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Colin Munro's monster sixes not enough as Black Caps come up short in series-deciding thriller against India

October 30, 2017

The Black Caps have fallen just short of a historic maiden series win in India thanks mostly to the heroic partnership of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in Kanpur.

After the Kiwis won the toss and elected to bowl, the Black Caps started strong by dismissing Shikhar Dhawan early to leave India 29 for one in the seventh over.

But then the fireworks started - Sharma and Kohli went about tearing the Black Caps' bowling unit to pieces as they formed a 230-run partnership for the second wicket.

Sharma finally fell in the 42nd over for 147 when Mitchell Santner's outside-off delivery was mis-hit to Tim Southee at long-off.

With Kohli's 113 added to the pot as well as small bursts from MS Dohni (25 off 17) and Kedar Jadhav (18 off 10) late in their innings, India wrapped up with 337 and set the Black Caps an impressive chase to win.

Santner finished with the best Black Caps bowling figures of two wickets for 58 off 10 overs.

The Black Caps entered the chase with a strong start from Colin Munro who sent his first ball over the rope for six, but lost his fellow opener five overs later when Martin Guptill went for just 10 runs.

That brought Kane Williamson to the crease who, along with Ross Taylor (39) and Tom Latham (65), brought some stability to the top of the order with 64 runs of his own.

Munro was dismissed for the Kiwis' top score of 75 as they continued to chase the target, with it finally boiling down to the visitors needing 15 runs off the final over.

Santner and Colin de Grandhomme were at the crease for the task but when Santner left for an easy catch near the boundary, the task became 12 off two - a target the Kiwis couldn't quite hit as they finished 331/7.

As a result, India won the match by six runs and the series 2-1.

The tour now shifts to the game's shortest format with the first of three T20 matches taking place this Thursday at 2:30am NZT in Dehli.

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