Highlights, India vs New Zealand, 1st T20I at Wellington, Full Cricket Score: Tim Seifert's blistering 84 sets up big win for Kiwis

This is the first time that four bowlers took two or more wickets each in a T20I match against India.

Today, Southee, Ferguson, Sodhi and Santner, all took 2-plus wickets.

Kane Williamson, NZ Captain: Fantastic performance all round. One of the performances you search for. The top-order were superb and we built partnerships that helped us. Some really good experiences for the boys, some of the short contributions are of great importance. It is sort of finish now, we move on and in a day’s time we play another game. We know it will be different in couple of days time. A complete performance that doesn’t happen everyday and hope we can keep the momentum through the series. Daryll made his debut, which is really exciting. We did have the runs on the board but the bowling and fielding was of high standards.(On the White Ferns’ victory) It was a great game. Throughout the series the two teams have followed a similar trend. Hopefully, they can do that in the next game and we can follow it up.

Rohit Sharma: We were outplayed in all three departments. Didn’t start off well. Always knew 200 wasn’t easy to chase. Kept losing wickets. We’ve chased targets of 200 and more in the past. Just needed partnerships, which we failed to do. I thought New Zealand played good cricket. (On batting or bowling first at Auckland) We’ve got to go there and assess conditions, and take it forward. (On decision to bowl first tonight) Us as a team, we’ve always chased down targets. Even tonight, we were confident of getting that target.

Seifert: Yeah, it was great way to start the series and the boys are really happy. It was great for me going up the order, look at the first two overs and then go from there and put the pressure on bowlers. I have been selected for a reason and feels nice to have backed my ability

Tim Seifert is the Player of the Match

Largest defeats for India in T20Is by runs:

80 v New Zealand, Wellington, 2019*

49 v Australia, Bridgetown, 2010

46 v New Zealand, Nagpur, 2016

Most matches lost by India against an opposition in T20Is:

7 v New Zealand*

7 v England

6 v Australia

Comprehensive win for New Zealand by 80 runs. India were never really in the game once their top order failed to get going. Last four wickets have fallen for 10 runs. Batting till number eight was on paper only once the openers didn’t set a base. 

But let’s be honest, India lost this game in the first innings. Tim Seifert’s runs knocked them out. 220 was always going to be too tall. India have never beaten New Zealand in New Zealand in T20 cricket. 1-0!

After 19.2 overs,India 139/10 ( Khaleel Ahmed 1 , )

India’s misery finally comes to an end, as Mitchell cleans Chahal up off the second delivery of the over, with India suffering their biggest loss in T20Is. Great day for New Zealand cricket fans, with both the men and women winning in the first of the three T20I double-headers.

BOWLED EM! Mitchell collects his maiden international wicket as New Zealand pull off a massive 80-run victory to go 1-0 up in the three-T20I series, cleaning up Chahal to bring the Indian innings to an end. IND 139 all out. 

Chahal b Mitchell 1(3)

After 19 overs,India 138/9 ( Yuzvendra Chahal 1 , Khaleel Ahmed 0)

Dhoni smacks the ball down the ground to move to 39, before getting dismissed off the final ball of the over. Southee finishes with outstanding figures of 3/17 from four overs.

OUT! Dhoni holes out to backward square-leg to depart for 39 as India lose their ninth wicket! IND 136/9

Dhoni c Ferguson b Southee 39(31)

FOUR! Smacked straight over Southee’s head by Dhoni! No need to go after that! IND 136/8

After 18 overs,India 132/8 ( MS Dhoni (W) 35 , Yuzvendra Chahal 0)

Ferguson caps off an excellent display with the bat by conceding just three of his last over, while getting Bhuvneshwar caught behind. New Zealand two overs away from going 1-0 up in the three-T20I series.

OUT! India eight down now, as Bhuvneshwar nicks a wide full toss from Ferguson to get caught behind. IND 132/8

Bhuvneshwar c Seifert b Ferguson 1(3)

After 17 overs,India 129/7 ( MS Dhoni (W) 33 , )

Dhoni collects two boundaries off four deliveries — the second one bringing up the fifty-stand — before Southee pulls one back by removing Krunal with the short ball off the last over. 11 runs and a wicket off it.

OUT! Krunal is bounced out by Southee, lobbing the ball over to the keeper off his glove. IND 129/7

Krunal c Seifert b Southee 20(18)

FOUR! Dhoni guides the ball over backward point to collect his second boundary of the over, as well as bring up the fifty stand with Krunal. IND 128/6

FOUR! Ferguson misjudges the allow the ball to roll away past him after Dhoni guides the ball towards deep square leg. Santner nearly pulls off a stunning effort behind him, only for his right arm to be touching the cushion with the ball in the other, resulting in the umpire signalling a boundary.  IND 122/6

Tim Southee back in the attack. India need an impossible 102 off the last 4 overs now.

