T20: McCullum steers New Zealand to thrilling win

by Sanjay Jha | February 27, 2009 at 01:34 am

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The champion of T20 cricket is having tough time visiting New Zealand. It's tour to New Zealand didnt get off to the best start after they were comprehensively beaten by the hosts.

Despite losing partners from one end, Kiwi opener Brendon McCullum kept the momentum going for his side in the second T20 match against India at Wellington.

Earlier India has set a target of 150 runs for New Zealand to win the second and last T-20 Internationals at Westpac Stadium in Wellington. With the help of Yuvraj Singh''s half century India scored 149 runs. For New Zealand, O’ Brien and Butler captured two wickets each while Southee and Vettori scalped a wicket apiece.

In a nail-biting finish, Brendon McCullum helped New Zealand register a five-wicket win over India and claim the T20 series 2-0.

It all went down to the wire as New Zealand required just one run to win off the last ball and the hosts did everything right.

New Zealand got off to a flying start, chasing a small target of 150 runs against India in the second T20 international but India bowlers did a great job to put breaks in the Kiwis run chase.

Earlier, a disciplined New Zealand bowling display contained India to a sub-par total of 149 for six in the second Twenty20 clash.

As in the opening game in Christchurch, which New Zealand won by seven wickets, India failed to master the pace of a slow wicket in Wellington.

Yuvraj Singh's eye-catching 50 off 34 balls was far and away the best effort, although he needed a couple of lives to get there.

India struggle against Black Caps

It was no surprise that New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori, perhaps the world's best Twenty20 bowler, was again his side's biggest threat.

Starting the match encouragingly with just two runs given up from Tim Southee's opening over, New Zealand might have feared the full wrath of Virender Sehwag's bat again as he threatened to launch an early onslaught.