The New Zealand cricket team and its tryst with Super Over heartbreaks are agonizing to watch. The third T20I against India in the ongoing 5-match T20I series was a must-win scenario for Kane Williamson’s side.
The Kiwis needed to win in order to stay alive in the series. However, despite coming so close, the Kiwis imploded at the death to surrender the momentum.
The loss for Kiwis handed India their maiden T20I series win in New Zealand. And to gain a 3-0 lead, one must credit the Virat Kohli-led Indian side for coming out all guns blazing and delivering success.
India has played superb T20I cricket of late and it gives them the platform to build upon with the ICC World T20 2020 in mind.
Just last year, the Kiwis were on the receiving end after a Super Over agony in the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. New Zealand and England were tied on 241 at the end of 100 overs in the crunch finale at Lord’s.
Notably, it was the 1st-ever Super Over in ODI cricket and the Kiwis suffered a heartbreak. Eoin Morgan-led England was declared winners based on boundary count.
The rule received a lot of criticisms from all corners. To see New Zealand get so close and return empty-handed was a poor sight.
Since the 2019 World Cup, the Kiwis have had two Super Over moments in T20Is. They lost against England in November 2019 and lost the series 2-3 at home.
On the other hand, Wednesday’s loss against India was another addition to the unwanted record. The Kiwis need to find a way of getting past Super Overs on a winning note.
They cannot let themselves surrendering at the same time and time again. Going by a 1-6 record, the numbers do not look good for the Black Caps.
What happened in the 3rd T20I against Team India?
Team India got off to a superb start and openers KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma added 89 runs for the opening wicket.
However, the Kiwis got back into the game after getting three quick wickets. Captain Kohli and the in-form Shreyas Iyer added 46 runs for the fourth wicket.
A final blitz from the experienced Manish Pandey (19*) helped India get to 179/5 in 20 overs.
New Zealand needed a strong reply and the side was reeling under pressure after losing wickets at key moments. They were 88/3 at one stage and needed someone to play a blinder.
Skipper Williamson did just that and scored a brilliant 95. He countered the Indian bowlers and that stunned the visitors. Williamson smashed eight fours and six sixes to register his best T20I score.
Kiwis were on the driving seat and Ross Taylor gave them the perfect start in the 20th over by hitting a six off the first ball.
NZ needed two runs from four balls and Mohammed Shami then accounted for Williamson’s wicket in the third ball to make things interesting. Taylor was then bowled in the final ball as scores ended on 179 each.
Rohit stuns New Zealand in the Super Over
Williamson’s side posted 17 runs after the star batsman led from the front in the Super Over. He smashed a six and a boundary against Jasprit Bumrah.
The India pacer was handed the responsibility of bowling the Super Over despite leaking a lot of runs in the match.
Tim Southee stood tall for the Kiwis during the Super Over and restricted India to just eight runs in the 1st four balls.
However, Rohit Sharma played a blinder hitting Tim Southee for two huge sixes off the final two balls. Notably, Team India posted the highest total (20) while chasing in a Super Over.
New Zealand have lost three Super Overs in a span of over six months
In a span of just over 6 months, New Zealand has lost three Super Overs, including the World Cup final.
In November 2019, New Zealand needed to win the fifth T20I against England to win the series which was tied 2-2 at that moment.
However, an agonizing defeat awaited the side. England sealed a Super Over in a series-deciding T20I in Auckland.
After the two teams were tied on 146, England posted 17 in the Super Over. However, New Zealand lost the match and the series after managing just seven runs in the Super Over.
This time although they fared better, the side could not prevent India from taking the honours.
A look at New Zealand in Super Overs
New Zealand was involved in the 1st-ever tied T20I match in the history of the format. In 2006, West Indies and New Zealand managed scores of 126 each in Auckland after which the Black Caps lost the tie via a Bowl Out (3-0).
Since then, the Super Overs were introduced in T20I cricket and New Zealand has been involved in the most instances of the same as well.
But luck hasn’t been on their side.
December 2008 – New Zealand lose Super Over to West Indies in Auckland
New Zealand (155/7 in 20 overs) vs West Indies (155/8 in 20 overs). West Indies (25/1) win Super Over vs New Zealand (15/2).
February 2008 – New Zealand overcome Australia in Christchurch
New Zealand (214/6 in 20 overs) vs Australia (214/4 in 20 overs). New Zealand (9/0) win Super Over vs Australia (6/1).
September 2012 – New Zealand was beaten by Sri Lanka at T20 World Cup
New Zealand (174/7 in 20 overs) vs Sri Lanka (174/6 in 20 overs). Sri Lanka (13/1) win Super Over vs New Zealand (7/1).
October 2012 – New Zealand once again suffer agony at T20 World Cup
West Indies (139-all out in 19.3 overs) vs New Zealand (139/7 in 20 overs). West Indies (19/0) win Super Over vs New Zealand (17/0).
July 2019 – New Zealand suffers from the boundary count rule in CWC 19
New Zealand (241/8 in 50 overs) vs England (241-all out in 50 overs). New Zealand (15/1) lost to England (15/1) via now-defunct boundary count rule.
November 2019 – New Zealand was beaten in series decider against England in Auckland
New Zealand (146/5 in 11 overs) vs England (146/7 in 11 overs). England (17/0) win Super Over vs New Zealand (8/1).
January 2020 – Kiwis have beaten in Super Over by India in Hamilton
India (179/5 in 20 overs) vs New Zealand (179/6 in 20 overs). India (20/0) win Super Over vs New Zealand (17/0).
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