After 16 overs,India 118/6 ( MS Dhoni (W) 23 , Krunal Pandya 19)

Ferguson brought back into the attack, with Dhoni getting a boundary off the second delivery off a French cut. Five off another quality over from the express pacer. Meanwhile, decent partnership building between Dhoni and Krunal so far, worth 41 at the end of the 16th.

FOUR! Inside edge off Dhoni’s bat, and this one misses the timber, before running all the way to the fine leg fence. IND 117/6

Lockie Ferguson brought back into the attack.

After 15 overs,India 113/6 ( MS Dhoni (W) 18 , Krunal Pandya 19)

Krunal smashes the ball down the ground, but is robbed off a boundary after the ball deflects off the umpire’s leg, allowing him only a single. He does get his boundary two balls later though, after the ball spins away from Taylor at short fine before running away to the fence. Back-to-back wides off the penultimate over. Krunal steps forward in the last delivery, and muscles a back-of-length delivery over midwicket. 16 off a productive over for India.

SIX! Krunal shuffles forward, and muscles this over the midwicket fence! IND 113/6

FOUR! Krunal sweeps this towards Taylor at short fine, with the ball spinning away in the other direction after landing. IND 103/6

After 14 overs,India 97/6 ( MS Dhoni (W) 16 , Krunal Pandya 7)

Three singles collected off the first five deliveries, before Dhoni ends the over with a six over long on. Nine off the over, with India needing 123 off 36.

SIX! Something to lift the sagging Indian spirits, although India still are a long way from home. Dhoni smashes this clean over long on. IND 97/6

After 13 overs,India 88/6 ( MS Dhoni (W) 9 , Krunal Pandya 5)

Five runs collected off Sodhi’s second over as Dhoni and Krunal are unable to get the boundaries thanks to the tight work by the fielders. With the asking rate now touching 20, it seems all but over for the ‘Men in Blue’.

Rohit suggested India likes chasing in the last ODI

Nothing’s worked for India today except Rohit Sharma winning the toss. And his decision to field first seems to be boomeranging badly

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) February 6, 2019

Three innings and three collapses. Too much to do here and India are falling like ninepins. Pandya has also holed out. New Zealand headed for a huge win unless Dhoni comes up with some miraculous knock.

After 12 overs,India 83/6 ( MS Dhoni (W) 8 , Krunal Pandya 1)

Santner is brought back, and is smacked down the ground for a boundary by MSD off the second delivery. The elder Pandya sibling is off the mark with a single off the fifth ball, getting an inside edge off a sweep. Six off the over.

FOUR! Dhoni’s had enough now, and will start hitting more frequently. Moves forward and smashes the full delivery from Santner down the ground! IND 81/6

Santner brought into the attack.

After 11 overs,India 77/6 ( MS Dhoni (W) 3 , )

DK misses the ball while looking for a reverse sweep off the first ball, before perishing off the second, holing out to Southee at deep midwicket off a flat hit. Hardik Pandya walks out to the centre, and gets off the mark with a boundary off his second delivery, only to perish off the fourth delivery. Five runs and two wickets off the over. The Black Caps looking set for a huge win today.

After 11 overs,India 77/6 ( MS Dhoni (W) 3 , )

DK misses the ball while looking for a reverse sweep off the first ball, before perishing off the second, holing out to Southee at deep midwicket off a flat hit. Hardik Pandya walks out to the centre, and gets off the mark with a boundary off his second delivery, only to perish off the fourth delivery. Five runs and two wickets off the over. The Black Caps looking set for a huge win today.

OUT! India six down now, with Sodhi collecting his second in his very first over! The leggie fires this one wide outside off, and Hardik is drawn into the slog over cover, with Mitchell collecting the ball safely near the boundary. IND 77/6

Hardik Pandya c Mitchell b Sodhi 4(4)

FOUR! Hardik Pandya takes just two deliveries to get going, lofting over extra cover! IND 77/5

OUT! Flat hit from DK, and this travels all the way to deep midwicket, where Southee takes a low catch. Half the Indian side gone now. IND 72/5

Karthik c Southee b Sodhi 5(6)

Ish Sodhi brought into the attack in the 11th over.

