Nagpur, Jan 21: India claimed a dominant 48-run victory over New Zealand in the opening match of the T20 series after a powerhouse batting performance set a steep mountain for the visitors to climb.
Despite losing early wickets, the Indian side recovered to post a massive total of 238 for seven in their allotted 20 overs.
The momentum shifted heavily in India’s favor thanks to a blistering innings from Abhishek Sharma, who dismantled the New Zealand bowling attack after the initial breakthroughs. Sharma scored a commanding 84 runs off just 35 deliveries, a knock that included eight sixes and five boundaries.
His performance ensured India capitalized on the flat conditions after New Zealand won the toss and elected to field first.
In response, New Zealand struggled to keep pace with the required run rate, eventually finishing their innings at 190 for seven.
Glenn Phillips provided the lone resistance for the Kiwis, scoring a valiant 78, but the Indian bowling unit remained disciplined throughout the chase. Varun Chakravarthy and Shivam Dube led the defensive effort, picking up two wickets each to stifle any hopes of a comeback.
“India’s first two wickets fell early but later Abhishek Sharma performed well,” a team representative noted while discussing the shift in match dynamics.
