IND vs NZ 2nd T20I: ‘It was a shocker of a wicket’: Hardik Pandya criticises Lucknow pitch | Cricket News – Times of India

<p>India edged out New Zealand by six wickets in a low-scoring and tense second T20I, to level the series at 1-1 on Sunday. </p>

<p>India restricted New Zealand to 99-8 with Yuzvendra Chahal leading the spin charge on a slow and turning pitch in Lucknow. </p>

<p>India then lost regular wickets as the Kiwi bowlers took it into the final over.</p>

<p>But Suryakumar Yadav, along with Hardik Pandya, anchored the tricky run chase to achieve the target with one ball to spare. </p>

<p>The match witnessed 30 overs of spin without a six being hit in either innings. </p>

<p>Chahal bowled the fourth over of the innings and started with a wicket maiden.</p>

<p>Chahal bowled just two overs for four runs and a wicket but it set the tone for his fellow bowlers, with Arshdeep Singh taking two. </p>

<p>Finn Allen attempted to take on the Indian bowling with two straight boundaries in the third over but was bowled by Chahal as he tried a reverse sweep. </p>

<p>Devon Conway was caught behind off Washington Sundar and then Glenn Phillips bowled by Deepak Hooda. </p>

<p>Daryl Mitchell was bowled by Kuldeep Yadav and New Zealand slipped to 62-5 after a mid-pitch mix-up got Mark Chapman run out for 14. </p>

<p>Wickets kept tumbling and Arshdeep struck twice in one over to get into the New Zealand tail. </p>

<p>Skipper Mitchell Santner made an unbeaten 19 but could not help New Zealand avoid their lowest T20 score against India. </p>

<p>In reply, India lost Shubman Gill (11) after the opener hit two boundaries but fell to Michael Bracewell’s off spin. </p>

<p>Ishan Kishan was run out for 19 and the hosts looked in trouble when leg-spinner Ish Sodhi took down Rahul Tripathi for 13. </p>

<p>Suryakumar stood firm and despite losing Washington Sundar to a run out steered the team home as he put on an unbeaten stand of 31 with Pandya (15*). </p>

<p>”To be honest, it was a shocker of a wicket,” Pandya said after the match. </p>

<p>”I don’t mind difficult wickets. I am all up for that, but somewhere down the line the curators or the grounds that we are going to play in should make sure they prepare the pitches earlier,” Pandya said.</p>

<p>”We bowled 17 overs of spin, definitely something different,” said Santner. “With the bounce out there, it looked challenging.” </p>

<p>The series moves on to the decider in Ahmedabad on Wednesday. </p>