After 10 overs,India 72/4 ( MS Dhoni (W) 3 , Dinesh Karthik 5)

Single collected off each delivery of Mitchell’s second over barring the fifth, in which Karthik comes back for a second after the ball ricochets off the non-striker’s stumps towards the vacant midwicket region. Seven off the over. India looking very shaky at the halfway mark in their innings.

Pant gone. Santner with a crucial wicket. Pant failing his first examination? And just as I type this Shankar has holed out too. India unraveling here.

After 9 overs,India 65/4 ( MS Dhoni (W) 1 , Dinesh Karthik 0)

Pant gets his stumps rattled off the second ball, failing to bring his bat down on time to a full toss. Shankar perishes two balls later, mis-hitting down the ground to get caught at long off. Excellent over from the left-arm spinner, with just a run and two wickets coming off it.

OUT! Two wickets in three balls for Santner, as he gets rid of the dangerous Shankar, who ends up mis-hitting down the ground to get caught by de Grandhomme at long off. IND 65/4

Shankar c de Grandhomme b Santner 27(18)

BOWLED EM! Pant done in by a full toss from Santner, failing to bring his bat down on time! India faltering in their chase of the mammoth target. IND 64/3

Pant b Santner 4(10)

After 8 overs,India 64/2 ( Vijay Shankar 27 , Rishabh Pant 4)

Pant struggles to pick Mitchell in the first two deliveries, before slapping a slower delivery towards mid off for a single. Shankar smacks a slower full toss down the ground, but the ball lands short of long on. Single to Pant off the last ball. Three off the over.

Debutant Daryl Mitchell brought into the attack.

After 7 overs,India 61/2 ( Vijay Shankar 26 , Rishabh Pant 2)

Shankar smashes the ball over wide long on to collect his second six. Appeal for stumping against Shankar off the next ball, with the square-leg umpire going upstairs, although the batsman’s ruled safe. Singles collected off each of the last two deliveries. Eight off Santner’s first over.

SIX! Shankar heaves this over the wide long-on boundary, with the ball disappearing into the stands several rows back. IND 59/2

Dhawan bowled. 151 the pace. In the blockhole.  Some pace that. Pant finally in at no.4. Vital innings this for him.

Mitchell Santner brought into the attack after the powerplay.

After 6 overs,India 53/2 ( Vijay Shankar 19 , Rishabh Pant 1)

Dhawan steers a full delivery from Ferguson over point to collect his second four, before getting his stumps rattled by a furious yorker from Ferguson to depart for an 18-ball 29. Pant joins Shankar at the crease. Seven runs and a wicket off the over.

Shankar loosening up. People will be surprised by his hitting power. Local New Zealand journalists swear by him after his performances in the India A games. Interesting set up this!

BOWLED EM! What a delivery from Ferguson! Gets rid of Dhawan with a searing yorker measuring 150 clicks! IND 51/2

Dhawan b Ferguson 29(18)

FOUR! Dhawan steers a full, wide delivery from Ferguson over point! Brings up the team fifty! IND 51/1

After 5 overs,India 46/1 ( Shikhar Dhawan 25 , Vijay Shankar 17)

Shankar collects his first boundary, lofting the ball over mid off, before hitting it down the ground on the other side of the wicket for a brace. Continues to attack Kuggeleijn, who’s having a rough time so far, and collects a four and a six, before retaining the strike with a single off the last ball. 18 off the over.

SIX! Shankar goes inside out, and ends up clearing the long off boundary rope by a small margin. IND 45/1

FOUR! Shankar’s fairly well settled at the crease now, and is starting to attack. Heaves this towards the cow-corner fence. IND 39/1

FOUR! Shankar presents the full face of the bat, and lofts the ball over mid off to collect his first boundary. IND 33/1

Change of ends for Scott Kuggeleijn.

After 4 overs,India 28/1 ( Shikhar Dhawan 24 , Vijay Shankar 0)

Dhawan guides the ball towards the leg side for a single at the start of Ferguson’s first over. Appeal for lbw against Shankar off the third delivery, which is rightly turned down the umpire, given that replays later show it to be missing the leg stump. Dhawan collects his third six, smashing the ball over the square-leg boundary. Nine off the over.

Rohit goes. Quite a lot of short stuff from New Zealand and Dhawan was able to score off those. Vijay Shankar at number three after teasing us with Rishabh Pant all the way. Weird choice this.

SIX! Flat hit over the square-leg fence by Dhawan! The Delhi boy’s looking dangerous so far in the innings. IND 27/1

Lockie Ferguson replaces Scott Kuggeleijn.

