At the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi on Friday, New Zealand defeated India by 21 runs in the first Twenty20 International of the three-match series.
Currently, New Zealand is up 1-0 in the three-game series. Chasing a target of 177, Vice-Captain Suryakumar Yadav played a tough knock of 47 runs, while Washington Sundar scored the most runs for Team India with 50 off 28 deliveries. Mitchell Santner, Lockie Ferguson, and Michael Bracewell all claimed two wickets for New Zealand.
India got off to a poor start as in the very first over of the innings Michael Bracewell dismissed Ishan Kishan for 4. In the second over of the game, Men in Blue lost their second batter as Rahul Tripathi returned to the pavilion. Wickets kept falling for India as Mitchell Santner removed opener Shubman Gill.
Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav played cautious shots while keeping the scorecard ticking.
Pandya and Suryakumar then shifted gears and slammed Lockie Ferguson for 13 runs in 5th over of the game. The final over of the Powerplay was a maiden and the magnificent job was done by New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner.
The duo of captain and vice-captain kept piling runs for Team India, slamming boundaries and taking singles at regular intervals.
Suryakumar opened his hand and scored two boundaries of Blair Tickner’s delivery.
After 10 overs, India’s score read 74/3. The duo also stitched up a much-needed 50-run partnership. After slamming a six on Ish Sodhi’s delivery, Suryakumar Yadav was dismissed for 47 which came off 34 balls, leaving India tottering at 83/4.
It did not take long for New Zealand to completely derail Team India as captain Pandya went back to the pavilion after scoring 21 made from 20 deliveries.
Washington Sundar and Deepak Hooda then tried to handle the pressure situation and scored boundaries at regular intervals. However, Santner again produced a stunning opportunity for his team as he dismissed Hooda for 10 runs.
In the 18th over of the innings, India lost their 8th wicket as Kuldeep Yadav was sent packing by Lockie Ferguson on a golden duck.
Sundar, however, displayed some fight as he slammed Jacob Duffy for 17 runs. At this point, India needed 33 runs in 6 balls. In the last over of the innings, Ferguson delivered a stunning delivery to remove Washington Sundar and clinch the match by 21 runs against India.
