India vs New Zealand 1st T20 highlights: NZ humiliate Ind by 80-run defeat
Tim Seifert took Indian bowling attack to cleaners with a scintillating 84 off 43 balls as New Zealand scored a commanding 219 for 6
 "Rohit Sharma plays a shot. Photo: BCCI")
Rohit Sharma plays a shot. Photo: BCCI
A below-par India slumped to their worst ever defeat in T20 Internationals as New Zealand outclassed the visitors in all departments to win the first match of the 3-match series by a comprehensive 80-run margin at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Wednesday.
India vs New Zealand 1st T20 full scorecard
Batting first, unheralded keeper-batsman Tim Seifert took the Indian bowling apart blasting 84 off 43 balls as New Zealand posted a commanding 219 for six.
With the crack opening pair of skipper Rohit Sharma (1) and Shikhar Dhawan (29) departing within the Powerplay overs, the chase became a difficult one and India were all out for 139 in 19.2 overs.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni (39 off 31 balls) did play his part but it was always an impossible chase with wickets falling at regular intervals at the other end. India had never lost a T20 International by 50 or more runs prior to this match. India's previous worst was a 49-run loss to Australia back in 2010.
"We failed to get a good partnership. 200 was never going to be easy to chase," said Rohit in the post-match presentation.
New Zealand bowlers kept the pressure on Indian batsmen, especially the two spinners -- left-arm orthodox Mitchell Santner (2/24 in 4 overs) and leg-spinner Ish Sodhi (2/26 in 3 overs).
Senior pacer Tim Southee (3/17 in 4 overs) had the best figures among the bowlers and the best delivery of the match was bowled by Lockie Ferguson, who yorked Dhawan.
They kept the batsmen under tight check and for some like World Cup aspirant Rishabh Pant (4, 10 balls), it was a frustrating little stay in the middle and he simply couldn't get going.
On a pitch where Indian spinners Yuzvendra Chahal (1/35 in 4 overs) and Krunal (1/37 in 4 overs) went for plenty, the Black Caps slow bowlers literally tightened the noose on the visitors.
While Pant didn't do his chances any good, Vijay Shankar (27 off 17 balls) impressed during his little cameo but would need to do more in order to book a place in that World Cup bound squad.
The Pandya bothers -- Krunal and Hardik -- endured a contrasting day.
While Krunal (he also scored 20 off 18 balls) had an okay outing, Hardik would quickly like to forget the nightmare (2/51 in 4 overs and 4 runs) before India play the second match of the series in Auckland on Friday.
Earlier, Seifert, whose previous best score in T20 Internationals happens to be 14, was promoted to open alongside Colin Munro (34 off 20 balls) and they added 86 runs in only 8.2 overs in a whirlwind start.
Seifert's knock had seven fours and half a dozen sixes, setting the tone for a big total.
Seifert showed the intent straightaway as he gave Bhuvneshwar Kumar the charge, picking the knuckle ball early, dispatching it over mid-wicket for a six. The next shot was a four as he stood and hammered past the bowler.
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.
Seifert was lucky to survive when Dhoni dropped a sharp chance after the batsman had edged one off Krunal.
But he promptly put the next delivery into the stands, moving across towards off and sweeping it over backward square leg.
There weren't any signs of overt footwork but he shuffled enough inside the crease to make room for the big shots and in the process disturbed the line and length of the bowlers.
When Hardik drifted on the leg stump, he was flicked behind the square and when he pitched wide outside off-stump, he was lofted over the cover point region.
In Hardik's next over, Seifert again hit the bowler for a boundary and a flicked six. In between, his elder brother Krunal was switch hit for a boundary.
The elder Pandya finally got a breakthrough when Munro was caught in the deep off Vijay Shankar.
But Seifert never let the momentum drop and hit two more sixes off Krunal, who just kept on pushing the ball through a flatter trajectory.