After 3 overs,India 19/1 ( Shikhar Dhawan 17 , Vijay Shankar 0)

Big blow to India as Rohit holes out to Ferguson at deep square leg while looking to hit Southee out of the park. The senior pacer gives the Black Caps the early advantage with the crucial breakthrough. Meanwhile, Vijay Shankar walks out to the crease at No 3 ahead of Pant and others. Brilliant over, with just a run and a wicket coming off it.

Shikhar Dhawan’s last four T20I innings : 41, 76, 92, 43

OUT! Rohit Sharma departs early, miscuing his pull which then is followed by a agile, low catch by Ferguson at deep square leg. IND 18/1

Rohit c Ferguson b Southee 1(5)

After 2 overs,India 18/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 1 , Shikhar Dhawan 16)

Scott Kuggeleijn bowls from the other end, and is smacked for two sixes and a four — all of them hit towards the leg side off successive deliveries — by Dhawan. 17 off the over.

Shikhar Dhawan-Rohit Sharma’s stands against New Zealand in T20Is before today:

5, 158, 6, 15

FOUR! Kuggeleijn shortens his length, and Dhawan jabs this over the man at short fine. IND 18/0

SIX! Back-to-back hits for the southpaw, this time he hits it behind square on the leg side! IND 14/0

SIX! First big hit of the innings. Dhawan flicks towards deep square-leg, where the ball passes through Ferguson’s hands just as the latter was shaping himself for a catch. IND 8/0

Scott Kuggeleijn from the other end now.

After 1 overs,India 1/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 1 , Shikhar Dhawan 0)

Southee starts off, with India skipper Rohit getting off the mark with a single off the first delivery. Dhawan taps the ball around off the remaining deliveries of the over, and is yet to collect a run at the end of it.

Right then, we’re back from the short break, with Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan at the crease, with the daunting 220-run target ahead of them. Tim Southee to start off for the Black Caps.

Five Indian bowlers conceding 35-plus runs each in a T20I match:

v West Indies, Lauderhill, 2016

v New Zealand, Wellington, 2019*

New Zealand today:

1-5 overs : 54/0

6-10 overs : 43/1

11-15 overs : 67/2

16-20 overs : 55/3

And the slow down hasn’t come. Shoddy fielding and some poor bowling in the death overs have rounded up a miserable day for India in the field. Uphill task for India to chase down 220.

Highest totals for New Zealand against India in T20Is:

219/6, Wellington, 2019*

196/2, Rajkot, 2017

190, Johannesburg, 2007

Highest totals at Westpac Wellington in T20Is:

219/6 by NZ v Ind, 2019*

196/5 by NZ v Pak, 2016

196/5 by NZ v Eng, 2018

Most runs conceded by Bhuvneshwar Kumar in a T20I match:

47 v New Zealand, Wellington, 2019*

46 v Pakistan, Ahmedabad, 2012

45 v England, Manchester, 2018

After 20 overs,New Zealand 219/6 ( Mitchell Santner 7 , Scott Kuggeleijn 20)

Ballistic batting right throughout the NZ innings, right from the openers setting it up and the middle order carrying it forward with boundary-ladden finish. Now with 220 set, it will test the high flying Indian batting at Wellington. Can Indian batsmen match their counterparts. Rohit and Shikhar will be out soon, join us after the break.

FOUR! Santner ends the innings with a boundary. Heaves it away on the onside for four. Shikhar Dhawan in the deep slips and never gets close to stop the ball in the end. Khaleel ends with a full toss on the pads, allowing Santner to flick it away

FOUR! Thwack! Was the slower ball outside off, and Kuggeleijn powers it away past Chahal at long-off for four

After 19 overs,New Zealand 207/6 ( Mitchell Santner 1 , Scott Kuggeleijn 14)

Wicket of Ross Taylor off the first ball of the penultimate over by Bhuvneshwar Kumar but Kuggeleijn takes over and starts hitting from the word go, not that you have a lot of choice in the 19th over, but 14 off 4 balls is worthy of praise. NZ jet past 200.

SIX! Was the attempted wide yorker but when margins are tiny the price you pay is generally heavy in T20 cricket Kuggeleijn gets under it and smashes it over sweeper cover for a flat biggie.

FOUR! Kuggeleijn moves across his sticks and Bhuvi goes wider, bowls it full but Kuggelejin opens the bat face and runs it past the diving short third man fielder.

OUT! Taylor has to go. Well-executed leg-cutter from Bhuvi foxes Taylor, who beaten for the lack of pace, gets an edge high into the sky and Khaleel at fine leg somehow takes the catch. Has a laugh after taking it but was never confident. Almost fluffed it.

