Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell struck scintillating half-centuries as New Zealand beat India by 21 runs within the opening T20 International to take a 1-0 lead within the three-match collection as spinners rattled the hosts.
Asked to take strike first, opener Conway continued his purple patch by scoring 52 off 35 balls, whereas Mitchell scored an unbeaten 59 off 30 balls, which included a last-over thrashing of 27 off Arshdeep Singh, to seal the victory. An enormous win for the Black Caps. Challenge of 176 runs for six wickets.
The Kiwi bowlers, led by Mitchell Santner (2/11) and Michael Bracewell (2/31), then spun an online across the dwelling batsmen, limiting India to 155 for 9 in 20 overs.
Chasing the goal, India received off to a poor begin as Ishan Kishan (4) and Rahul Tripathi (0) have been dismissed within the third over.
While Ishan was deceived by Bracewell, quick bowler Jacob Duffy (1/27) took a effective edge off Rahul’s blade. Shubman Gill (7) was additionally dismissed early after Santner’s six and India’s rating was 15 for 3.
Suryakumar Yadav (47), nonetheless, regarded in good type as he hit two fours earlier than hitting a six off Lockie Ferguson (1/22).
Santner then bowled a maiden as India reached 33 for 3 within the powerplay overs.
With the pitch providing grip and switch, the New Zealand spinners managed proceedings by conserving it flat and mixing up the lengths, whereas Hardik drove over further cowl to ease the stress.
Suryakumar additionally unleashed his vary of sweep pictures to maintain the scoreboard transferring. When Blair Tickner was launched, he performed a sq. minimize after which despatched one other by backward level for consecutive fours as India reached 74 for 3 in 10 overs.
Leg-spinner Ish Sodhi was then despatched inside out for a most over further cowl, however New Zealand eliminated each the set batsmen twice within the subsequent 5 balls.
While Surya hit Sodhi at long-on for a boundary off Finn Allen, Hardik was caught and bowled by Bracewell as India have been 85 for 5 after that.
Deepak Hooda hits a six over the rope earlier than being stumped. Santner then ran out Shivam Mavi. Ferguson eliminated Kuldeep and bowled a wicket maiden.
Washington Sundar performed a blistering 28-ball 50 but it surely was too late.
Earlier, the Indian bowlers struggled to seek out their line and size, giving New Zealand begin.
Allen (35) smacked Hardik for successive boundaries whereas Arshdeep’s juicy half-volley went straight for the boundary.
Conway, who scored 138 within the third ODI in Indore, additionally punished the left-arm pacer for a large as New Zealand scored 23 runs in two overs.
However, Sundar received loads of buy from the wicket and shortly after the return of Allen and Mark Chapman (0), New Zealand have been 43 for two inside 5 balls.
Conway, nonetheless, hit two fours and a six off Umran Malik, who went for 16 runs in his solely over.
Hardik introduced himself again and tried to combine up his bowling, utilizing extra cutters and slower balls, serving to New Zealand attain 79 for two in 10 overs.
Conway used a slog sweep and his toes to hit Kuldeep and Hooda for fours as New Zealand crossed the 100 mark within the thirteenth over.
Kuldeep then hit a googly as Glenn Phillips went for a slog, solely to be dismissed by Surya at deep midwicket.
Daryl Mitchell then joined Conway and after two video referrals adopted by a catch and an LBW, blasted Hardik for 2 maximums.
Conway, alternatively, introduced up his fifty within the sixteenth over however was quickly caught by Arshdeep at long-off with Hooda.
After this, Ishan Kishan ran out Bracewell (1) and Shivam Mavi had Santner (7) caught by Rahul Tripathi, giving India a comeback.
However, Arshdeep conceded 27 runs within the final over, wherein Mitchell hit him for 3 sixes and a 4.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
