New Zealand’s decision to play three spinners against India was initially thought to be a massive gaffe but it proved to be a masterstroke instead, as Mitchell Santner, Nathan McCullum, and Ish Sodhi combined to take 9 wickets and bundle India out for a shocking 79 in Match 13 of ICC World T20 2016 at Nagpur on Tuesday. It all started in the first over of India’s chase. Shikhar Dhawan was out LBW to Nathan McCullum off the fifth ball of the chase, missing a sweep shot and getting hit plumb in front. India never recovered after that. Full Cricket Scorecard: India vs New Zealand, ICC World T20 2016, Match 13 at Nagpur
Santner came on to bowl the third over of the innings, and immediately produced the results. Rohit Sharma, one of India’s in-form batsmen, was done in completely by a peach of a delivery from Santner. Rohit stepped out and missed the delivery, getting stumped for 5 off 7. A couple of balls later Suresh Raina played with hard hands and offered a simple chance to Martin Guptill at midwicket. India were now 12 for 3 inside 3 overs. Full Cricket Updates: India vs New Zealand, ICC World T20 2016, Match 13 at Nagpur
A mini-recovery followed, with Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh putting on 14 runs. The fact that it was one of the biggest partnerships of the innings speaks volumes of the sheer ineptitude shown by India. Yuvraj soon joined the procession, offering a simple return catch to McCullum. He fell for a 5-ball 4, with India now 26 for 4. READ: India vs New Zealand, ICC T20 World Cup 2016, Match 13 at Nagpur: Highlights of Black Caps’ innings
MS Dhoni then came in to join Kohli. With two of India’s best chasers in the middle there were still hopes of an Indian victory. Kohli was the only batsman to look in control of proceedings. He scored a fluent 23 off 27 balls, but was fifth out with India’s score at 39. Kohli was dismissed edging Sodhi to Luke Ronchi. Kohli walked immediately after edging behind while trying to drive. After that it was just a matter of time.
Hardik Pandya was LBW to Santner for 1 off 7 balls, playing back to one that went on with the arm. Ravindra Jadeja too played with hard hands, giving a return catch to Sodhi for a 3-ball duck. At 43 for 7 India were in danger of folding up before reaching 50. Dhoni and Ravichandran Ashwin managed to avoid the embarrassment of India’s lowest-ever T20I score, but could do little beyond that. Ashwin was stumped off Sodhi in the 17th over for 10 off 20 balls. Dhoni fell for a run-a-ball 30 in the 18th over of the innings, holing out to McCullum off Santner, who now had four wickets. Adam Milne bowled Ashish Nehra for a 4-ball duck as India were bowled out for 79 and lost the opening match by 47 runs.
Earlier, India’s bowlers did a fantastic job of restricting a lacklustre New Zealand to a disappointing 126 for 7. It was a hugely contrasting innings; Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, and Ravichandran Ashwin started the match in sizzling fashion, but things slowed down completely after the first over. After two sixes were hit in the first four balls of the match, the third came only in the 20th over of the innings. Both teams honoured Martin Crowe before the start of the match with a small tribute. Guptill and Ross Taylor, both of whom regarded Crowe as a father-figure, were understandably emotional before the start of the match. READ: Martin Crowe honoured during India vs New Zealand, T20 World Cup 2016 at Nagpur
Perhaps it was for that reason that Guptill smashed the first ball of the Super-10 stage straight back over Ashwin’s head for six. Ashwin had his revenge immediately; the second ball was held back a bit and Guptill missed the sweep shot. The bowler and fielders went up in unison and Guptill was adjudged out LBW. Replays suggested the ball may have bounced over the stumps.
With New Zealand 6 for 1 in 0.2 balls, Colin Munro walked in and reverse-swept his second ball for six. In the next over, bowled by Ashish Nehra, Munro tried to go for another big hit and only hit it as far as Hardik Pandya at cover. The Black Caps were now 13 for 2 in the second over. The onus was now on Kane Williamson, but the New Zealand skipper ended up getting stumped by MS Dhoni off the bowling of — of all people — Suresh Raina. Williamson had disappointed with 8 off 16 balls, and New Zealand were now 35 for 3 in the seventh over.
Corey Anderson and Ross Taylor, batting at Nos 4 and 5, then stabilised the innings. The duo put on 26 runs but they took nearly five overs to score them. Taylor was finally done in by a tremendous piece of fielding. Raina, who bowled a sensational spell of 1 for 15 in 4 overs, collected a ball struck firmly off his own bowling and under-armed it onto the stumps. Taylor was caught short of the crease and was dismissed for a 14-ball 10.
New Zealand looked like a far cry from the team that creamed Sri Lanka in the practice match. Anderson waged a lone battle and top-scored for New Zealand, but his 34 cost 42 balls. He was bowled by Jasprit Bumrah in the 16th over, at which point the Black Caps had not even scored 90. Mitchell Santner was one of the few batsmen to reach double figures, but was caught behind off Ravindra Jadeja for 18 off 17 balls. When he was dismissed New Zealand were 98 for 6 in the 17th over.
It took a priceless cameo from Luke Ronchi to even take the Black Caps past 120. His 11-ball 21 included 2 fours and 1 six, and took New Zealand from 111 for 6 in the 19th over to 126 for 7. India have never beaten New Zealand in T20Is, but this match could be the end of that jinx. New Zealand will need their three spinners to bowl out of their skins to win this.
Brief scores:
New Zealand 126 for 7 in 20 overs (Corey Anderson 34; Jasprit Bumrah 1 for 15, Suresh Raina 1 for 16) beat India 79 in 18.1 overs (MS Dhoni 30; Mitchell Santner 4 for 11) by 47 runs.
Man of the Match: Mitchell Santner
(Shiamak Unwalla, a reporter with CricketCountry, is an animal lover and comic, film and TV geek. A fast bowler at heart, he enjoys watching a good, low-scoring game of cricket. His Twitter handle is @ShiamakUnwalla)
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