Ross Taylor c Khaleel Ahmed b Bhuvneshwar 23(14)

After 18 overs,New Zealand 191/5 ( Ross Taylor 23 , Mitchell Santner 0)

DK has had a mixed day in the field. Putting down straightforward chances, with the latest being a sitter, but took a acrobatic catch earlier. However Siraj plucked out an incredible catch to dismiss De Grandhomme. Taylor still there. Ten runs off Pandya’s final over, he concedes 51 runs off his four overs, bagging two wickets.

OUT! Mohammed Siraj has held an absolute ripper! Colin de Grandhomme clubbed the ball to the moon and back. Siraj settled under the ball nicely but to take take it so close to the deep mid wicket fence was just unreal. It took an eternity to descend. Outstanding work from the substitute fielder.

de Grandhomme c (sub)Siraj b Hardik Pandya 3(4)

DROPPED! In and out of Dinesh Karthik’s grasp. Second drop of the day, relatively easy chance, with Taylor smacking a Hardik Pandya full-toss straight to deep mid wicket. Karthik got two hands, almost pouched it, onlu for it to pop out. Put down for 19.

SIX! Taylor clears his front leg simply tonks it over deep mid-wicket for another six. Just got it over the boundary line.

After 17 overs,New Zealand 180/4 ( Ross Taylor 13 , Colin de Grandhomme 3)

Bhuvneshwar Kumar is called back for the death overs. Taylor mishit the second ball that landed in no man’s land but the six that followed was just an amazing hit. The bowler could hardly do anything about it. Another 11 run over, NZ looking good for 220

SIX! That is one helluva shot! Full and wide outside off and boom Taylor throws his hands at it and forces it over extra cover boundary. Stunning!

And on cue, India have two wickets in two overs. Four overs to go, that could have busted some momentum for New Zealand. India must keep the score under 200.

Ross Taylor’s SR in T20Is:

1st  innings – 116.49

2nd innings – 126.12

After 16 overs,New Zealand 169/4 ( Ross Taylor 3 , Colin de Grandhomme 2)

India fightback with couple of quick wickets to pull things back a touch. Two new men in the middle.Ross Taylor and Colin de Grandhomme get off the mark and Chahal finishes his four overs for 35 runs, picking the wicket of NZ skipper.

OUT! Two wickets in two balls for India. Chahal has Williamson, so both set batsmen are out. Smart bowling from Chahal, held it a touch back and Williamson played the flick, he didn’t bother to keep it down and that was never going to travel the distance. Straightforward catch for Hardik at deep midwicket.

Williamson c Hardik Pandya b Chahal 34(22)

After 15 overs,New Zealand 164/3 ( Kane Williamson (C) 34 , )

Karthik grabs all the headlines for his stunning and spectacular work in the field to dismiss Mitchell off the last ball of the over. Williamson whacked couple of sixes on the onside to procure 18 off Hardik’s over.

Circus trick catch from DK at the boundary and India have snatched another wicket. There could be a real slow down of the run-rate if they keep picking wickets like this at regular intervals.

OUT! Daryll Mitchell goes big down the ground…but wait on… Dinesh Karthik at long on has kept it in play with some acrobatic stuff. He has caught it, has he? Was the change up from Hardik and Mitchell didn’t time it too well, Karthik just about catches it inside the boundary skirtings, but has to lob it up in air as he is back paddling…goes outside the field of play and then comes in, dives forward, lifts his back leg to not be in contact with the ropes and takes the catch. The fielderr isn’t sure but the TV umpires confirm it is clean catch. Exception work.

Daryl Mitchell c Karthik b Hardik Pandya 8(6)

SIX! Hardik still holding it back of a length and Williamson this time was into good position to plays the pull. Smacks it over deep square leg for consecutive sixes.

SIX! Hardik not learning from his earlier mistakes, still keeps it short and Williamson is liking it there, gets inside the line and pulls it over deep mid wicket

After 14 overs,New Zealand 147/2 ( Kane Williamson (C) 21 , Daryl Mitchell 5)
 

Sure Chahal doesn’t leak a boundary in the over but Williamsona and Mitchell are ready to put on the skates as they run three braces in the over. This is fantastic cricket from NZ. Lost the wicket. See out an over, but make sure the scoreboard keeps ticking. Eight risk-free runs off the over. Credit to Krunal in the deep to keep the last ball that was racing away to mid wicket fence down to two.

Wow, this Tim Seifert can bat!

