IND vs NZ 1st T20I: New Zealand crush India by 80 runs handing them worst-ever defeat

IND vs NZ, 1st T20I: After outclassing the Indian visitors by 80 runs in Wellington, New Zealand lead the 3-match rubber 1-0

Tim Seifert’s blistering 84-run knock followed by an outstanding Kiwi bowling attack outclassed India in the first T20I in Wellington on Wednesday. Chasing a mammoth 220-run, the men in blue were bowled out for 139 runs in 19.2 overs, handing over an 80-run victory to New Zealand.

India went through a massive top-order collapse in reply to the fireworks caused by the local boys. The opening pair failed to provide a solid start as stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma (1) was dismissed early, leaving his side reduced to 18/1.

In Kohli’s absence, all-rounder Vijay Shankar was promoted up in the order and he joined Dhawan at the crease after Rohit’s departure. They both tried to anchor the Indian run-chase by playing some aerial shots in the next couple of overs. But soon, Lockie Ferguson dented the brewing partnership and removed Dhawan for 29, moments before the end of the powerplay.

Rishabh Pant, who had a magnificent outing in the Australia Tests, failed to leave any mark as he got clean bowled by a Mitchell Santner yorker. He ended up scoring only 4 runs off 10 deliveries. Two balls later, Santner got hold of Shankar (27), pushing down the hosts towards a humiliating loss.

Dinesh Karthik (5) and Hardik Pandya (4) couldn’t contribute much to the run-chase while MS Dhoni was the lone warrior who withstood the Kiwi attack. He top-scored with 39 runs against his name and stitched a 52-run stand for the seventh wicket along with Krunal Pandya (20).

Earlier, Seifert took the Indian bowling attack to cleaners with a scintillating 84 off 43 balls as New Zealand scored a commanding 219 for 6 in the first T20 International here Wednesday. His knock had seven fours and half a dozen sixes, setting the tone for a big total.

With Munro hitting Khaleel Ahmed (1/48 in 4 overs) for two successive sixes, New Zealand were off to a blazing start scoring 44 off the first four overs. However, Krunal got the first breakthrough as Munro was caught in the deep off Vijay Shankar.

But Seifert never let the momentum drop as he hit two more sixes off Krunal, who just kept on pushing the ball through a flatter trajectory. The normally dependable Yuzvendra Chahal (1/35 in 4 overs) also was slog-swept over mid-wicket for the sixth maximum apart from being hit over extra cover for a boundary.

Just when it looked that a century was there for the taking, Khaleel bowled one in the block hole coming wide off the crease to clean Seifert up. Once Seifert was gone, skipper Kane Williamson (34 off 22 balls) took charge and Scott Kuggeliejn (20 no off 7 balls) finished with a flourish