IND vs NZ: 1st T20I Review – India survive late scare to seal 5-wicket win
India drew first blood in the 3-match T20I series against New Zealand, winning the 1st T20I at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Chasing a target of 165, the Men in Blue romped home with 5 wickets and 2 balls to spare.
Guptill goes berserk
Captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and put the Kiwis in to bat first. New Zealand lost Daryl Mitchell early but it was the dangerous Martin Guptill who took matters in his own hands. His thunderous 70 came off just 42 balls and was laced with 3 fours and 4 sixes. Being the perfect partner at the other end, Mark Chapman went all guns blazing too, getting his first T20I fifty for New Zealand. The duo stitched a record partnership of 109 runs, helping New Zealand post 164/6 at the end of 20 overs.
With the ball, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ravichandran Ashwin scalped 2 wickets each. The Kiwis looked set for a 175+ total but the Indian bowlers came back strongly to restrict them at the death.
Surya, Rohit explode
India started strongly in the chase, with the skipper going after the bowlers from ball one. Enroute his crucial 48, Rohit stitched a couple of 50+ partnerships at the top. While KL Rahul departed early, Suryakumar Yadav got into beast mode and unleashed his fearless side. At one stage, India were cantering home but both Surya and Rohit got out and with 21 runs still needed off 20 balls. It went down to the last over but the hosts kept their nerves to get over the finish line.
Despite their top order flourish, New Zealand looked listless with the ball and in the field. Captain Tim Southee went for runs aplenty, and the dropped catches added to the misery. Barring Mitchell Santner who provided the first breakthrough, their spinners too fell flat. Despite being targeted specifically by the Indian openers, Trent Boult ended up scalping 2 wickets, one of them being that of Rohit.
Records/Achievements
50 – India registered their 50th win in T20Is chasing down, the most for any side
108 – Tim Southee went past Lasith Malinga (107) to become the second-highest wicket-taker in T20Is
What next?
India and New Zealand will next lock horns with each other in the 2nd T20I on 19th November at Ranchi.