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 6, 2019

Tim Seifert:

84 runs – third highest individual score for New Zealand v India in T20Is.

6 sixes – second most sixes in a T20I innings for New Zealand v India.

After 13 overs,New Zealand 138/2 ( Kane Williamson (C) 14 , Daryl Mitchell 4)

Daryl Mitchell doesn’t let India relish the joy of Siefert’s wicket, as he comes out and pumps his first ball down the ground for a boundary. India have the wicket of Siefert, but will have to stop the run flow to control the damage.

Finally the wicket India wanted. Khaleel gets the breakthough. Did it take a deflection off the pads? Not sure from the side angle. Either way, Seifert is gone but the damage is already done. He has given the rest of Kiwi batsmen a license to go for it. And they have some really good hitters. 

OUT! Bowled’em! Khaleel is pumped as he claims the wicket of the dangerous Siefert! Very full delivery aimed at the base of the off stump, wasn’t the yorker. Siefert was trying to flick it on the onside but misses it and the ball cannons into the stumps. Fantastic knock comes to an end.

T Seifert b Ahmed 84 (43b)

Tim Seifert who has hit a fifty in this match, scored only 42 runs from his first seven T20I innings with a highest score of 14*.

SIX! Williamson gets into the act. Short ball from Khaleel, that sat up nicely for the Kiwi captain, who pulls it over cow corner for his first boundary

After 12 overs,New Zealand 127/1 ( Tim Seifert (W) 84 , Kane Williamson (C) 7)

Seifert smashes 10 off the last two deliveries from Chahal as NZ continue their dominance, 13 runs taken from the over, they should be targetting 220 from here on.

SIX! Chahal is smashed! Picked the bones out of that one. Superb slog sweep with Ian Smith on air seeing some Brendon McCullum in his style of play

FOUR! That has been struck with immense force. Cracking shot through covers and it sped away so rapidly that even the sweeper in the deep couldn’t get around it.

After 11 overs,New Zealand 114/1 ( Tim Seifert (W) 73 , Kane Williamson (C) 5)

DROPPED! DK cannot cling on to skier and another life for Seifert. Krunal isn’t happy. Seirfert top-edge a  slog sweep and with the ball swirling in the windy Wellington it was always a challenge. Dropped on 71

SIX! Seifert shows his range! Inside out for a six. Was full ball by Krunal and Seifert just opened enough to loft it over cover fence

SIX! SHOT! Comes down the track and although the length was pulled back, he manages to flat-batted over deep square leg.

After 10 overs,New Zealand 97/1 ( Tim Seifert (W) 58 , Kane Williamson (C) 3)
 

Chahal brought into the attack and we again get to see a reverse swipe from Seifert for a boundary in the over as NZ are riding high at the halfway stage.

Kane Williamson’s scores against India in T20Is before today:

28, 8, 28, 12, 8

Highest stands for New Zealand against India in T20Is:

105 – Martin Guptill/Colin Munro, Rajkot, 2017

90 – Brendon McCullum/Kane Williamson, Chennai, 2012

86 – Colin Munro/Tim Seifert, Wellington, 2019*

After 9 overs,New Zealand 88/1 ( Tim Seifert (W) 51 , Kane Williamson (C) 1)

Finally an over without a boundary and a wicket for India. Williamson comes in place of Munro and there is some drama while Krunal attempts a return catch suggesting to the umpire Seifert was in his way, but all the non-striker did was stand his ground and brief discussion with Rohit Sharma. Kane gives the thumbs up and play resumes.

OUT! Munro holes out to long on. Krunal Pandya has provided the wicket India was in desperate need off. Munro mistimes it as he was looking to hit over long on, trying to drag it from outside off stump

C Munro c Shankar b K Pandya 34 (20b)

FIFTY! Seifert has struck his maiden fifty. Simply tapped on the onside for a single. Has been a fantastic aggressive innings

After 8 overs,New Zealand 85/0 ( Tim Seifert (W) 49 , Colin Munro 34)

A boundary and a six has become the norm so far. Seirfert closing on his maiden fifty. Hardik’s over costs 11.

SIX! Another fabulous shot from Seifert, making a name for himself here against India. Gets low and plays the pick up shot to perfection, sends it over long leg fence

FOUR! Again short and width outside off by Hardik and Seifert chases after it. Doesn’t connect the slash from the middle but an edge is enough to earn him four runs to third man fence

What a powerplay for New Zealand. 66/0 in 6 overs. India’s ploy of opting to bowl first isn’t really working out at the moment.

