So that's it. The match will not resume due to rain and it's a tie. Shall be a relief for the Men in Blue as they had lost early wickets and were just on the DLS par score of 75. A good outcome for the young Indian side led by Hardik Pandya. They have won the series by 1-0. They bowled well today especially in the later part of the innings to restrict NZ to 160. Siraj has been awarded the player of the match award for his 4-wicket spell. India did not start well with the bat and lost early wickets. Pandya, who was partnered by Hooda looked good. But with no other batter to follow and the required run rate of more than 9, India shall be the happier side. The first match got washed off while SKY and Hooda were outstanding in the previous match. We now walk to the 50-over setup where these two will lock horns in a three-match series starting from 25th November. See you there. Take care!
The rain has stopped at the moment but the outfield looks very wet. Looks a game is unlikely as the start was also delayed.
The DLS par score after nine overs is 75 and India are tied on that. However, there will no Super over if the match does not resumes. The match will end as a tie and India will win the series by 1-0.
It is not looking good right now. Rain is pouring down heavily. DLS par score after 9 overs is 75 and India are on 75/4. So, in case the match does not start, the game will end in a tie.
The 'Rain Gods' have intervened again and unfortunately, the covers wil have a role to play over here in Napier
India are three down now and they have to rebuild pretty quickly or else the game will run away from them
Here's how people are reacting to the first innings between India and New Zealand.
The Indian opening pair of Ishan Kishan and Rishabh Pant are out in the middle now. Tim Southee to start NZ's proceedings.
The Men in Blue have pulled things back in a big way. New Zealand were going all guns blazing with Conway and Phillips in the middle. But Siraj got the priceless wicket of Phillips which followed Arshdeep getting rid of Conway. NZ made a mess of the momentum they had and lost the last 7 wickets for just 30 runs. It was brilliant bowling by the Indians. Got wickets off a few slower balls and yorkers in the later part of the innings. So India need 161 to clinch the series. Back in a moment.
NZ are making a proper mess of the momentum they had earlier. They have thrown wickets in trying to hit almost everything. Good bowling by the Indians too. Fast bowlers have gone slower. NZ are 9 down after Arshdeep picked two wickets and Siraj completed a run-out.
Arshdeep Singh has joined the party now. He has taken two back to back wickets. Mitchell first and then Sodhi.
Mohammed Siraj has got Santner now. Two wickets in one over and New Zealand are losing their way. Four wickets for Siraj.
It's raining in McLean Park, but it's wickets. Siraj has got his third as Neesham has miscued it at the backward point. It went high in the air and Pant covered a lot of ground to grab a wonderful catch. India making a big comeback into the match.
India have finally managed to get rid of both Conway and Phillips. Siraj got the breakthrough when he got Phillips caught out at deep fine-leg and then Arshdeep gets his first wicket in the form of Conway, who got out on the mid-wicket boundary. India crawling back in the match.
Glenn Phillips has smashed a brilliant 31-ball fifty. He has smashed the ball very well. Phillips has hit mammoth sixes and two of them went on the roof of the stands. He is in a dangerous mood as the final phase of the innings awaits us. 180 looks gettable with these two in the middle.
NZ opening star Conway has hit a brilliant fifty in the contest. He has anchored the innings and NZ are marching back into this match. Phillips is also going big now.
Good rebuild by Conway and Phillips in the middle phase. Hitting the bad balls. Fifty run stand for the 3rd wicket is up and they are batting well. Conway is near his fifty-run mark.
New Zealand batters Conway and Phillips are trying to stabilise things in the middle. It has been a good fight till now. India have got two wickets, while Conway's stay has given confidence to the kiwis. They are putting bad balls to the boundaries and India will hope to bowl fewer bad balls and take wickets in the middle part. Interesting phase coming up.
After losing two wickets, the pair of Conway, and Phillips look to stabilise things. Conway is looking strong and confident, and NZ will want him to continue.
Not a good start for NZ. They have lost two wickets inside the powerplay. Allen went back first after which Chapman and Conway took the attacking mode. But Siraj has taken the wicket of Chapman which might apply breaks to the NZ batting.
Mohammed Siraj was brought in and he has found a breakthrough for India. A good length ball, Chapman gets a big edge as he tries to flick. It went high up in the air and Arshdeep moved to his right from mid-on to hold on to that.
Devon Conway has decided to go after the bowling now. He is coming down the track to minimise the seam and swing. He and Chapman have hit Arshdeep for 19 runs in one over.
Arshdeep Singh has struck the first blow of the match. He has trapped Finn Allen in front of the wickets. No review was taken and it could not have saved him either as it was the umpire's call on wickets hitting. A beautifully in swinging fuller delivery to the right-hander and Allen is beaten as he tried to flick it. Gets hit on the pad and gone. India have their first.
The bowlers are getting good help as the ball is seaming and swinging well
The NZ opening pair of Conway and Allen are out in the middle. Bhuvneshwar to start India's proceedings
Great news! The covers are off and the match will start at 12:40 PM IST. Thankfully, we will have a full contest and no overs are lost.
Looks like the weather is in the mood to have a game with both teams before they take on each other. It rain and then stops. Currently. it has stopped raining and the covers are off.
Not good news from the ground. Rain has returned at McLean Park and the covers are on back again. It's being a day like that.
New Zealand have also made one change and that is a forced one. Kane Williamson sits out and Mark Chapman is in.
New Zealand's XI:
Finn Allen, Devon Conway (wk), Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee (c), Adam Milne, Lockie Ferguson
Ishan Kishan, Rishabh Pant (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Hardik Pandya (c), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal
Interestingly, India have made one change to their side. It's not Samson, not Umran and neither Gill. Harshal Patel comes in for Washington Sundar. Probably because of the rainy and overcast conditions at the venue.
NZ have won the toss and are batting first.
Good news for the fans. Toss at 12 PM IST. Play to start at 12:30 PM IST
Notably, all the covers have been taken off. Now only the ground needs to get ready for the action to begin. We hope it will get ready within half an hour.
Meanwhile, the weather at McLean Park has improved now. We are seeing the sun shining at the moment. Only the pitch cover is now on while the remaining covers are off. Fingers crossed.
It will be interesting to see what team Hardik Pandya and VVS Laxman play in the final T20I. It is said by many experts that Pant should open in T20Is. He opened on Sunday but could not create a big impact. However, it is unlikely the team will rest him or change his opening spot. Notably, whether Sanju Samson and Umran Malik play is a matter of another interesting talk.
India's Probable playing XI:
Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer/Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya, Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammad Siraj/Umran Malik
Not a good news for the fans. The toss has been delayed due to rain in McLean Park. The pitch is still covered.
It has stopped raining now, Simon Doull says on the air. The pitch and the surrounding area are still under the covers
The weather in Napier is not kind to the cricket fans. It rained earlier and pitch is under covers at the moment. More on Weather by Aditya Pimpale
Hello and Welcome to the Live Coverage of the India vs New Zealand 3rd T20I. Powered by the No. 1 T20I batter Suryakumar Yadav, the Men in Blue displayed a stellar show in Bay Oval in the 2nd T20I. It was a big show by Yadav and the Indian bowling complimented well with wickets for almost everyone. Now Hardik Pandya's men have reached Napier to try and beat New Zealand again. So grab your seats and snacks, as I Varun Malik take you across this match. Toss coming up at 11:30 AM.
