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29 March 2024

World T20 Super 10: Kiwis stun India by 47 runs

Published
By Cricket Correspondent and Agencies

New Zealand's spinners became unlikely heroes on Tuesday, leading their side to a stunning 47-run victory over favourites India in the World Twenty20 opening group match in Nagpur.

The Kiwis stumbled to 126 for seven after electing to bat first, but their slow bowlers bamboozled India who could manage just 79 runs in 18.1 overs - their lowest ever score in T20 cricket on home soil.

Their previous lowest score at home was 92 against South Africa in Cuttack last year.

The spin trio of Mitchell Santner, Nathan McCullum and Ish Sodhi combined forces to keep New Zealand's unbeaten T20 record against India intact - the Kiwis have now won five T20s in six meetings.

Man of the match Santner (4-11) bowled exceptionally well on a slow track to register the best bowling figures by a New Zealander in T20 cricket.

"There was a bit of spin out there, they bowled well to keep us to 120, that was below par, but we got stuck in and I'm delighted with the win," said Santner.

India, who have been firm favourites to win the title, were never in the chase after losing their openers early and, with the exception of Virat Kohli (23), none of the Indian batsmen could come up with any answers to the inspired Kiwi bowling attack.

Kohli, during his 27-ball stay, offered some resistence on a slow track, but the introduction of Sodhi spelt the end for the star batsman.

Chasing a wildish leg-spinner, Kohli was caught behind as the packed stadium was stunned into silence with the writing clearly on the wall.

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni then tried hard to dig India out of their hole but his valiant run-a-ball 30 made little difference in the end.

Earlier, hard-hitting Corey Anderson hit an uncharacteristically slow 34-run knock to help New Zealand improve their plight after being reduced to 61 for four.

A dramatic first over from off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin saw Martin Guptill smash a six on the very first ball of the match only to lose his wicket on the next, setting the tone for an exciting T20 extravaganza.

The spin-fast combination of Ashwin and Ashish Nehra deployed by Dhoni worked in India's favour as the Kiwis were left stuttering with skipper Kane Williamson also departing for single figures.

Anderson, whose 42-ball stay included just three boundaries, then stuck around with Ross Taylor and Santner to counter the Indian bowlers.

India, determined to become the first team to win the World T20 title twice, didn't put a foot wrong and backed their bowlers' effort with some clean fielding that included two run outs.

In the end, Luke Ronchi's unbeaten 11-ball 21 gave some respect to the total, which in the end proved enough to make an opening impression in the sixth edition of the tournament.

Pakistan face Bangladesh at Kolkata while England meet West Indies at Mumbai in the two group matches on Wednesday.

Scoreboard:

New Zealand
M. Guptill lbw b Ashwin 6
K. Williamson st Dhoni b Raina 8
C. Munro c Pandya b Nehra 7
C. Anderson b Bumrah 34
R. Taylor runout (Raina) 10
M. Santner c Dhoni b Jadeja 18
G. Elliott runout (Dhawan) 9
L Ronchi not out 21
N. McCullum not out 0

Extras (b4, lb3, w6) 13
Total (7 wkts, 20 overs) 126
Did not bat: A. Milne, I. Sodhi
Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Guptill), 2-13 (Munro), 3-35 (Williamson), 4-61 (Taylor), 5-89 (Anderson), 6-98 (Santner), 7-114 (Elliott)

Bowling: Ashwin 4-0-32-1, Nehra 3-0-21-1, Bumrah 4-0-15-1, Raina 4-0-15-1, Jadeja 4-0-26-1, Pandya 1-0-10-0

India
R. Sharma st Ronchi b Santner 5
S. Dhawan lbw b McCullum 1
V. Kohli c Ronchi b Sodhi 23
S. Raina c Guptill b Santner 1
Y. Singh c&b McCullum 4
MS Dhoni c McCullum b Santner 30
H. Pandya lbw b Santner 1
R. Jadeja c&b Sodhi 0
R. Ashwin st Ronchi b Sodhi 10
A. Nehra b Milne 0
J. Bumrah not out 0
Extras (w3, nb1) 4
Total (all out, 18.1 overs) 79
Did not bat:
Fall of wickets: 1-5 (Dhawan), 2-10 (Sharma), 3-12 (Raina), 4-26 (Singh), 5-39 (Kohli), 6-42 (Pandya), 7-43 (Jadeja), 8-73 (Ashwin) 9-79 (Dhoni)
Bowling: McCullum 3-0-15-2, Anderson 3-0-18-0, Santner 4-0-11-4, Elliott 2-0-9-0, Milne 2.1-0-8-1, Sodhi 4-0-18-3

Result: New Zealand win by 47 runs

Toss: New Zealand
Umpires: Kumar Dharmasena (SRI), Richard Illingworth (ENG)
TV umpire: Marais Erasmus (RSA)
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)

Favourites

New Zealand have stunned favourites India by 47 runs in the opening Super 10 clash at Nagpur on Tuesday.

