before the spinners choked the hosts as New Zealand outplayed India by 21
runs in the opening T20I to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series on
Friday.
Opener Conway continued his purple patch with a 35-ball 52, while Mitchell
smashed a 30-ball unbeaten 59, which included a last-over thrashing of
Arshdeep Singh for 27 runs, to power the Black Caps to a challenging 176
for six. The Kiwi bowlers, led by Mitchell Santner (2/11) and Michael
Bracewell (2/31), then spun a web around the home batters, restrict India
to 155 for 9 in 20 overs.
India had a disastrous start to their chase with both Ishan Kishan (4) and
Rahul Tripathi (0) sent back to the pavillion by the third over.While Ishan
was bamboozled by Bracewell, pacer Jacob Duffy (1/27) induced a fine edge
off Rahul’s blade. Shubman Gill (7) too perished soon after being deceived
by Santner as India slumped to 15 for three.
Suryakumar Yadav (47), however, looked in good touch as he picked up two
boundaries before picking one off his hips for a six off Lockie Ferguson
(1/22). Santner then bowled a maiden as India reached 33 for three in the
powerplay overs.
