Picture : BCCI / Twitter
New Zealand have won the first match of the three match T20 series when they beat India convincingly by 80 runs . This after Indian skipper Rohit Sharma had won the toss in the first T20 against New Zealand being played at Westpac Stadium, Wellington. And decided to bowl first.
And the Kiwis made Rohit pay for his decision as they went out with all guns blazing on their way to an impressive total of 219/6 in 20 overs. Opener Tim Siefert blasted superb 84 off 43 ball studded with 7 fours and 6 sixes . Colin Munro ( 34) skipper Kane Williamson ( 34) , Ross Taylor ( 24) and Scott Kuggeleijn ( 20) off 7 balls also chipped in with important knocks to help New Zealand post a mammoth total.
Indian bowling wilted under the Kiwi onslaught . The bowling figures said it all. Bhuvneshwar Kumar 1/ 47 off his 4 overs, Khaleel Ahmed 1/48 ( 4 overs), Krunal Pandya 1/ 37 ( 4 overs) Hardik Pandya was the most expensive 2/ 51 ( 4 overs)
India in reply were out of the race straight away. Skipper Rohit Sharma flopped again. Out for 1. India lost wickets at regular intervals Shikhar Dhawan ( 29), Vijay Shankar ( 27) , Rishabh Pant ( 4), Dinesh Karthik ( 5), Hardik Pandya ( 4), Krunal Pandya ( 20) . Mahendra Singh Dhoni ran out of partners as he scored 39 off 31 balls. India finished at 139/ 10 in 19. 2 overs.
For the hosts Tim Southee was brilliant with 3/17 off 4 overs. Lockie Ferguson 2/ 22 ( 4overs) , Mitchell Santner 2/ 24 ( 4 overs0 Ish Sodhi 2/ 26 ( 4 overs)