Chasing a modest target of 127, India failed to break their duck in five T20 internationals against New Zealand getting a taste of their own medicine.

Santner claimed 4-11 and Sodhi 3-18 as India were spun out for 79 in 18.1 overs.

India are bowled out for 79 in 18.1 overs as Milne castles Nehra.

Ashish Nehra b Milne 0 (4b)

McCullum takes a superb catch as Dhoni falls giving Santner claims his fourth wicket. Ind 79-9, 17.4 overs.

MS Dhoni c McCullum b Santner 30 (30b 1x4 1x6)

Sodhi sizzles bowling brilliantly to remove Ashwin after Dhoni had clubbed a thundering six. Ind 73-8, 16.3 overs.

Ravichandran Ashwin st Ronchi b Sodhi 10 (20b)

India need a big over with the asking rate having spiralled to over 13 with Dhoni and Ashwin in the middle. Ind 61-7, 15 overs.

The required rate is soaring to over 11 an over with India having a mountain to climb needing 70 off six overs. Ind 57-7, 14 overs.

Sodhi takes a brilliant return catch to dismiss Jadeja for a duck. Ind 43-7, 10.2 overs.

Ravindra Jadeja c & b Sodhi 0 (3b)

India are reeling as Santner has removed Pandya though the batsman seemed surprised by the leg before verdict. Ind 42-6, 9.5 overs.

Hardik Pandya lbw b Santner 1 (7b)

Huge wicket for Sodhi first ball as Kohli hangs flashes his bat to be caught behind. Ind 39-5, 8.1 overs.

Virat Kohli c Ronchi b Sodhi 23 (27b 2x4)

Another blow for India as Yuvraj chips a return catch to McCullum after hitting a boundary previous ball. Ind 26-4, 4.5 overs.

Yuvraj Singh c & b McCullum 4 (5b 1x4)

Kohli gets going with a couple of boundaries off Anderson cutting to third man and driving down the ground on the onside with superb timing. Ind 21-3, 4 overs.

Double strike by Santner who takes the big wicket of Raina who chips to mid-on. Ind 12-3, 2.5 overs.

Suresh Raina c Guptill b Santner 1 (2b)

India have lost both openers with Rohit giving Santner the charge and being out by mile despite a bit of juggle by Ronchi. Ind 10-2, 2.2 overs.

Rohit Sharma st Ronchi b Santner 5 (7b)

India are off to a tentative start and McCullum strikes trapping Dhawan leg before as he plays across the line. Ind 5-1, 0.5 overs.

Shikhar Dhawan lbw b McCullum 1 (3b)

New Zealand innings

A 11-ball unbeaten 21 from Ronchi lifted New Zealand after their decision to come out swinging backfired after opting to bat first.

They never recovered after losing Guptill and Munro early to be restricted for 126-7 with India's bowlers being back by superb fielding.

Corey Anderson struggled to a 42-ball 34.

A superb throw from Dhawan sends back Elliott. NZ 114-7, 19.3 overs.

Grant Elliott run out 9 (12b)

New Zealand are imploding as Santner perishing after lofting Jadeja for a boundary and giving a skier next ball. NZ 98-6, 16.4 overs.

Michael Santner c Dhoni b Jadeja 18 (17b 2x4)

Bumrah strikes with a slow yorker knocking the middle stump of Anderson who attempts to scoop him. NZ 89-5, 15.4 overs.

Corey Anderson b Bumrah 34 (42b 3x4)

Santner flicks Pandya over square leg for a much needed boundary for the Kiwis. NZ 88-4, 15 overs.

A brilliant piece of fielding by Raina on his follow through accounts for Taylor fails to ground his bat to beat the direct hit. NZ 61-4, 11.3 overs.

Ross Taylor run out 10 (14b 1x4)

Taylor picks up a boundary with a lovely late dab off Ashwin past the keeper. NZ 55-3, 10 overs.

Anderson lofts the first ball from Bumrah to the mid-off fence. NZ 42-3, 8 overs.

New Zealand are in trouble as skipper Williamson perishes with Raina luring him out and beating him in flight. NZ 35-3, 6.5 overs.

Kane Williamson st Dhoni b Raina 8 (16b 1x4)

Boundaries flow off the blade of Williamson who slams Nehra while Anderson picks up a couple off Ashwin. NZ 32-2. 5 overs.

Nehra also gets a wicket off his first over as Munro fails to clear the infield. NZ 13-2, 1.3 overs.

