By BD Narayankar
Ranchi, Jan 27 (UNI) Daryl Mitchell's unbeaten fifty and last over 27-run blast helped New Zealand register 21 runs victory in the first of the three T20 matches at JSCA International Stadium here on Friday.
Sent into bat, New Zealand posted 176/6 as Mitchell (59* off 30) smoked three back-to-back sixes off Arshdeep Singh to make most of the last over for the Kiwis after the collapse in the middle overs.
In reply, India could manage only 155/9. India were off to a poor start as they lost three wickets with just 15 runs on board. Michael Bracewell bagged Ishan Kishan's (4) wicket and Jacob Duffy sent off Rahul Tripathi (0) and Mitchell Santner bamboozled inform Shubman Gill (7).
Surya Kumar Yadav (47 off 34 6x4s 2x6s) and Hardik Pandya (21 off 20 1x4 1x6) brought India back on to the track halfway mark, but the duo lost their wickets in back-to-back overs to leave the lower order with too much to do.
Washington Sundar (50* off 28 5x4s 3x6s) reached his maiden T20 half-century after taking two wickets for 21. If not for his innings, the loss margin could have been bigger.
Santner (4-1-11-2) was star bowler for New Zealand and the skipper was backed by his spin partners.
Earlier, Mitchell was severe against Arshdeep in the last over and also was against Pandya, smoking two sixes and making a big one for New Zealand. He started the over with a six over long-on and finished off with another maximum straight down the ground off the last ball.
Devon Conway also cracked a fiery 52 off 35 balls. He took Umran Malik to cleaners, bleeding 16 runs with two boundaries and a six. The inform left-handed batsman also took on Kuldeep Yadav and Deepak Hooda as New Zealand crossed the 100-mark in the 13th over.
Kuldeep struck immediately with a googly to send back Glenn Philips who gave a catch to Surya Kumar Yadav at deep midwicket. He was ultimately sent packing by Arshdeep after Hooda completed the catch at long-off.
New Zealand started off to a flier 43/1 in 4.2 overs, but were pushed back two consecutive wickets picked up by Washington Sundar. First he had Finn Allen (35 off 23) caught by Surya and then Mark Chapman for nought of a brilliant return catch.
India showed fight and resilience throughout their bowling effort. Sundar was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets, while Arshdeep, Kuldeep Yadav and Shivam Mavi got one each.
UNI BDN GNK