Abhishek Sharma sent the New Zealand bowlers on a leather hunt with a scintillating 84 as India beat New Zealand by 48 runs in the first T20I here on Wednesday.
Abhishek’s 35-ball knock helped India put up an imposing 238-7.
Rinku Singh en route his unbeaten 44 off 20 balls
In reply, New Zealand managed 190-7 in the allotted 20 overs. Glenn Phillips top-scored for New Zealand with 78 off 40 balls, while Mark Chapman contributed 39 off 24 balls.
Mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy (2-37) and all-rounder Shivam Dube (2-28) claimed two wickets each for India.
NZ’s Glenn Phillips celebrates his 50 in Nagpur. Pic/AFP
Earlier, the world’s top-ranked T20I batter Abhishek showed no mercy, making the Black Caps’s fielders look like mere bystanders with eight towering sixes and five fours.
Abhishek’s carefree hitting also helped his skipper Suryakumar Yadav (32 off 22 balls) get some runs although he was far from his best. But the young opener’s attack at all costs gave his skipper a chance to play himself in during a 99-run stand off 47 balls for the third wicket.
Towards the end, Rinku Singh (44 not out off 20 balls) got to play an innings of substance after a long time with India ending their 20 overs in fantastic fashion.
For someone who nowadays can hardly put a foot wrong, it took Abhishek exactly five deliveries to set his eye in against Jacob Duffy (2-27 in four overs) before the first of his eight maximums came out of the closet. It was a lofted six into the sight screen.
238-7
No. of runs scored by India on Wednesday, their highest-ever T20I total against New Zealand
Eight
No. of fifties for Abhishek Sharma in T20Is in 25 balls or fewer — becomes the first player to do so, surpassing Phil Salt, Suryakumar, and Evin Lewis, all tied at seven
Eight
No. of sixes by Abhishek on Wednesday, the most by an Indian in a T20I innings against NZ
9007
No. of runs scored by Suryakumar Yadav in T20s, only the fourth Indian to cross the 9000-plus mark after Virat Kohli (13,543), Rohit Sharma (12,248), and Shikhar Dhawan (9797)
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