NZ vs IND: Siraj, Arshdeep register career-best T20I figures
What's the story
Pacers Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh helped India bounce back in the third T20I against New Zealand at McLean Park, Napier. The duo took four wickets each as New Zealand stumbled from 130/2 to 160/10 in no time. Both Siraj and Arshdeep registered their career-best figures in T20I cricket. The latter even had an opportunity to take a hat-trick. Here are the key stats.
Siraj
Siraj chokes the Kiwi batters
Siraj helped India script a remarkable comeback after New Zealand were cruising on 130/2. He removed the dangerous Phillips before dismissing James Neesham and Mitchell Santner. Siraj finished his spell, taking his career-best figures in T20I cricket. He took four wickets for just 17 runs in four overs. Siraj had also dismissed Chapman earlier in the innings.
Arshdeep
Arshdeep dazzles at the death
Arshdeep also completed his four-wicket haul in the death overs. The left-arm seamer dismissed Daryl Mitchell and Ish Sodhi on back-to-back deliveries. Like Siraj, Arshdeep also completed his career-best figures in the shortest format. However, he was a touch more expensive (4/37). As per Cricbuzz, this is the first instance of two Indian bowlers picking four wickets each in a T20I.
Information
10 four-wicket hauls in 2022
India now have 10 four-wicket hauls in T20I cricket this year, the most by a team in a calendar year (men's T20Is). Oman are their closest rivals, having taken seven in 2019. Notably, India registered six four-fers in 2018.
Win
3rd T20I ends in tie (DLS); India beat NZ 1-0
The third T20I between New Zealand and India at McLean Park, Napier, ended in a tie (DLS) after rain played spoilsport. India were 75/4 (9) while chasing 161 when it started pelting down. Notably, it was also the par score after nine overs. India won the three-match series 1-0 after winning the second T20I. The series opener was also washed out.
Match
How did the match pan out?
Opting to bat, NZ were folded for 160 (19.4). Glenn Phillips, who came out at 44/2, fetched an 86-run stand with Devon Conway. The Kiwis underwent a collapse after Conway's departure. Arshdeep (4/37) and Siraj (4/17) dismantled NZ. Rain stopped play with India at 75/4. Ishan Kishan, Rishabh Pant, Suryakumar Yadav, and Shreyas Iyer departed cheaply, while Hardik Pandya returned unbeaten (30).