After being handed a 0-3 whitewash in the ODI series, New Zealand started the three-match T20I series against India on a positive note, by winning the first match by 21 runs. However, their efforts went in vain as the hosts made a superb comeback to win the next two matches and thereby seal the series.
Let us check out the report card of the New Zealand players:
Top Order
Finn Allen (4/10): Finn Allen came into this series with enormous promise, but unfortunately for the Kiwis, the youngster could not live up to it. He scored only 49 runs in three matches, which came at an average of 16.33 and a strike rate of 132.43.
The first match was when he turned up by scoring a 23-ball 35, but he could not replicate the feat in the next couple of games. Allen scored 11 runs in the second game, before getting dismissed for only 3 in the last match.
Devon Conway (5/10): Given his experience and current form, Devon Conway came into the series as New Zealand’s most reliable batter. But just like Allen, the opener could not live up to the expectations as he scored only 64 runs at an average of 21.33 and a strike rate of 125.49.
He too turned up in the first match in Ranchi by scoring a half-century, but could not back it up any more over the next two matches. Conway scored 11 runs in the second match before getting dismissed for 1 in the last match.
Middle Order
Mark Chapman (2/10): Mark Chapman will only have himself to blame if he is axed from the Kiwis’ T20I side, as his performance was poor in all three matches. The left-handed batter scored only 14 runs at an average of 4.66 and a strike rate of 51.85.
Chapman was dismissed for a duck in the first match but scored 14 runs in the second match. However, the momentum went in vain as in the third T20I, the 28-year-old was once again dismissed for a duck.
Glenn Phillips (3/10): Glenn Phillips’ story is the same as Chapman, as he too had a horrendous outing in India. He was given chances in all three matches and failed to impress in every game, scoring only 24 runs at an average of 8 and a strike rate of 61.53.
He scored 17 runs in the first match in Ranchi, before getting dismissed for only 5 runs in the second match in Lucknow. The performance was even worse in the last match, where he could only score 2 runs.
All-rounders
Daryl Mitchell (9/10): Beyond any doubt, Daryl Mitchell was New Zealand’s best performer in this series, and also the only player from the visitors’ squad who actually turned up with the bat. The batter scored 101 runs at an average of 51 and a strike rate of 150, while also taking 1 wicket.
Mitchell’s best performance came in the first match, where he scored unbeaten 59 runs. After getting dismissed for only 8 runs in the second match, he got back to business once again in the third match, where he scored 35 runs and picked up 1 wicket.
Michael Bracewell (7/10): Michael Bracewell did not turn up with the bat for New Zealand in the T20I series, but he was their leading wicket-taker with the ball. The all-rounder scored 23 runs at a poor average of 7.66 but more than made up for it by taking 4 wickets at an economy rate of 5.77 runs per over.
He picked up two wickets in the first match, whereas in the second game, he took only one wicket but also scored 14 runs. In the last match in Ahmedabad, Bracewell picked up yet another wicket and scored 8 runs.
Mitchell Santner (6/10): Mitchell Santner’s case is a lot like Bracewell’s, as he could not contribute in every department but still ended up making useful contributions. He scored 39 runs at an average of 19.50, while as for his bowling, he picked up 2 wickets at an economy rate of 5.66 runs per over.
His best performance was undoubtedly in the first match in Ranchi, where he scalped 2 wickets by conceding only 11 runs. That was all he could do with the ball in this series, but Santner also scored 32 runs in the next two matches.
Bowlers
Ish Sodhi (4/10): Ish Sodhi will certainly be disappointed with his numbers in this series, as despite being one of the more experienced players in the team, he could not lead the bowling unit by example. The spinner picked up only three wickets at an economy rate of 8.80 runs per over.
The one good aspect about Sodhi’s spells was that he managed to pick up at least one wicket in every game. But on the flip side, he never managed to add more wickets to his tally, while he also conceded 30 or more runs in two of the three matches.
Lockie Ferguson (3/10): More than Sodhi, the New Zealand team management will be disappointed with the performance of Lockie Ferguson. An Indian Premier League veteran who knows the Indian pitches perfectly well could not utilize the knowledge to his advantage, as he picked up only two wickets and conceded 10.44 runs per over.
The pacer did pick up two wickets in the first match but also conceded 33 runs. Moreover, not only did he fail to pick up wickets in the next two matches, but he also leaked 50+ runs in the last match in Ahmedabad.
Blair Tickner (2/10): Blair Tickner’s T20I career was looking promising until he arrived in India. The tall and lanky pacer was dispatched to all parts of the grounds by the Indian batters, as he conceded runs at an economy rate of 13.71 while picking up only 1 wicket.
In the first two matches, Tickner failed to pick up any wicket and also conceded 30 runs. Though he did manage to open his tally in the last match, it was not of much use as he also conceded 50 runs.
Jacob Duffy (3/10): Given that most of his teammates leaked runs aplenty, Jacob Duffy might not be disappointed with his figures, although he was not very useful either. The medium pacer picked up only 1 wicket, while his economy rate was 8.75 runs per over,
He conceded 27 runs in the first match in Ranchi but also dismissed Rahul Tripathi for a duck. After failing to be among wickets in the second match in Lucknow, Duffy was dropped from the playing XI by the Kiwis’ team management.
Ben Lister (2/10): Ben Lister has had to wait 27 years for his T20I debut, and given his performance, it will not be a surprise if he is made to wait a bit more to make his second appearance. He replaced Duffy for the last match in Ahmedabad, but could not impress as he conceded 42 runs without picking up any wickets.