New Zealand players with 5000-plus runs in T20 cricket:

Brendon McCullum

Martin Guptill

Ross Taylor

Colin Munro*

After 7 overs,New Zealand 74/0 ( Tim Seifert (W) 38 , Colin Munro 34)

NZ openers continue to milk runs, collecting a customary boundary every over. Shout of a leg before off the final ball off Krunal’s over but the ball was sliding down the leg side. Eight runs from it.

FOUR! Krunal trying to tie Sierfert up, aims into his body, but Seifert had plans to counter that, he brings up the switch reverse hit, hits it over point for a boundary

After 6 overs,New Zealand 66/0 ( Tim Seifert (W) 33 , Colin Munro 32)
 

NZ have blasted 66 off the powerplay. Seifert and Munro have laid a solid platform for the batsmen to come in. India desperate for a wicket. Hardik stated off with an overhead bouncer that was called wide as the Kiwis took 12 off the over.

FOUR! Was the slower delivery but Hardik has bowled this short and wide. Seifert creates some room and hits it through cover-point for another four.

FOUR! Back of a length on the body Seifert pulls it over the short fineleg fielder for a one-bounce four

Hardik Pandya introduced into the attack

After 5 overs,New Zealand 55/0 ( Tim Seifert (W) 24 , Colin Munro 30)

Seifert and Munro has provided a flying start as they race past the 50-run opening stand in the fifth wicket. Elder Pandaya’s first over costs 10 runs

The other Pandya into the attack now, and he is wayward too… Indian bowling getting smacked all over. 50 up before the fifth over.

This is New Zealand’s fifth fifty-plus opening stand in T20Is out of last 10 occasions.

SIX! Krunal once again tries to fire in the quick delivery but Seifert moves across his stumps, gets into good position to play the sweep over fine leg. Hits it way back into the stands

DROPPED! Tough chance for MS Dhoni behind the stumps. Seifert was trying to cut but with the arm ball skidding through he managed an edge to Dhoni, but it flew really quickly. One of those catches that just stick, if they have to. Seifert dropped on 18

Bhuvneshwar Kumar in T20Is:

Bowling average / SR / Eco.

1st innings : 32.66/25.8/7/57

2nd innings : 19.22/19.5/5.89

Bowling chance and Krunal Pandya into the attack. Indian pacers have been wayward and taken some stick today. Not sure why Khaleel bowled that second over.

The average first innings score at this venue in T20s is 153 and batting first teams won only two T20Is out of nine before today at the venue.

Krunal Pandya is brought early into the attack

After 4 overs,New Zealand 44/0 ( Tim Seifert (W) 15 , Colin Munro 29)

Couple of huge sixes to start the over with and then four runs come off the remaining deliveries as Khaleel tries to make a late comeback, however the damage was long done. Another expensive over for India. Folks, we not have had our predicted 350s in ODIs, make no mistake the we are in to see some lusty hitting in these three T20s.

SIX! That’s some shot! Plenty of width by Khaleel, was short as well. Munro simply smacked it over deep point for a flat six. Tremendous shot.

SIX! Munro! Trademark pick up shot. Was the slower off-cutter that has been dispatched over wide long on.

After 3 overs,New Zealand 28/0 ( Tim Seifert (W) 12 , Colin Munro 16)

Seifert played out Bhuvi’s first over patiently, having a sighter and now he believes he has a good look in, he is ready to play some strokes. Big over there with a couple to start with and then Rohit this time successfully dragging the ball back in play before it rolling over the long on boundary, keeping it down to three, but Siefert’s boundaries help NZ grab 15 runs off the over.

FOUR! Not the best bit of bowling from Bhuvi. Length on off and middle, Siefert bludgeons it down the ground pass the umpire for four

Quiet start from Bhuvi in the first over, but Khaleel Ahmed taken for runs. Over the last three weeks, he has gone backwards and needs a good couple of games to make an impression. 

Also, now Bhuvi taking some stick.

SIX! Bhuvi’s knuckle ball is simply hit out of the park. For those of who are seeing Seifert for the first time, this is what he can do. Steps out and simply bashes the slower delivery over midwicket with immense power.

After 2 overs,New Zealand 13/0 ( Tim Seifert (W) 2 , Colin Munro 11)

So, expectedly, Munro unfurls some big shots, smashing two boundaries in the over and Khaleel bearing the brunt. Khaleel comes back with a slower one to outfox the southpaw, but still nine runs taken from the over.

