The T20 World Cup at India started with reality check for all, specially the hosts. On a bowler friendly track of Nagpur, their bowlers made merry silencing the big guns of New Zealand. But then the favorites Indians realised that in the small chase, their own big guns can’t play the Kiwis trio of spinners. Captain Kane Williamson proved all wrong as his top pick of three spinners made the great Indian batting collapse. Strange that India’s two below 100 T20 score has come at home since last year.
World Cup T20 2016: Complete Schedule and Results
Match Stats
- 5-0 is the win record of New Zealand vs Indians in T20 now.
2nd win vs India in two matches of T20 World Cup, after 10 run win in 2007 edition.
126/7 is the lowest T20 score by New Zealand against Indians.
79 is India’s second lowest T20 total.
79 is third lowest against New Zealand by any team in T20.
2nd time Indians are bowled below 100 at home, after 2015 vs South Africa at Cuttack.
3rd below 100 T20 total for Indians.
5th time Kiwis bowled out a team below 100 in T20. 73 by Kenya, 78 by Bangladesh, 84 by Zimbabwe and 92 by Sri Lanka were other low scores against them.
12th win for Kiwis in T20 World Cup matches.
10th loss for India in T20 World Cup matches.
New Zealand Elected to bat and Manages 126/7
Electing to bat first Kane Williamson and team went on attack from ball 1 which was hit for a six by Guptill. But, Ashwin got him on 2nd ball of the game. Munro, replaced Guptill but intention remained the same. Hit the ball out of the park and with another six in his first over Ashwin went for 13 runs in first over. Nehra, the old warrior continued his good habits of picking wicket in early spell as he got Munro. From there on Anderson (34 runs), their highest scorer played with caution. But from the other end, captain Williamson (8), Ross Taylor (10), Santner (18), Elliott (9) continued the struggle as fielders and bowlers continued attacking. Ross Taylor and Elliott were run out. If it was not for late assault of Ronchi (unbeaten 11-ball 21 runs), Kiwis might not have even crossed 6 runs per over run rate.
Nehra bowled the only maiden over of the innings finishing with 1/20 in 3 overs. Ashwin was the most expensive with 1/32. Jadeja was unlucky on multiple occasions and finished his quota with 1/26. The pick of the bowlers were Raina (1/16 in 4 overs) and the young Bumrah (1/15 in 4). Hardik Pandya gave away 10 runs in the only over he bowled.
Indian Dance to the Tune of Kiwis Spinners
Indian chase started on a bad note as Kane started with Nathan, who was delighted to get Dhawan (1) leg before in the 5th ball of inning’s first over. Santer bowled the third over of the match and his double blow sent shivers across millions of Indians as he picked Rohit Sharma (5) AND Raina (1). Nathan returned in the 5th over to catch Yuvraj (4) on his own bowling.
The biggest scalp though went to Ish Sodhi, on his first ball as he got Kohli (23 runs on 27 balls) caught behind by Ronchi. Indians were 39/5 in 8.1 overs. Hardik (1), the star of Asia Cup, and Jadeja (0), were back to dug out in no time. India were reduced to 43/7 in 10.2 overs.
Dhoni was just left with Ashwin. The fight from there on was more to survive in the hope of some miracle. They added 30 runs together and with a six and four Dhoni tried to open up but it was too big a chase by then.
First Ashwin (10) was stumped by Ronchi on the bowling of Sodhi, then Dhoni (30) succumbed to the Player of the Match Santner. Nehra was last man to go, bowled by Milne.
The spinners Santner (4/11 in 4 overs), Nathan McCullum (2/15 in 3 overs), Ish Sodhi (3/18 in 4 overs) were able to beat India in their own game of spin.
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