Seifert blitzkrieg helps NZ beat India
REUTERS - Opener Tim Seifert’s 43-ball 84 helped New Zealand thump India by 80 runs in yesterday’s first Twenty20 International to hand the tourists their heaviest defeat in the format.
Asked to bat on a flat Wellington wicket by Indian Skipper Rohit Sharma, New Zealand scored 219 for the loss of six wickets before dismissing their opponents for 139 in 19.2 overs.
Tim Southee took three wickets while fellow paceman Lockie Ferguson and spinners Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi claimed two each as India suffered their worst defeat by runs since a 49-run loss to Australia at the 2010 World T20.
India came into the contest on the back of a 4-1 victory in the one-day international series but sorely missed the stability offered by regular Skipper Virat Kohli who has been rested for the three T20 matches.
Only Mahendra Singh Dhoni offered resistance with a gritty 39 but
the veteran wicketkeeper’s effort went in vain as wickets tumbled at the other end.
Earlier, Seifert made the most of two reprieves through dropped catches to smash seven fours and six boundaries en route to his maiden half century.
Opening in the absence of the injured Martin Guptill, the 24-yearold put on an 86-run stand with Colin Munro to lay the foundation for a big score.
After Munro perished for 34, Seifert and skipper Williamson added another 48 runs before cameos by Ross Taylor and Scott Kuggeleijn took New Zealand past the 200 mark.
The second T20 takes place in Auckland on Friday.
New Zealand: 219/6 in 20 overs (T. Seifert 84, C Munro 34, K. Williamson 34, R. Taylor 23, S. Kuggeleijn 20 n.o, H. Pandya 2/51)
India: 139 in 19.2 overs (S. Dhawan 29, V. Shankar 27, M. Dhoni 39, H. Pandya 20, T. Southee 3/17, L. Ferguson 2/22, M. Santner 2/24, I. Sodhi 2/26).