FOUR! That’s more like a proper hit. Again Khaleel keeping it full and wide off and Munro relishes width. This time goes much straighter and timed it nicely for a one bounce four to long off fence

FOUR! Munro takes the aerial route for NZ’s first boundary of the innings. Khaleel bowling length and wide outside off, just couple of steps down the wicket and strikes it over the field on the off side, didn’t time it too well. Captain Rohit Sharma from mid off gives the chase to the cover boundary, but ends up failing to pull the ball back in play. Certainly could have done better there.

Khaleel Ahmed will bowl from the other end

After 1 overs,New Zealand 4/0 ( Tim Seifert (W) 2 , Colin Munro 2)

Tim Seifert gets the Black Caps off and running with a single to cover off the third ball. Bhuvi maintains the channel outside the offstump to the right-hander, while cramps Munro for room, aiming it into his body. Ends the over with a change up, which Munro carefully taps it to mid wicket for a run to end the over. Four from the opening over.

New Zealand openers Colin Monro and Tim Seifert are out in the middle. Bhuvneshwar Kumar will start off proceedings for India.

The players have made their way out for the national anthems

So, India win the toss and opt to bowl. All the aforementioned expected team calls have been made. Dhoni, DK, Pant all in, we have a complete collection of keeper-batsmen. Krunal, Shankar ahead of Kuldeep. Chahal too. 

New Zealand are playing five of their seven all-rounders. Should be an intriguing match up this. A little surprising that they left out James Neesham.

New Zealand XI: Colin Munro, Tim Seifert, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Daryl Mitchell, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Scott Kuggeleijn, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson

India XI: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant, Vijay Shankar, Dinesh Karthik, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Khaleel Ahmed

PITCH Report: It’s very cold in Wellington. The track has got a nice grass covering on it. It still looks good after the women’s match and Doull reckons that there are runs on this wicket.

Big news from Westpac Stadium, looks like Dhoni, Pant and DK are all playing. Kuldeep could also be out here. Looks like Krunal Pandya has got the nod here. Some fantastic decisions these, especially keeping the World Cup in mind. Vijay Shankar and Hardik Pandya both playing.

TOSS – Rohit Sharma has won the toss and India have opted to field first. Rohit says we have had a good record chasing and the pitch looks good for batting. Williamson says he too would have bowled first. He informs that Daryl Mitchell will make his debut. Doug Bracewell and Jimmy Neesham miss out.

Right! Toss time…

One more overseas bilateral engagement for India before the World Cup… change in format it might be, but it still does provide enough opportunity to try different players. Most of all, Rishabh Pant. 

Hellos from the Westpac Stadium one more time as India’s tour of Australia and New Zealand starts to wind down.

We are just about 10 minutes away from the toss. An update from the domestic arena. It’s turning out to be a riveting final between Saurashtra and Vidarbha in the Ranji Trophy final. After conceding a slender lead of 5 runs in the first innings, Saurashtra have bounced back to reduce Vidarbha for 121/6 in the second innings on day 4. Remember, Saurashtra have never won a Ranji Trophy while Vidarbha are defending champions.

New Zealand women beat India women by 23 runs! What a fightback from the White Ferns, they posted 159 on the board thanks to a half century from Sophie Devine (62). In reply India got off to a strong start with Smriti Mandhana hammering a 34-ball 58. The visitors were 102/1 before Kerr and Tahuhu sparked a massive collapse. India lost 9 wickets for 34 runs and squandered the early advantage.

Update from the first match of the day in Wellington: India women have suffered a massive collapse and are on the brink of a defeat. They are 136/9 and need 24 off 7. They were cruising at 102/1 at one point.

Here are the two squads:

New Zealand: Kane Williamson(c), Doug Bracewell, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Scott Kuggeleijn, Colin Munro, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Blair Tickner, James Neesham.

India: Rohit Sharma(c), Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant, Dinesh Karthik, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni, Krunal Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Siddarth Kaul, Khaleel Ahmed, Shubman Gill, Vijay Shankar, Hardik Pandya, Mohammad Siraj.

In case you did not know, Indian women’s team is playing New Zealand women at Westpace stadium in Wellington and the visitors require 49 to win from 36 balls with seven wickets in hand. You can catch the LIVE score and over-by-over commentary here .

On a long tour, whenever there is a change in format, new additions to the squad are flown in. There is a certain intrigue about them — when they arrive, when they get to the nets, how they uplift the team’s mood coming straight from home, and most importantly, how do they fit into the playing eleven. Read the full preview of the first T20I by Chetan Narula between New Zealand and India here .

Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of the first T20I between New Zealand and India at Westpac Stadium in Wellington. India clinched the ODI series 4-1 and will now look to make a winning start to the T20I series.