New Zealand’s Tim Southee took a hat-trick but Suryakumar Yadav smashed a brilliant hundred to help India to a comprehensive 65-run victory in the second Twenty20 International at the Bay Oval in Mt Maunganui on Sunday.
Yadav, the world’s highest-ranked T20 batsman, hit seven sixes and 11 fours in his unbeaten 111 off 51 balls to power India to a commanding 191-6 after being put into bat.
New Zealand were all out for 126 with skipper Kane Williamson (61) making half the runs before they were bundled out in 18.5 overs.
After Friday’s first series in Wellington was washed out, Williamson opted to take part in the second match, which was also affected by rain.
India were 50-1 in the seventh over when the players were forced off the field.
The visitors sent in Rishabh Pant (6) to open the innings with fellow left-hander Ishan Kisan (36) but the ruse didn’t work.
Kisan failed to convert his start and Shreyas Iyer (13) was bowled at the wicket.
However, Yadav was unstoppable at the other end, hitting audacious shots all over the ground and taunting the New Zealand field.
The right-hander raced to a hundred off 49 balls but was denied a shot in an eventful final over Southee.
Yadav watched Seamer concede four runs in his first two innings before dismissing Hardik Pandya, Deepak Hooda and Washington Sundar in consecutive balls.
This was Southee’s second hat-trick in T20 Internationals, he also achieved this feat against Pakistan in 2010.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar gave India the perfect start by removing Finn Allen for a duck, while Devon Conway (25) departed after a fifty-year partnership with Williamson.
Hooda claimed a career-best 4-10, including three wickets in four balls in the 19th over.
Napier hosts the third and final match on Tuesday.
