Late India charge seals thrilling second T20 win over New Zealand

CHRISTCHURCH: Tilak Varma struck a brutal half-century as India powered to a thrilling four-wicket win over New Zealand in the second T20 on Saturday for a 2-0 series lead.

The tourists scored 68 runs from the last 4.5 overs in Christchurch to clinch victory with a ball to spare, having looked down and out when they were reduced to 70-5 in the 11th over, in pursuit of 181.

Tilak carved 51 not out off 26 balls while Nitish Kumar Reddy struck the winning runs in an unbeaten 26 off 13 to hand India control of the five-match series.

The result matched their four-wicket win in the opening match at the same Hagley Oval venue two days earlier, which was achieved with two balls to spare.

New Zealand’s bowling was vastly improved, led by captain Mitchell Santner, who took 4-21 through the middle stages as India’s top order failed to match their dynamic batting from game one, when they chased down 225.

Spinner Santner claimed the scalp of dangerous opener Abhishek Sharma for 27 in his first over and Naman Dhir for 31 in his fourth to have the tourists teetering at 112-6.

However, Tilak in particular swung the bat brilliantly over the closing stages, finding the boundary four times in the penultimate over bowled by Nathan Smith.

Opener Sanju Samson, who set up victory on Thursday with a rapid 67, departed cheaply.

That dismissal brought Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to the crease after the 15-year-old batting sensation was called up for his 10th T20, replacing the injured Ishan Kishan.

However, he didn’t last long, caught in the infield off Smith for four.

Earlier, Glenn Phillips scored his second straight half-century as New Zealand recovered from 41-3 to post 180-5.

Phillips struck four sixes in his 70 off 43 balls as he put on 116 in a fourth-wicket rearguard with Bevon Jacobs, whose 58 came off 46 balls.

Seamer Arshdeep Singh was India’s best bowler, taking 2-33 off four overs.

Game three is in Wellington on Tuesday.