First T20I between IND vs NZ served high-scoring match as Team India came up with a blistering display of batting and tight bowling, crushing New Zealand by 48 runs. The match was staged at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur where fans saw a run feast and some important performances.
IND vs NZ: India Posts a Giant Total of 238 Runs For NZ
India batted first after losing the toss, and they responded with a great total of 238 runs to set an uphill target for New Zealand. This match saw a combined total of 428 runs, the highest aggregate ever recorded in a T20I between India and New Zealand.
Abhishek Sharma Sets the Tone with a Fiery Knock
Young opener Abhishek Sharma gave India a flying start as he smashed a six in the opening over. However, India soon took early setbacks as the duo of Sanju Samson, who made 10 off 7 balls, and Ishan Kishan, who scored 8 off 5 balls, was dislodged cheaply to reduce India to 27/2.
Abhishek then rallied the innings along with Captain Suryakumar Yadav, putting an important 99-run partnership for the third wicket in just 47 balls. Abhishek reached his half-century in a blistering 22 balls.
Middle-Order Contributions Power India Forward
Suryakumar Yadav then made 32 off 22 balls, with four boundaries and a six. Abhishek fell just short of a century and was dismissed for an explosive 84 off 35 balls, with 8 sixes and 5 fours. All-rounder Hardik Pandya contributed with 25 off 16 deliveries as Shivam Dube got 9 and Axar Patel – 5.
Read More
Rinku Singh’s Finishing Touch Lifts India to 238
The real momentum was sparked by Rinku Singh, who played a sensational unbeaten knock of 44 runs off 20 balls, hitting 3 sixes and 4 fours. His flourish at the end helped India to reach a formidable total. For New Zealand, Jacob Duffy and Kyle Jamieson claimed two wickets each.
IND vs NZ: What Went Wrong for NZ’s Chase
After Initial Setbacks Chasing a score of 239, the start could not have gone worst for the New Zealand team. Arshdeep Singh got the first opener, Devon Conway, out in the first over itself, while the second over saw the dismissal of Rachin Ravindra, courtesy of Hardik Pandya. Things weren’t going well at all for the visitors, having lost three wickets for only 52 runs.
Glenn Phillips Fights Alone for New Zealand
However, in that batting practice match, Glenn Phillips organised a counter-offensive, as he scored 78 runs in 40 balls, which included 6 sixes and 4 fours. He reached his fifty in 29 balls. This kept New Zealand in the game. However, Axar Patel dismissed Phillips in the 14th over, which turned out to be a turning point in the game.
Read More
Finally, the Indian bowlers finished the match comfortably
After Phillips’ dismissal, Mark Chapman fell in the next over, more or less ending New Zealand’s hopes. Daryl Mitchell (28) and Mitchell Santner (20) added some late runs, but the Kiwis could manage a meager 190/7. The two most successful bowlers from the Indian camp, with two wickets each, were Varun Chakravarthy and Shivam Dube.
ALSO READ: Sri Lanka Announce ODI Squad for England Series, Charith Asalanka Retained as Captain
