India Defeat New Zealand By 5 Wickets, Suryakumar Yadav Shines With A Match Winning Half Century
With the help of Suryakumar Yadav's half-century & Rohit Sharma's 48, India was able to defeat New Zealand by 5 wickets in the first T20I. Indian team, chasing a target of 165, got off to an excellent start as they scored 50 runs in the first 5 overs.
However, KL Rahul was dismissed on the first delivery of the 6th over, as soon as spin was introduced in the bowling attack. Rohit Sharma, in his first match as 'permanent' captain of the Indian T20 side, scored 48 runs off 36 balls with 5 fours & 2 sixes.
Suryakumar Yadav, batting at #3, scored 60 runs off 42 balls with 6 fours & 3 sixes and brought India close to victory. Rishabh Pant in the end finished things off with a four in the 19th over. For New Zealand, Trent Boult picked up the wickets of India's highest scorers - Surya & Rohit. Tim Southee, Mitchell Santner & Daryl Mitchell picked up 1 wicket each.
In the first innings, After being put in to bat first, half-centuries by Guptill & Chapman helped the Kiwis post 164/6 against in the first T20I match against India. Opener Martin Guptill looked flawless as he scored 70 runs in 42 balls, smashing 4 sixes and 3 fours.
However, his opening counter part Daryl Mitchell was dismissed for a golden duck in the first over. However, Mark Chapman, batting at #3, acted as an anchor and scored 63 runs off 50 balls, with 6 fours & 2 sixes. But after these two batters fell, New Zealand innings slowed down and didn't manage to reach a better score on Jaipur's batting surface.
Ace bowlers Ravi Ashwin & Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked up 2 wickets each. Ashwin picked up both his wickets in the first over, dismissing Chapman & Phillips. Deepak Chahar & Mohammad Siraj, although expensive, picked up 1 wicket each.
Earlier, Indian captain Rohit Sharma won the toss & opted to ball first against New Zealand in the first T20I. This match is being played at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur.
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Also Read: T20 World Cup 2021