Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 31 (.) Ishan Kishan’s breathtaking century, captain Suryakumar Yadav’s audacious strokeplay and a ferocious finishing act by Hardik Pandya powered India to a towering 271 for five against New Zealand in the fifth and final T20 International here on Saturday.
Opting to bat at the Geenfield International Stadium, India lost Sanju Samson (6) early, and despite Abhishek Sharma’s brisk 30, New Zealand briefly sensed an opening. That hope was swiftly extinguished by Kishan and Suryakumar, who unleashed a sustained assault that ripped the heart out of the New Zealand bowling.
Kishan produced one of the most destructive T20I innings of his career, smashing 103 off just 43 balls with six fours and 10 sixes. He tore into the spinners, particularly Ish Sodhi, racing through the gears with a mix of slog-sweeps, reverse hits and towering straight blows.
The left-hander brought up his hundred in just 42 balls with consecutive sixes off Mitchell Santner, sparking a standing ovation from the spectators. His dismissal in the 18th over, after a miscued pull was taken in the deep, brought an end to a spellbinding knock.
Suryakumar was equally devastating at the other end, compiling a fluent 63 off 30 balls. The India captain showcased his full repertoire, from wristy flicks and lofted drives to fearless charges down the pitch. He raised his fifty with back-to-back sixes off Jacob Duffy, as India plundered 23 runs from the over. The third-wicket partnership between Kishan and Suryakumar was worth a blistering 137 runs in just 57 deliveries, decisively tilting the contest in India’s favour.
After Suryakumar fell in the 15th over, Pandya ensured the momentum did not dip. The allrounder walked in with clear intent and delivered a brutal cameo, hammering 42 off just 17 balls. He repeatedly punished anything short or overpitched, clearing the mid-wicket and long-on boundaries with ease and pushing India beyond the 250-mark.
India’s finishing flourish was capped by Shivam Dube, who launched Kyle Jamieson straight back over his head for six off the final ball, as the hosts amassed a staggering 169 runs in the last 10 overs.
For New Zealand, Lockie Ferguson claimed two wickets, but the rest of the attack endured a torrid evening, leaking runs at an alarming rate.
At the innings break, New Zealand face the daunting task of chasing 272, with India firmly in command after a night of relentless power-hitting led by Kishan, Suryakumar and Pandya.
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