Openers gift India first T20 win against Kiwis

A record opening partnership between Rohit
Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan powered India
to a 53-run win over New Zealand in the
first Twenty20 international in New Delhi on
Wednesday.
The pair put on 158 runs - India’s best for
any wicket - to take the hosts to 202-3 and
then restricted the Kiwis to 149-8 and take
lead in the three-match series.
Notching up their maiden win over New
Zealand in the format, the Indian team gave
a fitting farewell to veteran paceman Ashish
Nehra, who called time on his playing
career.
Nehra, 38, who retired after an injury-
plagued 18-year-old career, went wicketless
but was carried by his teammates in a lap
of honour at his home ground Feroz Shah
Kotla.
But Dhawan, who hit a career-best 80, and
Sharma, who also made 80, stole the show.
They surpassed the 136-run opening stand
between Virender Sehwag and Gautam
Gambhir against England in the 2007 T20
World Cup.
Indian batsmen also benefited from a sloppy
effort by New Zealand fielders with Dhawan,
on eight, and Sharma, on 16, surviving
dropped chances.
Skipper Virat Kohli also got a reprieve on
eight before going on to make an unbeaten
11-ball 26.
Leg-spinner Ish Sodhi claimed two wickets
in an over including Dhawan’s prized scalp
but the damage had already been done.
While the left-handed Dhawan smashed 10
fours and 2 sixes in his 52-ball knock,
Sharma also entertained the raucous home
crowd during his 55-ball stay.
In reply, the New Zealand innings could
never take off after losing their openers for
just 18 runs inside four overs.
Martin Guptill, who scored four, fell to leg-
spinner Yuzvendra Chahal while Colin Munro
was bowled for seven by a superb yorker
from fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Skipper Kane Williamson tried to revive the
innings with his 24-ball 28 but Hardik
Pandya got him caught behind to spell
trouble for the visitors.
Left-arm spinner Axar Patel struck twice in
an over to send back Tom Bruce and Colin
De Grandhomme as the wheels came off the
Kiwi chase.
Tom Latham top-scored with a valiant 39
before becoming Chahal’s second victim.
The second T20 is scheduled on Saturday in
Rajkot.