Suryaa Sports Desk: India displayed aggressive batting to reach 72 runs for the loss of two wickets in eight overs against New Zealand in the fifth T20 match being played at Seddon Park in Hamilton. New Zealand won the toss and elected to bowl first. Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan are currently at the crease taking the Indian innings forward.
Shreyas Iyer scored 23 runs off 12 balls, which included one four and two sixes. Ishan Kishan is playing a key role, scoring 41 runs off 24 balls with three fours and three sixes. India lost early wickets, with Sanju Samson falling as the second wicket at the score of 19. Samson scored four runs off 10 balls before his innings ended when he was caught by Michael Bracewell off the bowling of Adam Milne.
Following the early wickets, Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer brought speed to the Indian scoring rate. The duo put together an unbroken 53-run partnership off 29 balls. Notably, India scored 53 runs in the last five overs without losing a wicket.
India accumulated 11 runs in the eighth over. Off the 7.2 delivery bowled by Michael Bracewell, Shreyas Iyer hit a massive six, which was followed by a wide ball. Shreyas then picked up a single off the 7.3 ball. On the 7.4 delivery, Ishan Kishan attempted a run and reached the crease safely despite a brief moment of tension caused by a direct throw.
India's current run rate stands at 9.00. Among New Zealand's bowlers, Michael Bracewell gave away 11 runs in one over, while Mitchell Santner also conceded 11 runs in his single over. With wickets in hand and the partnership of Shreyas and Ishan continuing in the middle, India has an opportunity to accelerate the run rate further in the closing stages of the innings.