Riding on quickfire fifties from Colin Munro, Kane Williamson, and Ross Taylor, New Zealand managed to reach a humungous total of 203 for 5 in the first T20I against India in Auckland. Team India is currently locking horns with New Zealand in the first of the five-match T20I series at the Eden Park in Auckland. The Indian skipper, Virat Kohli won the toss and asked the hosts to bowl first.
Guptill, along with his opening partner, Colin Munro took the Kiwis off to a flyer by targetting Shardul Thakur early in the innings. Guptill made his intentions pretty clear by smashing Jasprit BUmrah for a boundary in the very first over. The hosts surpassed the 50-run mark in merely 4.3 overs as both the openers smashed the ball all around the park and they went on to add 68 runs in the first 6 overs.
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However, in the eighth over of the match which was bowled by the Indain all-rounder, Shivam Dube, the brilliant catch from Rohit finally broke the opening partnership of 80 runs. Before being dismissed, the right-handed batsman smashed 30 off just 19 balls.
But Guptill’s departure did not bring any respite for India as Munro kept on smashing and got some apt support from his partner in captain Kane Williamson. Munro completed his fifty off 36 balls in the eleventh over with a four off Yuzvendra Chahal and hit another four in the same over to take the score went past the 100-run mark.
50 up for Munro 🔥
BLACKCAPS 102/1 in the 11th over#NZvIND #CricketNationLive Scoring | https://t.co/T8XHFQRmok
📷 = @photosportnz pic.twitter.com/RY6AJEprmk— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 24, 2020
But before Munro could get close to scoring his third T20I century against India, Shardul dismissed him for 59. A couple of balls later, Ravindra Jadeja sent back the dangerous Colin de Grandhomme for his second ball duck to put India on top for the first time in the match.
However, despite the quick wickets, Williamson and Ross Taylor brought the momentum back on track quickly. Taylor smashed three sixes and a couple of four between 15th and 16th over to put the hosts back on top. On the other hand, Williamson kept going strong and reached his fifty off just 25 balls but was dismissed on the next ball by Yuzvendra Chahal. Taylor went on to score a fine fifty to make sure New Zealand finish strongly. However, Bumrah controlled the pace of the innings as he gave away just 16 runs in his last two overs and picked the priced wicket of Tim Seifert.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the innings:
Bumrah is a genius
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) January 24, 2020
So, Pant isn’t going to play even in Dhawan’s absence. It seems Sanju’s selection will only do a lip-service on this tour too. #Musings #NZvInd
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 24, 2020
india have a bone to pick with martin guptill #youremember #NZvsIND
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) January 24, 2020
https://twitter.com/Shahrcasm/status/1220620867295535105
Such is the size and dimensions of this ground in Auckland, that even Kane Williamson is dealing in sixes only!#NZvsIND
— Rishabh Jain (@MonkInEden) January 24, 2020
https://twitter.com/ArjunNamboo/status/1220618451305156608
Reactions of all IPL franchises after watching the form of COLIN MUNRO in T20 as any one them didn't pick Colin Munro in IPL auction #NZvsIND pic.twitter.com/mn86nnovkl
— Subham. (@subhsays) January 24, 2020
Shardul Thakur was picked up in the team so that he could score quick runs in both the innings. #NZvsInd
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) January 24, 2020
This dialogue was written after watching Shardul Thakur bowl. #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/RoDbsRebWl
— Manya (@CSKian716) January 24, 2020
How can you not play Pant in T20 cricket 🤦♂️ #NZvIND
— Raunak Kapoor (@RaunakRK) January 24, 2020
