IND vs NZ: Abhishek Sharma, Bowlers Hand India 1-0 Lead Against New Zealand

India posted a mammoth 238/7 in 20 overs in the first T20I of the five-match series in Nagpur. The home side rode on an exceptional batting display from opener Abhishek Sharma who hammered a 22-ball fifty for the team to put up a big total.

India lost Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan early in the innings but Abhishek along with captain Suryakumar Yadav showed resistance and stitched a 99-run stand for the third wicket. Abhishek chipped in with 84 off 25, missing out on a well-deserved hundred.

Surya struck 32 off 22 while all-rounder Hardik Pandya also played an important role and got 25 off 16. But it was Rinku Singh’s late surge that helped India in the final moments of the innings. Jacob Duffy scalped two wickets in 4 overs for New Zealand while Rinku Singh was unbeaten at 44 off 20. 

Later, India struck early as Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya scalped a apiece and reduced New Zealand to 1/2 in the first two overs itself. While Glenn Phillips tried his best to keep New Zealand in the chase, the other batters couldn’t really made valuable contributions. The visitors were eventually restricted to 190/7 after Shivam Dube picked up two wickets in the last over. India won by 48 runs. 

Also Read: India vs New Zealand: Abhishek Sharma Smashes 22-Ball Fifty; Fans Hail Number One T20I Batter