NZ VS IND - 3rd T20I, India tour of New Zealand, 2019

23:41 Local Time, 16:11 IST: "Another 20 days and you can apply for citizenship," quipped an ex-Indian captain, with a lower volume of grey hair back in 2015. This time, the Indians could possibly apply for a trans-Tasman citizenship - approximately 80 days Down Under, and India will be going back a drained side. This final T20I has been a bit misleading, with the "greater good" in perspective - India have tested out their bench-strength, with two of their best sitting out, and New Zealand have inched India, only just in the T20I series. The hosts have a lot to ponder, and perhaps give themselves a reality check ahead of the World Cup, as a drained but content India head to the airport, hoping to wake up after landing in their motherland. We're calling it a day too - on behalf of Abhinand, Akshay, Nikhil, and Ramki, this is me, Rishi Roy, bidding you farewell from Down Under. G'bye mates. Until next time! *Curtains down*

Kane Williamson, New Zealand captain: What a brilliant advertisement for T20 cricket. It's great to get across the line tonight. It was a fairly short series. The first performance (first T20I) was our best, and there were some learnings in the second one. We knew India would come back strong. For it to go to the last couple of balls with the series on the line, it was a great series to be a part of. We go to the ODIs against Bangladesh - we travel, train and play, so that's the (hectic) nature of international cricket I suppose.

Rohit Sharma, India captain: Pretty disappointing to not get to the finishing line. 210-odd was always going to be tough, and we were in the game right till the end, but New Zealand held their nerve well and they deserved to win. We started off well in the ODIs, and the boys will be disappointed not getting to the finishing line in the T20s. Lots of positives, and a few mistakes, so there's a lot of material to move ahead. It would have been nice to win the series and go home and play Australia, but unfortunately we couldn't do that.

Tim Seifert, Man of the Series: Great to have a performance like that, but it's great to get a victory, particularly a last-minute one like that. Great to have batted with Colin Munro. It's awesome in my hometown, that the crowd have come out in full support - hopefully they do so for the Super Smash final as well.

Colin Munro, Man of the Match: Touch and go there until the final minute. India - you get one good batsman, another one comes along. The boys did a really good job of finishing off the really good Indian batsmen. Didn't really focus on trying to do anything different, tried to put pressure back on the bowlers. Just came out nice and free, had a bit of luck, which you certainly need in this match.

...It was not to be, for India, however, as there was a flurry of wickets in the middle-overs. The Kiwis rattled through Pant and Pandya, two batsmen who were looking dangerous, and of course, Dhoni and Rohit - batsmen who have a massive reputation to snatch games away at the death. Finally, they were left with one recognized batting pair - Krunal and DK. It looked like it was all over, but the two gave the Kiwis a downright scare, clubbing 18 off the 18th and 14 off the 19th over to bring India right into the game. 16 off 6 were required off the final over, and the momentum was very much with India. A bit of skullduggery from the stumps at the other end - they're Kiwi stumps, mind you.

23:26 Local Time, 15:56 IST: Perhaps a poor call from Karthik when he sent Krunal back, and he apologizes to Krunal after launching that six off the last ball, but that was a gallant effort chasing 213 and India have fallen just 4 runs short; the Kiwis, on the other hand, have emerged victorious! After all, losing Dhawan early was always going to be a setback, and Rohit, who seemed to be in for the long haul and see his team through, met an untimely demise after forging partnerships with Pant and Shankar who scored at break-neck pace and looked like they were going to run away with it...

Southee to Karthik, SIX, New Zealand win the T20I series 2-1! A slower one on a good length, Karthik waits for it and launches that over the deep extra cover fence for six! A fantastic blow, but a little too late...

11 off 1.

Southee to Karthik, wide, wide it is! Short one at the body, Karthik attempts the hook, sails far over the head, and that's called a wide!

Southee to Krunal Pandya, 1 run, full-toss on the stumps, drilled back to the stumps at the non-striker's end, and that's the match and the series unless there are any extras

13 off 2 to win. 12 off 2 to tie.

Southee to Karthik, 1 run, very full delivery just outside off, whip-driven hard to mid-off for a quick single

Southee to Karthik, no run, fuller length delivery outside off, drilled down towards long-on, and he denies the single!

Southee to Karthik, no run, shuffles across, shapes up to lap-sweep, but the tramline moves with him - wide not called!

Southee to Karthik, 2 runs, attempted yorker length delivery, falls just a centimeter short, helicoptered away to long-on with a strong bottom-hand for a couple

Kuggeleijn to Krunal Pandya, SIX, 50-partnership, and this is a stunning hit! Inexperience, wild slogs, so many words against him. Thankfully he doesn't have Twitter out there with him. Picks up with length ball and throws his entire bodyweight behind it to launch it straight down the ground for a colossal six! A pivotal blow from India's perspective...

Kuggeleijn to Krunal Pandya, no run, off-cutter on leg-stump, jags away from the southpaw, Krunal Pandya loses the head again and swings across the line into the on-side, misses!

Kuggeleijn to Karthik, 1 run, half-volley just outside off, Karthik drills it straight down the ground, but a little too straight! Hits the stumps at the other end, and deflects into the off-side for a single

Kuggeleijn to Karthik, SIX, that's a game-changer! Dropped short, Karthik is still as can be, and swivels into the hook with the angle - calmly deposits it over the deep square leg fence for six. Nidahas flashback!