Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell scored fluent and fiery half-centuries before the spinners thrashed the hosts as New Zealand thrashed India by 21 runs in the opening T20I to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series on Friday (January 27). defeated. , Asked to take strike first, opener Conway continued his purple patch by scoring 52 off 35 balls, while Mitchell scored an unbeaten 59 off 30 balls, which included a last-over thrashing of 27 off Arshdeep Singh, to seal the victory. A big win for the Black Caps. Challenge of 176 runs for six wickets.
Kiwi bowlers lead Mitchell Santner (2/11) and Michael Bracewell (2/31), then spun a web around the home batsmen, restricting India to 155 for 9 in 20 overs. Chasing the target, India got off to a poor start as Ishan Kishan (4) and Rahul Tripathi (0) were dismissed in the third over. While Ishan was deceived by Bracewell, fast bowler Jacob Duffy (1/27) took a fine edge off Rahul’s blade. Shubman Gill (7) was also dismissed early after Santner’s six and India’s score was 15 for three.
Suryakumar Yadav (47), however, looked in good form as he hit two fours before hitting a six off Lockie Ferguson (1/22). Santner then bowled a maiden as India reached 33 for three in the powerplay overs. With the pitch offering grip and turn, the New Zealand spinners controlled proceedings by keeping it flat and mixing up the lengths, while Hardik drove over extra cover to ease the pressure.
Suryakumar also unleashed his range of sweep shots to keep the scoreboard moving. When Blair Tickner was introduced, he played a square cut and then sent another through backward point for consecutive fours as India reached 74 for 3 in 10 overs.
Leg-spinner Ish Sodhi was then sent inside out for a maximum over extra cover, but New Zealand removed both the set batsmen twice in the next five balls. While Surya hit Sodhi at long-on for a boundary off Finn Allen, Hardik was caught and bowled by Bracewell as India were 85 for five after that. Deepak Hooda hits a six over the rope before being stumped. Santner then ran out Shivam Mavi. Ferguson removed Kuldeep and bowled a wicket maiden. Washington Sundar played a blistering 28-ball 50 but it was too late.
Earlier, the Indian bowlers struggled to find their line and length, giving New Zealand a good start. Allen (35) smacked Hardik for successive boundaries while Arshdeep’s juicy half-volley went straight for the boundary. Conway, who scored 138 in the third ODI in Indore, also punished the left-arm pacer for a wide as New Zealand scored 23 runs in two overs. However, Sundar got plenty of purchase from the wicket and soon after the return of Allen and Mark Chapman (0), New Zealand were 43 for 2 within five balls.
Conway, however, hit two fours and a six off Umran Malik, who went for 16 runs in his only over. Hardik brought himself back and tried to mix up his bowling, using more cutters and slower balls, helping New Zealand reach 79 for 2 in 10 overs.
Conway used a slog sweep and his feet to hit Kuldeep and Hooda for fours as New Zealand crossed the 100 mark in the 13th over. Kuldeep then hit a googly as Glenn Phillips went for a slog, only to be dismissed by Surya at deep midwicket. Daryl Mitchell then joined Conway and after two video referrals followed by a catch and an LBW, blasted Hardik for two maximums.
Conway, on the other hand, brought up his fifty in the 16th over but was soon 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 in the last over, in which Mitchell hit him for three sixes and a four. (With PTI inputs)