New Zealand (176/6) defeat India (155/9) by 21 runs to win the 1st T20I

[Zerotohero]

50 for super sundar

[Zerotohero]

If only arshdeep has not conceded so many runs in final over. India would have won

[MenInG]

Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell conjured up fluent and fiery half-centuries before the spinners choked the hosts as New Zealand outplayed India by 21 runs in the opening T20I to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series on Friday. Asked to take first strike, opener Conway continued his purple patch with a 35-ball 52, while Mitchell smashed a 30-ball unbeaten 59, which included a last-over thrashing of Arshdeep Singh for 27 runs, to power the Black Caps to a challenging 176 for six. The Kiwi bowlers, led by Mitchell Santner (2/11) and Michael Bracewell (2/31), then spun a web around the home batters, restrict India to 155 for 9 in 20 overs.

India had a disastrous start to their chase with both Ishan Kishan (4) and Rahul Tripathi (0) sent back to the pavillion by the third over.

While Ishan was bamboozled by Bracewell, pacer Jacob Duffy (1/27) induced a fine edge off Rahul's blade. Shubman Gill (7) too perished soon after being deceived by Santner as India slumped to 15 for three.

Suryakumar Yadav (47), however, looked in good touch as he picked up two boundaries before picking one off his hips for 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, New Zealand spinners controlled the proceedings keeping it flat and mixing the length even as Hardik unleashed a drive over extra cover to ease the pressure.

Suryakumar too brought out his range of sweep shots to keep the scoreboard ticking. When Blair Tickner was introduced, he played a square cut and then sent another one through backward point for successive fours as India reached 74 for 3 in 10 overs.

Leg-spinner Ish Sodhi was then sent inside out over extra cover for a maximum but New Zealand struck twice in next five balls to remove both the set batters.

While Surya chipped one off Sodhi to Finn Allen at long on, Hardik was caught and bowled by Bracewell as it all went downhill after that with India slipping to 85 for five.

Deepak Hooda smacked one over the rope before being stumped. Santner then ran out Shivam Mavi. Ferguson bowled a wicket maiden, removing Kuldeep.

Washington Sundar smashed a fighting 28-ball 50 but it was too late.

Earlier, Indian bowlers struggled to get their line and length, allowing New Zealand to get off to a good start.

Allen (35) smashed Hardik for successive boundaries, while a juicy half volley from Arshdeep was hit straight to the boundary.

Conway, who had scored 138 in the third ODI in Indore, also punished the left-arm pacer for a widish ball as New Zealand put up 23 in two overs.

Sundar, however, got a lot of purchase from the wicket and soon saw the back of Allen and Mark Chapman (0) in the space of five deliveries to reduce New Zealand to 43 for 2.

Conway, however, kept it going with two fours and a six off Umran Malik, who bled 16 runs in his only over.

Hardik brought himself back and tried to mix his bowling, using more cutters and slower deliveries as New Zealand reached 79 for 2 in 10 overs.

Conway used the slog sweep and his feet to pick up boundaries off Kuldeep and Hooda as New Zealand crossed the 100-mark in the 13th over.

Kuldeep then struck with a googly as Glenn Phillips went for a slog, only to be holed out by Surya at deep midwicket.

Daryl Mitchell then joined Conway and, after surviving two video referrals for a caught behind and an LBW, blasted Hardik for two maximums.

Conway, on the other hand, completed his fifty in the 16th over but was sent packing soon by Arshdeep with Hooda taking the catch at long-off.

Ishan Kishan then ran out new man Bracewell (1) and Shivam Mavi had Santner (7) caught by Rahul Tripathi as India seemed to have pulled things back.

However, Arshdeep conceded 27 runs in the last over, with Mitchell clobbering him for three sixes and a four.

NDTV

[Rana]

I dont get it. It’s pretty obvious Arshdeep can’t bowl in the death

Just bowl him out during the powerplay and middle, give death bowling responsibilities to others

[JaDed]

Washi is slowly getting there, has to remain injury free.

[Saj]

This was the first time NZ has beaten India in a T20I in India since November 2017

[jnaveen1980]

I dont get it. It’s pretty obvious Arshdeep can’t bowl in the death

Just bowl him out during the powerplay and middle, give death bowling responsibilities to others

Pandya miscalculated. Mavi had 2 left. Umran had 3 left.

[BreadPakoda]

Didn’t we just play a T20I series against NZ right after the T20I World Cup? Why are we playing against them again?

[jnaveen1980]

Didn’t we just play a T20I series against NZ right after the T20I World Cup? Why are we playing against them again?

It is part of a series. ODIs are combined with T20Is.

[SamNJ]

Conway arguably the best all formats batsman at the moment. Raking up runs everywhere in every format.

[jnaveen1980]

Conway arguably the best all formats batsman at the moment. Raking up runs everywhere in every format.

He adapts well to different formats.

[Ab Fan]

Washington Sundar a far better batsman than the PR hyped Sanju Samson. Also can contribute with the ball and fielding.
That pull for six , Samson can hit for RR only against some no name domestic bowlers.

Ofcourse he is. Sundar is also a proper technically proficient test standard batsman in addition to being a good LOI player too.

The only concern earlier with him was his power hitting but he has even taken that challenge well and got a 50 yesterday. In NZ, he scored a quickfire 35 odd too of some 15 balls.

Much better batsman but unfortunately don't have the same PR and Twitter followers to worship for and accuse others of getting more chances than their hero

[MP2011]

Pandya miscalculated. Mavi had 2 left. Umran had 3 left.

This means Pandya is not only overrated as a batsman and as a bowler, he is overrated as a captain too.

Doesn't augur well for our LoI future as he'll be crowned as our ODI captain too once Rohit is stepped aside post ODI WC.

[Ab Fan]

Pandya doesn't have anything to prove in T20s now. He has already played a terrific knock at the biggest stage that India has played since his debut - CT'17 Final and WT20'22 Semi Final.

He is a kind of player who will raise his game in big matches and that is one we need. Problem is rest of our players go AWOL in big games and hence those two masterclass from Pandya turned out to be in losing cause. He walks into India all time T20I XI.

In ODIs, his batting has a lot to prove though.