India thrashed New Zealand by 168 runs in their third T20I in Ahmedabad.
Not only did it help them win the series, but it was also their biggest-ever winning margin in a T20I in terms of runs.
It was also the highest-ever winning margin between two full ICC members in the format of the game.
For New Zealand, bowled out for just 66, their third-lowest total in the format, this was a dismal way for them to end their white ball tour of India.
The teams
India resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes, although they did bring in an extra seamer, with Umran Malik preferred to Yuzvendra Chahal. New Zealand, meanwhile, brought in Ben Lister for Jacob Duffy.
Match recap
India won the toss and chose to bat first.
New Zealand enjoyed early success when Michael Bracewell had Ishan Kishan leg before in the second over, but very little went right for them after that.
Instead Shubman Gill and Rahul Tripathi put on 80 for the second wicket, in just 7 overs, with Tripathi at last showing some form in Indian colours, making 44, off just 22 balls, until he was caught.
Suryakumar Yadav was next in, and he played a cameo innings of 24, including two sixes of his own, until he too was dismissed.
Meanwhile, Gill was going through the gears and, with his captain Hardik Pandya joining him at the crease, the boundaries began to flow. They added 105 for the fourth wicket in less than 7 overs, putting the India score past the 200 mark.
Pandya fell in the last over for 30, including one six of his own, but Gill was still there at the end, unbeaten on 126.
It was his first T20I century, and his innings saw him face 63 balls, striking 7 sixes and 12 fours. And he also set a new benchmark for Indian batters in T20I cricket.
India had posted a massive 234/4 from their 20 overs.
None of the New Zealand bowlers used will be in a hurry to look their figures up in the record books.
New Zealand made a dreadful start to their reply, losing opener Finn Allen in the first over bowled by Hardik Pandya.
And then it was the turn of Arshdeep Singh to strike, removing dangerman Devon Conway with his first ball, and then accounting for Mark Chapman.
When Pandya also dismissed Glenn Phillips, the tourists had slumped to 7/4.
Any hopes that Bracewell could mount one of his rear-guard innings evaporated when he was unable to cope with a fast delivery from Malik, before stand of 32 for the sixth wicket between Daryl Mitchell and his captain, Mitchell Santner, briefly delayed what was becoming inevitable.
But then Shivam Mavi took the wickets of Santner and Ish Sodhi in the same over, and Pandya took his own wicket haul to four with two more victims.
Mitchell was the last man out for 35, having scored more than half his side’s runs, but he could not extend the innings beyond the 13th over.
Pandya took 4 – 16, and there were two wickets each for fellow pacers Malik, Mavi and Singh.
Whilst the first two matches in Ranchi and Lucknow had been close, this was anything but.
Key Talking Points
Gill’s Purple Patch Continues
Gill has been in sparkling form over the past two months.
In December he hit his maiden test century against Bangladesh, and then also reached 3 figures in the ODI series against Sri Lanka.
He has now joined the exclusive club of four other Indian players to have international tons in all three formats of the game.
Pandya leads from the front
Pandya pressed his claims to be given the job of Indian T20 captain on a regular basis by leading from the front with both bat and ball. On any other day, scoring 30 and taking four wickets would have won him the Player of the Match award.
On this occasion he had to cede the honour to Gill, but as a consolation prize, he was named Player of the Series.
What happens next?
For India, all eyes will now turn to the eagerly awaited test series against Australia.
New Zealand will head for home to prepare for their own forthcoming test series, when England will be their opponents.
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