Colin Munro c Pandya b Nehra 7 (6b 1x6)

Munro also shows intent by swinging the first ball from Ashwin for a six with a reverse hit.NZ 13-1, 1 over.

Sensational start as Ashwin draws first blood trapping Guptill leg before after the batsman slams a straight six first ball. NZ 6-1, 0.2 overs.

Martin Guptill lbw b Ashwin 6 (2b 1x6)

New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat against India in the opening match of the World Twenty20 main draw in Nagpur on Tuesday.

The Kane Williamson-led Kiwis have left out Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Henry Nicholls and Mitchell McClenaghan.

Indian skipper MS Dhoni fielded an unchanged side that won the Asia Cup final against Bangladesh, as the red-hot favourites begin their quest to become the first team to win the World T20 title twice.

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson has won the toss and opted to bat first in the opening Super 10 World T20 opening match on Wednesday.

New Zealand have left out Southee, Boult, Nicholls and McClenaghan.

Playing XI

India: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Ashish Nehra

New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Colin Munro, Ross Taylor, Corey Anderson, Grant Elliott, Michael Santner, Luke Ronchi, Nathan McCullum, Adam Milne, Ish Sodhi

Preview

Star batsman Virat Kohli urged his team-mates to stay calm Monday amid growing fervour about India's prospects in the World Twenty20, ahead of the host's tricky tournament opener against New Zealand.

After winning 10 of their last 11 T20 internationals, India are red-hot favourites for the World T20 and former batsman Virender Sehwag said last week he was "99 percent certain" they would become the first team to win the trophy for a second time.

But Kohli, who is sometimes regarded as something of a firebrand, tried to put a dampener on expectations in a press conference on the eve of the match in Nagpur and said it was important not to get carried away.  

"I think the key is to learn from the past where calmness is required in big tournaments like the ICC (International Cricket Council) events because you can get sort of carried away or over anxious or over excited," said Kohli, who is India's Test captain.

"Both those feelings are not great for any side going into a big tournament.

"What we've learned from playing in big tournaments in the past is that we have to stay as calm as possible and focus on the skills that need to be executed on the field."

New Zealand, though, have defeated India in all their previous four meetings in the shortest format of the game but their progress was somewhat thwarted against England's spinners on Saturday in their warm-up match.

"We certainly are expecting spin to pay a big part in this tournament," Williamson told reporters on Monday, adding their past record against India would have no bearing on the match.

"I suppose judging by the warm-up games in Mumbai, they had a bit for the seamers and it swung a little bit.

"They were very good surfaces but from what cricket we have seen here in Nagpur, spin looks likely to play a big part. It's important that we adjust our gameplan accordingly."

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will lead India's slow bowling attack along with Ravindra Jadeja while part-timer Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina are also expected to chip in.

New Zealand arrived at the tournament after a preparatory camp in Dubai, having played a two-test home series against Australia, during which former captain Brendon McCullum retired from international cricket.

Williamson was confident there would not be any problems making the switch to the 20-over format.

"We go into the match tomorrow with a clean slate. India is a strong side and Twenty20 cricket is fickle in nature," Williamson said.

And although New Zealand have been undermined by inspirational skipper Brendon McCullum's retirement on the eve of the tournament, their performance in warm-up matches shows they are not lacking for firepower.

They thrashed the holders Sri Lanka last Thursday when Colin Munro, Corey Anderson and Grant Elliott all posted half-centuries in rapid time.

Skipper Kane Williamson then smashed an entertaining 63 when New Zealand narrowly lost to England in their final warm-up match on Saturday.
India also suffered a rare defeat in what was an unofficial T20 international on Saturday when they lost by four runs to South Africa in another high-scoring match.

With their powerful openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma hitting a purple patch, and the veteran Yuvraj Singh also in good nick, India will expect to post a big total on a batsman-friendly pitch in Nagpur.

Kohli, in top form himself, said rookie Indian bowlers Jaspreet Bumrah and Hardik Pandya would also be crucial to the outcome, saying they had showed few signs of nerves in their fledgling international careers.

"Players like Hardik and Bumrah they have more confidence than when we started out," he said.

"They have performed in different situations and they have brought that confidence with them into the side.

"They have backed their skills and I think this is what has been the x-factor for us."

Like many of his fellow skippers, Williamson believes that India are the team to beat but says his side - which is still to win a world cup - do not lack in belief.  

"No doubt India will be possibly the favourites for this tournament but I think all the teams will come here thinking they can win it," he said last week.

Teams

India (from): Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Shikhar Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli, Mohammed Shami, Pawan Negi, Ashish Nehra, Hardik Pandya, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Yuvraj Singh

New Zealand (from): Kane Williamson (captain), Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Martin Guptill, Grant Elliott, Colin Munro, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nathan McCullum, Adam Milne, Henry Nicholls, Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor