LIVE
Wed, 01 November 2017
1st T20I: India crush NZ as Nehra finishes on a high

Timeline  Refresh

image
22:29   India crush NZ as Nehra finishes on a high


NZ 149-8 (20 ovs) vs India 202-3 | Scorecard

Nehra finishes wicketless in his final international appearance but India crushed New Zealand by 53 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Nehra bowled four overs for 29 runs and was unlucky not to finish with a wicket or two as a couple of catches were put down off his bowling..

Chahal and Axar picked up two wickets each as New Zealand finished on 149 for eight in a disappointing performance with the bat.

Earlier, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma smashed half-centuries and Virat Kohli played a quickfire cameo at the end to power India to a massive 202 for three in their 20 overs.

Interestingly, Dhawan and Rohit hit 80 each off 52 and 55 balls respectively.

Dhawan started off his aggressively hitting 10 fours and two sixes, while Rohit cut loose after a steady start as he smashed six fours and four sixes.

Kohli provided the boost at the end as he hammered a quickfire 26 from 11 balls, laced with three sixes.
22:21   1st T20I: India crush NZ as Nehra finishes on a high


NZ 149-8 (20 ovs) vs India 202-3 | Scorecard

The stage is set perfectly for the retiring Nehra, who will bowl the final over of the innings with the match out of New Zealand's reach with 61 needed from six balls for victory.

The first ball is full and moves away slightly as Sodhi has a wild swing but is beaten.

He then tries the bouncer and again beats the right-hander.

Sodhi finally connects as he lofts the third ball over mid-off for a four before Nehra bowls a wide outside the off-stump.

Nehra bowls a quick bouncer which hits Sodhi on the body as he takes a leg bye and Santner hits the fifth ball to long-on for one.

The last ball is a full toss but Sodhi misses as Nehra finishes on a high.
22:17   India inch closer to win as NZ struggle with the bat
Bhuvneshwar comes back as Santner brings some cheer to the Kiwi dressing room with a few boundaries.

He carts the second ball over the leg side for a four and then swipes the next ball behind square for a six and keeps strike with one from the last ball.

Two overs left in the innings with no sign of Nehra yet , who has one over in hand, as Bumrah continues.

Santner flicks the first ball to midwicket and comes back for the second run but his partner Ish Sodhi gets a lifeline. The fielder sends in a direct hit next to the stumps but the bowler Bumrah is unable to gather the ball with the batsman well out of his crease.

He hits the next ball towards the same region but this time he gets just a single.

Sodhi chips the fourth ball over the bowler for two runs but a wild throw from the fielder at mid-off gets them an overthrow to make it three runs.

Santner continues his attacking approach as he hammers the fifth ball from Bumrah over midwicket for a four as the ball bounces just inside the ropes.

The last ball is a full toss as Santer carts it over long-on and this time it clears the fence comfortably for a six.
image
22:08   NZ continue to slip, India set for big win


NZ 115-8 (17 ovs) vs India 202-3 | Scorecard

Bumrah comes back as Southee pulls a short ball back over the pacer's head for a four. But the fast bowler gets revenge immediately as he has Southee caught behind after he goes after a wide ball.

This has been a poor performance by the New Zealand's batsmen as they had posed a challenge with the bat.

New Zealand are reduced to 115 for eight in 17 overs, with the match well out their reach.
22:06   New Zealand 7 down, India set for big win


NZ 105-7 (16 ovs) vs India 202-3 | Scorecard

Latham looks to heave Chahal on the leg side but gets an outside edge which goes past short thirdman for a four.

He comes down the track two balls later but this time Chahal beats him comprehensively and wicketkeeper Dhoni completes an easy stumping.

Latham walks back after a sedate innings of 39 from 36 balls as New Zealand inch closer to defeat.

Chahal nearly picks another one as Southee gets the edge but it goes apst the slips for a four.
21:59   New Zealand 6 down, India set for big win


NZ 95-6 (15 ovs) vs India 202-3 | Scorecard

The Kiwis struggling against the Indian spinners, as Chahal also concedes just six runs in his third over with the run rate nearing the 20-run mark with 113 needed for victory from six overs.

India not relenting despite New Zealand's woeful position as Kohli brings back Bumrah.

Henry Nicholls pulls the short ball but gets a top edge which spins after bouncing, beating debutant Iyer, who goes the wrong way and ends up giving a four. But Captain Kohli and the bowler Bumrah are all smiles which should make the youngster feel at ease.

New Zealand continue to slip as Nicholls attempts a suicidal single but is beaten by Kohli's direct hit at the non-striker's end.
image
21:49   Axar's double strike leaves NZ in a mess


NZ 84-5 (13 ovs) vs India 202-3 | Scorecard

Axar has been brilliant with the ball under the circumstances. With an asking rate of over 14, Axar is giving away singles. He concedes six in his third over for a total of just 16 runs in three overs.

Chahal comes back into the attack. He drops one short as Latham pulls it over midwicket for a six to bring his camp some relief.

A single to Latham before Bruce continues to make room but is done in by the google as he is forced to defend.

He then finally tries something, looking to sweep Chahal only for one to deep square leg and Latham takes one to make it nine from the over.

Axar bowling it slow and a bit shorter to Latham, who can only pick singles off him. He is mixing his length quite well to keep the batsmen quiet.

The pressure finally pays off as Bruce looks to target Axar but holes out to the fielder on the midwicket fence to perish for 10.

Axar strikes again with the last ball of his spell. Colin de Grandhomme goes for the slog sweep but gets a top edge and is caught by Dhawan on the leg side.

New Zealand in complete disarray on 84 for five in 13 overs, needing 119 runs from 17 overs for victory.

Axar finishes with excellent figures of two for 20 in four overs.
21:35   Williamson out for 28, NZ in trouble


NZ 65-3 (10 ovs) vs India 202-3 | Scorecard

Nehra comes back into the attack for his second spell. Two singles from the first two balls before Williamson pulls the third over square leg for a four.

He looks to loft one down the ground as Kohli makes a superb effort at mid-off but is unable to take the catch as Nehra again misses out on a wicket followed by two singles to get 10 from it.

Axar bowls another quiet over conceding just six single as the pressure continues to grow on the Kiwis.

Hardik Pandya is introduced and he strikes with his very first delivery. Williamson goes after a wide delivery but gets an edge and is caught behind after scoring 28 from 24 balls.

Tom Bruce goes after the first ball but only for one to deep cover fielder before Latham smashes Pandya through the covers for a four.

Bruce then hammers a short ball past point for another four as 11 comes from Pandya's first over.

At the halfway stage, New Zealand are struggling on 65 for three in 10 overs, needing another 138 runs from 60 balls for victory.
image
21:22   New Zealand struggle after early wickets


NZ 38-2 (7 ovs) vs India 202-3 | Scorecard

Jasprit Bumrah comes into the attack in place of Nehra, who bowled an excellent two-over spell with the new ball.

Williamson takes a single from the first ball before Latham gets a leading edge which falls short of debutant Shreyas Iyer at point.

He gets an edge off the next ball which flies past the slips for a four but he defends the rest of the over as New Zealand struggle to break free.

Williamson breaks the shackles as he paddle sweeps Bhuvneshwar over the fine leg region for a six followed by three singles to get nine from the over.

Left-arm spinner Axar Patel comes into the attack. He bowls a quick over conceding just five runs as the pressure of the asking rate continues to build over the Kiwis.

After seven overs, NZ have struggled to 38 for two, needing another 165 runs from 13 overs for victory at an asking rate of over 12.
image
21:11   Munro out for 7, NZ lose 2nd wicket


NZ 18-2 (4 ovs) vs India 202-3 | Scorecard

Dhoni nearly produces another stunning catch as Munro walks across and tries to pull Nehra but gets the glove which goes down the leg side.

However, Dhoni is unable to hold on after a full length dive to his right but still manages to save the boundary.

Williamson steers Nehra to thirdman for one before Nehra bowls a no-ball to give away a free hit.

Munro hits the free hit delivery through covers but sharp fielding from Chahal near the ropes means the left-hander picks up just two runs.

After taking a stunning catch in the previous over, Pandya puts down a much simpler one.

Munro comes down and lobs Nehra on the off-side but Pandya, who is pedalling back from covers is unable to hold on to deny the pacer a deserved wicket in his final game.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar comes into the attack despite Chahal taking a wicket in his first over.

He starts with two dot balls to Williamson, who is struggling with just one run from six balls. He flicks the third ball through midwicket for three runs.

Bhuvneshwar then cleans up Munro (7) with a yorker which breaks through his defences and crashes into the stumps.

The in-form Tom Latham defends the last two balls as NZ are reduced to 18 for two in four overs.
image
20:55   Chahal strikes early after India post 202


NZ 7-1 (2 ovs) vs India 202-3 | Scorecard

India also bring in a spinner with the new ball as leggie Yuzvendra Chahal comes into the bowl the second over.

Colin Munro takes a single from the first ball to get off the mark.

Two balls later, Pandya produces a magical catch to dismiss Guptill for four as the right-hander looks for a lofted shot down the ground.

The ball looked to have passed Pandya, who rushing to his right at long-off, but he came up with a full length dive to take the catch parallel to the ground and managed to hold as he landed on the turf. One of the best catches you will ever see on a cricket field!

Munro picks another single before Williamson defends the last two balls to complete a superb over from Chahal, in which he concedes just two runs while picking up a wicket.
20:49  


NZ 5-0 (1 ov) vs India 202-3 | Scorecard

Ashish Nehra, playing in his final international match, will open the bowling from the 'Ashish Nehra End' with DDCA deciding to name the end after the veteran pacer for this particular match.

He starts with a dot ball to Martin Guptill before bowling a wide outside the off-stump.

Guptill plays the cut short off the fourth ball but it falls just short of the fielder at point.

Nehra tries the slower ball as Guptill waits before he plays a tennis forehand shot for a straight boundary as five come from the first over.
image
20:33   Dhawan, Rohit hit 50s to power India to 202


India 202-3 (20 ovs) vs NZ | Scorecard

Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma smashed half-centuries and Virat Kohli played a quickfire cameo at the end to power India to a massive 202 for three in their 20 overs.

Interestingly, Dhawan and Rohit hit 80 each off 52 and 55 balls respectively.

Dhawan started off his aggressively hitting 10 fours and two sixes, while Rohit cut loose after a steady start as he smashed six fours and four sixes.

Kohli provided the boost at the end as he hammered a quickfire 26 from 11 balls, laced with three sixes.

For New Zealand, leg-spinner Ish Sodhi claimed two for 25 in four overs.
20:30   Dhawan, Rohit hit 50s to power India to 202


India 202-3 (20 ovs) vs NZ | Scorecard

Southee to bowl the final over. Kohli whips the first ball over deep midwicket for a six before he takes one.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni wastes no time as he powerfully clubs the first ball he faces over the leg side for a six to get off the mark off in grand style.

Southee tries the slower ball as Dhoni pulls it to deep square leg for one.

Another slower ball which Kohli mishits it on the off-side but it drops between two fielders for two runs as India bring up their 200 with two runs from the shot.

The last ball is lofted over the covers but only for a single with the fielder doing well at long-off.
20:27   Rohit out for 55-ball 80 but India set for huge score


India 185-3 (19 ovs) vs NZ | Scorecard

De Grandhomme comes back as Rohit sweeps the first ball but gets the top edge which goes over short fine leg for a four.

Virat Kohli playing in front of his home fans, hammers he second ball he faces over long-on for a six.

He clips the next ball but the fielder does well at square leg to keep it down to just a single and Rohit also takes one to the same fielder.

Kohli lofts the last ball but the fielder at deep midwicket puts down a sharp chance as he struggles to judge it rushing in from the boundary and gives away one.

Boult's poor outing with the ball continues. Kohli flicks the second ball high over midwicket for a six and then takes one to the covers.

Boult bowls a short ball which slants across Rohit who looks to steer it to thirdman but is beaten before he gets a thick outside edge off the next ball which goes over thirdman for a four.

The next ball is full as Rohit throws his bat but is beaten and the Kiwis appeal for a catch behind which the umpire turns down before they decide to check whether the ball has bounced before it was taken.

The umpires have a few looks at the replays before deciding the ball had hit the ground and there was no bounce!

Following the umpire review, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson takes the DRS. And this time the Snickometre is used which shows Rohit had got the edge and he is ruled out caught behind on the second attempt by TV umpire Anil Chaudhary.

Rohit walks back after a cracking innings of 80 from 54 balls, laced with six fours and four sixes.
image
20:13   Dhawan and Pandya perish


India 160-2 (17 ovs) vs NZ | Scorecard

Rohit continues the assault as he gets his front foot across and paddles Boult over the fine leg fence for a six.

There is no stopping Dhawan too as he walks across and flicks Boult past short fine leg for a four.

The pacer then bowls a full toss which the left-hander hammers straight down the ground for another boundary.

The next ball is hit straight to midwicket but an overthrow gifts Dhawan an easy single.

Rohit pulls the last ball for two runs to get 18 from the over as India cross the 150-run mark, in the 16th over.

New Zealand finally make the breakthrough with the wicket of Dhawan, who comes down the track but is beaten by the googly from Sodhi as wicketkeeper Latham completes an easy stumping.

Dhawan walks back after a smashing innings of 80 from 52 balls, having hit 10 fours and two sixes, after putting on 158 runs for the first wicket with Rohit.

Hardik Pandya promoted to No. 3 but he fails with the bat as he Sodhi gets him caught behind with an unplayable delivery which turns big and takes the edge.

Two runs and two wickets for Sodhi in the over as he finishes with impressive figures of two for 25 in four overs.
image
20:03   Dhawan, Rohit hit 50s, India set for huge score


India 140-0 (15 ovs) vs NZ | Scorecard

Dhawan goes after Sodhi as he pulls a short ball over the fielder at deep midwicket for a six and then slog sweeps the next ball through the same region for a four to take his score to 62, his highest in T20 cricket.

Dhawan picks one before Rohit steers the fifth ball past short thirdman for a couple and then takes one to get 14 from the over.

The experienced Southee comes back. Five singles from the first five balls before Dhawan pulls the last ball over midwicket for a six as India's openers continue to build their score.

Rohit goes after Santner as he hammers the left-arm spinner down the ground over long-on for a huge six to bring up his fifty in some style, from 42 balls.

Santner drops short as Rohit pulls it over midwicket for a four and then plays a cracking cover drive for the same result as New Zealand's bowlers suffer a double attack, with both opener going for their shots.

After 15 overs, India are well placed for a huge score as they reach 140 for no loss with Dhawan on 71 from 47 balls and Rohit on 61 from 45 balls.


image
19:49   Dhawan slams 37-ball fifty, India on top


India 100-0 (12 ovs) vs NZ | Scorecard

Colin Munro comes into the attack after a poor from de Grandhomme, in which he conceded 18 runs.

Dhawan takes one from the first ball before Rohit clubs the second ball down over long-on for a six.

After a couple of singles each, Rohit hammers a full delivery down the ground past mid-off for a four and then takes one to get 14 from the over.

Santner comes back for his third spell. Dhawan inside edges the second ball which narrowly misses the stumps for a single to race to his fifty from just 37 balls.

Santner not pitching the ball up as the openers can only manage six singles from the over to reach 100 for no loss in 12 overs.
19:43   Openers Dhawan, Rohit give India a flying start


India 80-0 (10 ovs) vs NZ | Scorecard

De Grandhomme bowls a very high full toss to Rohit and it is so high that it comfortably beats the wicketkeeper and goes for four byes. More importantly, the Indians get a free hit which Rohit tries to hit down the ground but can't beat Southee on the long-off fence who drops the catch but manages to keep it down to two.

The medium pacer bowls another high full toss as Rohit takes a single. Dhawan makes most of the free hit delivery as he crashes it through the covers for a four to race to 44 from 31 balls, with Rohit struggling to get going, scoring 22 from 25 balls.

Sodhi bowls another good over as both Rohit and Dhawan pick three single each to get six from the over.

At the halfway stage, India are sitting pretty on 80 for no loss in 10 overs.
19:37   Dhawan, Rohit give India a good start


India 56-0 (8 ovs) vs NZ | Scorecard

Boult, who bowled two overs for 20 runs, makes way for Santner. He starts with a superb delivery to Rohit, getting the ball to grip and turn to leave the right-hander gasping.

He takes a single from the next ball before Dhawan sweeps the next past short fine leg for two runs.

Dhawan then chips down the track but manages just a single before Rohit attempts the sweep but is beaten.

He then plays the inside out lofted shot over the covers for a four as he finally plays a shot of authority.

Part-time medium pacer Colin de Grandhomme comes into the attack. Rohit is beaten outside the off-stump before he lofts the next ball down the ground but Southee puts down a simple catch at long-off to the opener a lifeline.

Dhawan swipes the next ball behind square on the leg side for a four and then keeps strike with one from the last ball.

Leg-spinner Ish Sodhi comes into the attack. Dhawan pulls the first ball but just for a single before Rohit beaten twice off successive deliveries, trying to sweep on the leg side.

Two singles as Sodhi makes a good start conceding just three runs in his first over, as he got quite a lot of assistance.
image
19:22   Dhawan, Rohit give India a good start


India 38-0 (5 ovs) vs NZ | Scorecard

Rohit pulls a short ball from Boult but hasn't timed it too well for a single to deep midwicket.

The pacer then again drifts on Dhawan's pads, who clips it past short fine leg for a four.

Boult tries to compensate but this time errs on the off-side as Dhawan smashes the wide delivery past point for another four to get nine from the over.

New Zealand bowling quite a few balls down the leg side to Dhawan as Southee concedes a wide. Dhawan slaps the next past point but Ish Sodhi running to his left at thirdman misses an easy stop on the ropes to give away a four.

India have made a good start to reach 38 for no loss in five overs, with Dhawan on 25 from 19 balls and Rohit on 11 from as many balls.
image
19:14   Dhawan, Rohit give India a good start


India 21-0 (3 ovs) vs NZ | Scorecard

Left-arm pacer Trent Boult starts off with a beauty, beating Dhawan outside the off-stump. But the next ball is on the opposite side, full and down the leg side as Dhawan glances it fine for a four to get off the mark.

The next ball is again full as Dhawan clips it square on the leg side for another four.

Two balls later, Dhawan on 8, cuts a short ball straight to Santner at point but he is unable to hold on and concedes two runs before Dhawan keeps strike with one from the last ball.

Tim Southee comes into the attack after just one over for Santner with the new ball.

Dhawan flicks the second ball to short fine leg and calls for Rohit for a run, who is lucky that the fielder misses the direct hit with him struggling to make the crease.

Rohit then upper cuts a short wide delivery from Southee over thirdman fence for a six before taking a single.

Dhawan comes down the track and drives the last ball through the covers but the fielder does well to stop it.

India are off to a brisk start as they reach 21 for no loss in three overs.
image
19:06   NZ elect to bowl; Nehra included, Iyer debuts


India 2-0 (1 ov) vs NZ | Scorecard

India's regular openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan walk out to the middle as New Zealand spring a surprise with left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner opening the bowling.

Rohit taps the third ball on the leg side for a single before Dhawan looks to sweep the fifth ball but misses and picks a leg bye.

Rohit blocks the last ball as just two runs come from the first over.
image
18:48   NZ elect to bowl; Nehra included, Iyer debuts
The retiring Nehra was presented with a trophy by captain Virat Kohli and senior pro Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

The opening match at the Feroz Shah Kotla will be Nehra's last game in competitive cricket and India would look to bid a befitting farewell to the seamer, whose career has been characterised by many injuries and many comebacks.

It is appropriate that the 38-year-old will be hanging up his boots in front of his home crowd and nothing would be sweeter than an Indian win against a team that has been their Achilles heel in this format.
image
18:47   I don't mind batting at any number: Iyer
Debutant Iyer received his cap from head coach and fellow Mumbaikar Ravi Shastri.

It will be interesting to see where the youngster bats, though he admitted on Tuesday that he is open to batting at any position and will always play in his natural attacking style.

"I think I am very flexible. I don't mind batting at any number. Even in Indian Premier League this year, I was shuffled from number four to number three. It did not really matter to as I am comfortable," said the youngster, who recently smashed a quickfire 138 from 124 balls at No. 3 for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy match against a Tamil Nadu side comprising Ravichandran Ashwin.
image
18:35   NZ elect to bowl; Nehra included, Iyer debuts
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has won the toss and elected to bowl against India in the T20 series opener.

"We are going to bowl first with a bit of dew around, we are expecting more dew later," Williamson said of his decision.

India have handed the young Shreyas Iyer his international debut, while Ashish Nehra has been included in the playing eleven in his final match in competitive cricket.

"We would have bowled first as well, there is a lot of dew already but it doesn't matter as there is a lot of dew already," said Kohli.
image
18:30   Spotlight on Nehra as India aim to break duck vs NZ
Welcome to the coverage of first T20 International between India and New Zealand in New Delhi on Wednesday.

All eyes will be focussed on veteran pacer Ashish Nehra, who will be retiring from competitive cricket after this match at his home ground -- the Feroz Shah Kotla.


The opening match at the Feroz Shah Kotla will be Nehra's last game in competitive cricket and India would look to bid a befitting farewell to the seamer, whose career has been characterised by many injuries and many comebacks.

It is appropriate that the 38-year-old will be hanging up his boots in front of his home crowd and nothing would be sweeter than an Indian win against a team that has been their Achilles heel in this format.
India have so far lost all their matches against New Zealand, the fifth and last one coming at the ICC World T20 in 2016.

TOP STORIES