IND vs NZ 1st T20 Highlights: An all-round performance from New Zealand helped them beat India by 21 runs in India vs New Zealand 1st T20 International at Ranchi's Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) stadium, Friday. For India, young Washington Sundar emerged as the star performer as he backed up his 2/21 with a fiery fifty - his first for India in the shortest format. However, his heroics went in vain.
Kiwi captain Santner (2/11) was the pick of the New Zealand bowlers and was supported well by Lockie Ferguson and Michael Bracwell to stall India's progress in the 177 chase. India were off to a horrible start as their top three batters returned to the pavilion for just 15 runs. Pandya and Suryakumar steadied their team's sinking ship with a 68-run stand but after their dismissal, the hosts' lower order looked clueless in the death overs. The Men in Blue will aim to bounce back in the next match, level series 1-1.
Earlier, India won the toss and opted to field first. New Zealand were off to a good start as the hosts were finding it tough to bowl the correct line and length. Kiwi batters Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell both scored fifties to help their team post a daunting 176/6 against India. Opener Conway, who had notched up a classy ton in IND vs NZ 3rd ODI in Indore, continued his momentum in the shortest format as he scored a 35-ball 52, while Daryl Mitchell hammered a blistering 30-ball unbeaten 59.
Openers Finn Allen and Dwayne Conway got New Zealand off to a brisk start as the visitors piled up 47 runs for loss of two wickets in the power play.
Washington Sundar was the pick of Indian bowlers as he took the maximum two wickets. Shivam Mavi, Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav bagged one wicket each.
A total of 23 T20 matches have been played between India and New Zealand, so far. Out of this, India and New Zealand have won 10 games each, while 3 matches resulted in a draw. At Ranchi's Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) stadium, India has played 4 T20 matches so far and won three.
India vs New Zealand 1st T20I - Playing XI
India: Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, Rahul Tripathi, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (Captain), Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Shivam Mavi, Kuldeep Yadav, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh.
New Zealand: Finn Allen, Dwayne Conway, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Jacob Duffy, Blair Tickner, Isha Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson.