Rohit Sharma leads India fightback to square Twenty20 series with New Zealand

India canter to a seven-wicket win in Auckland to set up decider in Hamilton on Sunday

Rohit Sharma led by example for India. Getty

India bounced back from their heavy defeat on Wednesday to square the Twenty20 series with New Zealand on Friday.

They triumphed in Auckland by seven wickets to set up a decider on Sunday in the three-match series in Hamilton.

Chasing 159 to win, an opening stand of 79 between captain Rohit Sharma (50) and Shikhar Dhawan (30) set up a comfortable win, with Rishabh Pant (40 not out) and MS Dhoni (20 not out) seeing them home.

Earlier, New Zealand's innings had slumped to 50-4 as Krunal Pandya did the damage for India.

A stand of 77 for the fifth wicket between Colin de Grandhomme (50) and Ross Taylor (42) gave the hosts something to bowl at as they made 158-8, but that proved not enough to deny India.

New Zealand had won the first game in Hamilton by 80 runs.