From Baz to Tim as Seifert blazes trail

Blaze it like Baz. It wasn’t just Tim Seifert’s fearless charge at India’s bowlers, sending the white Kookaburra flying to all parts of Westpac Stadium, that evoked memories of his childhood cricketing hero.

Even the way he strode into the press conference room, and his tone of voice, carried more than a passing resemblance to Brendon Mccullum after Seifert announced himself on the international stage on Wednesday.

It was a fair comparison, for now, as Seifert crashed six sixes in his audacious knock of 84 off 43 balls to lead New Zealand to an 80-run win over India in the first Twenty20 international in Wellington.

‘‘I’d be lying if I said Baz [Mccullum] wasn’t one of my heroes growing up. Obviously you try to be yourself out there but I looked at Baz throughout my childhood,’’ said 24-year-old Seifert.

Mccullum remains synonymous with T20 cricket and Seifert is made for it too, the wicketkeeper-batsman already with a New Zealand domestic record 40-ball century to his name against Auckland last summer.

Whether he was charging Krunal Pandya’s spin and muscling it into the stands over mid-wicket or extra cover, or dismissively flicking brother Hardik’s pace over square leg, it was some breathtaking hitting. And there was inventiveness, too, unleashing switch hits off Krunal Pandya and legspin whiz Yuzvendra Chahal, both racing to the rope.

‘‘I just looked at the field and it’s all in the moment. I don’t really practise it or anything. It’s the punt you take, it’s T20 cricket.’’

In the injured Martin Guptill’s absence he enjoyed partnering Colin Munro and they were a dynamic duo, blasting 86 off the first 8.2 overs as the Black Caps amassed a ground record T20 international total of 219-6. They’ll get another chance to unleash on postage stamp Eden Park in game two tonight.

For Seifert, one of eight Northern Knights’ players in the Black Caps XI, it was a much-needed breakout knock. In eight previous T20 internationals he’d totalled 42 runs, including a three-ball stay in his previous match batting against Sri Lanka at Eden Park.

He wasn’t required for the India ODIS with Tom Latham taking the gloves, having kept wicket in the Sri Lanka ODIS with a view to the backup job in the World Cup 15. As it stands he’s a contender for the cup 15, with Henry Nicholls being mooted as a backup wicketkeeper and B J Watling also a potential cover option. Innings like that do his chances no harm, knowing he can bat anywhere in the order.

‘‘I’ve just got to do what I do and if that gets me over the line then brilliant. Still being young I’ve got time on my side. Don’t get me wrong I want to be at this World Cup. If I get there, fantastic, it’s a dream come true, but if not then there’s things to work on and get to that next one.’’

Consistency of his glovework is a work-on for Seifert, who had some ragged moments in the ODIS.

He was very polished on Wednesday with a sharp onehanded grab off Lockie Ferguson and a running dive to snare