New Zealand beat India by 80 runs, take 1-0 lead in 3-match series
Over 19.2, New Zealand Win
Over 19
Southee continues and Now Dhoni refuses to take a single as he is swinging but not able to score off first 3 balls. Dhoni smashed the 4th ball for FOUR over the bowlers head. Dhoni fails to get a connection off the next ball. Dhoni pulls the last ball straight to backward square leg, OUT, Dhoni c Ferguson b Southee 39(31) [4s-5 6s-1]
Over 18
Bhuvneshwar Kumar, right handed bat, comes to the crease as Ferguson continues. Dhoni takes a single off the first ball. DOT.. Bhuvi takes a single off the 3rd ball. Bhuvi OUT as Seifert takes a STUNNER. Bhuvneshwar c Seifert b Ferguson 1(3). Yuzvendra Chahal, right handed bat, comes to the crease
Over 17; Krunal Pandya OUT
Tim Southee [2.0-0-2-1] is back into the attack and Dhoni pulls the first ball for FOUR thanks to ferguson miss field follows by a single to backward square leg. Krunal takes a single off the 3rd ball. Dhoni guides the short ball outside for FOUR to point region follows by a single to deep mid-wicket. Krunal Pandya undone by short delivery. Krunal Pandya c Seifert b Southee 20(18) [4s-1 6s-1]
Over 16; CRR: 7.38 REQ: 25.5
Lockie Ferguson [2.0-0-14-1] is back into the attack and Dhoni defends the first ball back to bowler. A french cut from Dhoni, gives him a lucky boundary follows by a single to square leg. DOT...Another DOT...A big swing and a miss
Over 15; CRR: 7.53 REQ: 21.4
Ish Sodhi continues one run reach for Dhoni and Krunal. Krunal sweeps the 3rd ball for FOUR follows by a single to deep extra-cover. WIDE. WIDE..Dhoni takes a single off the 5th ball. Krunal smashes the last ball for SIX.
Over 14; CRR: 6.93 REQ: 20.5
Santner continues and Krunal takes a single off the first ball. DOT.. Dhoni takes a single off the 3rd ball. krunal takes a single off the 4th ball. DOT.. Dhoni hits the last ball off the over for SIX.
Over 13; CRR: 6.76 REQ: 19.17
Sodhi continues and Krunal fails to make an connection off wide googly. A single for Krunal follows by a single for Dhoni..DOT. krunal takes a couple of runs off the 5th ball follows by a single off the last ball.
Over 12; CRR: 6.92 REQ: 17.12
Mitchell Santner [2.0-0-9-2] is back into the attack and starts with a DOT... Dhoni comes down the pitch and smashed the ball over bowler for FOUR follows by a single. DOT.. A single for Krunal off the 5th ball. DOT to end the over
Over 11
Ish Sodhi, right-arm leg break, comes into the attack and he fails to connect his reverse sweep. Karthik c Southee b Ish Sodhi 5(6). Hardik Pandya, right handed bat, comes to the crease. DOT.. WIDE.. Hardik Pandya drives the 4th ball over cover for FOUR. DOT and Hardik Pandya OUT as he tries to smash another biggie. Hardik Pandya c Daryl Mitchell b Ish Sodhi 4(4) [4s-1]
Over 10; CRR: 7.08 REQ: 15.05
Daryl Mitchell continues and conceeds 7 runs.
Over 9; CRR: 7.22 REQ: 14.09
Santner continues and he starts with a DOT. Pant BOWLED. Pant b Santner 4(10), MS Dhoni, right handed bat, comes to the crease and he takes a single off the 3rd ball. Shankar OUT as he tries to match required but fails to get the desired timing. Shankar c de Grandhomme b Santner 27(18) [4s-2 6s-2]. DOT.. DOT
Over 8; CRR: 8 REQ: 13
Daryl Mitchell, right-arm medium, comes into the attack and Pant tries a big swing, missed. Pant tries to play a reverse sweep, missed again. Pant muscles the slower ball for a single to extra cover. Shankar takes a single off the 4th ball to long-on. Pant fails to read a slower delivery, fails to get a connection. A single for Pant to end the over
Over 7; CRR: 8.71 REQ: 12.23
Mitchell Santner, left-arm orthodox, comes into the attack and starts with a DOT ball, Shankar dispatched the 2nd ball into the crowd. Shankar tries to sweep but missed the ball and Seifert dislodge the ball, Third umpire says NOT OUT. DOT...Shanker drags the 5th ball to long-on for a single. Pant takes a quick single to keep the strike
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First Published: Feb 06 2019 | 11:17 AM IST
