Christchurch: Tilak Varma's unbeaten 50 helped India beat New Zealand in a last over thriller to win the second T20I and take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. Chasing 180, India slipped to 112 for six in the 15th over but Tilak turned the tables on New Zealand, scoring 51 not out off 26 balls with six fours and a six.
Nitish Kumar Reddy made a valuable 26 not out and hit the winning runs. Skipper Mitchell Santner took 4/21 for the Kiwis.
After being put to bat first, the hosts slipped to 41 for three in the sixth over after India's bowlers struck early, but Glenn Phillips and Bevon Jacobs steadied the innings. Phillips smashed a 43-ball 70, while Jacobs contributed 58 off 46 deliveries as the duo rescued New Zealand from a shaky start with a 116-run partnership for the fourth wicket. The fourth-wicket partnership crossed 100 runs in 69 balls, with the two batters exploiting the opportunities to rebuild after the early setbacks.
Phillips' knock ended in the 18th over when he was caught by Naman Dhir off Arshdeep. It broke the 157-run stand. Jacobs followed soon after, dismissed for 58 off Nitish Kumar Reddy's bowling, as New Zealand slipped to 165 for five. Michael Bracewell provided a late flourish, smashing a four and a six, as New Zealand added 23 runs in the final two overs to finish at 180/5.
Arshdeep was India's most successful bowler, returning figures of two for 33 from his four overs. Prince conceded 30 runs for one wicket, while Bhuvneshwar finished with one for 50. Axar Patel was economical, conceding 28 runs in his four overs without taking a wicket. Nitish Reddy claimed one wicket for 31 runs in three overs.
The third T20I will take place on October 27 in Wellington.