INDIA WIN, NEHRA SIGNS OFF
FIRST EVER T20 VICTORY AGAINST NEW ZEALAND
NEWDEIHI:India openers Shikhar Dhawan (80) and Rohit Sharma (80) cashed in on sloppy catching to set up the hosts’ first Twenty20 win over New Zealand at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground.
India defeated the Kiwis by 53 runs to finally turn things around after losing the first five T20s between the sides, giving Ashish Nehra a perfect retirement gift. Winning the toss and opting to field, Kane Williamson’s side failed to capitalise, struggling to cope with the dew, dropping catches and their pace bowlers proving inconsistent. Trent Boult and Tim Southee conceded 94 runs in their eight overs as India posted 202/3 in 20 overs. New Zealand were restricted to 149/8.
Indian bowlers lead by Nehra built pressure in the first six overs to take control. A stunning catch by Hardik Pandya to dismiss Martin Guptill in the second over made things more difficult for the Kiwis and they lost quick wickets in a bid to keep abreast of the run-rate.
NEHRA’S FINE SPELL
Nehra, denied a wicket on a couple of occasions, signed off his career with a fine spell of 4-0-29-0 after being given the honour of bowling the final over. Spinners Axar Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal both took two wickets to break the spine of the Kiwis.
The first half of the game belonged to Dhawan and Rohit, who produced a record opening stand of 158, surpassing the 136 by Gambhir and Sehwag.
Though Kiwi spinners Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi bowled economical spells, conceding 55 in eight overs, dew made it difficult for the medium pacers. Boult was wayward throughout.
Dhawan made the best of the dropped chance. The pacers kept giving him room and he was happy to showcase his prowess at hitting horizontal shots. The Delhi left-hander collected a couple of fours each in Boult’s first two overs while Rohit complemented him.
In the first six overs, New Zealand restricted India to 45. But wet conditions meant pacer Colin de Grandhomme too struggled to grip the ball. In the seventh over, Southee dropped Rohit off de Grandhomme. Once Rohit got a reprieve, he came out of the shell and followed on the footsteps of Dhawan, who was on a roll. India got to 80 in 10 overs.
Dhawan improvised against de Grandhomme, paddle-sweeping for four. He also swept Sodhi, dispatching him for a six and four off consecutive googlies and disturbed his length. Dhawan hit 10 fours and two sixes in his 52-ball knock.
Rohit, once he discovered none of the bowlers could move the ball off the seam, time and again made room to hit
straight.