him for 48 while finishing with figures of 3-0-9-1 across the fifth, eighth, and 12th overs.

Mark Chapman offered resistance with a brisk 23-ball 32, hitting two fours and two sixes, and stitched a 52-run partnership with Phillips to stabilize the innings. However, Bishnoi broke the stand with a sharp catch by Sanju Samson behind the stumps.

Kuldeep struggles but India regain control

At the other end, Kuldeep Yadav had an off day. After conceding just three runs in his first over, the left-arm wrist spinner leaked 19 runs in his second as Chapman smashed him for successive six and four before Phillips cleared long-on. Kuldeep appeared to experiment too much with flight and length, allowing New Zealand batters a brief passage of momentum.

Despite that, India quickly regained control through tight spells from Bumrah, Hardik, and Bishnoi, ensuring New Zealand never scored at more than six runs an over for most of the innings and eventually settling for a below-par total.

(With PTI Inputs)