Pre tournament favourites India are on the verge of elimination from the T20 World Cup after suffering their second defeat of the event at the hands of New Zealand in their Super 12 clash.
New Zealand won the toss and put India to bat and despite changes in the batting order with Ishan Kishan opening alongside KL Rahul the team struggled to get going.
Inside the powerplay both openers were gone with 35 runs on the board. India’s two best batsmen Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were frustrated by a Kiwi bowling attack determined to not let them get away. Both stalwarts were sent back to the pavilion by spinner Ish Sodhi to reduce India to 48/4 after 10 overs.
A stand between Hardik Pandya and Ravendra Jadeja did some repair with 24 run stand, but the writing was on the wall for India. At the end they could only manage 110/7 in 20 overs.
New Zealand Make Chase Easy
New Zealand were in no mood to allow India a sniff into the game. Opener Martin Guptill hit 3 boundaries early on to release any pressure but soon departed. But from then onwards New Zealand didn’t relent. Daryl Mitchel was determined to not only take his side to victory but also ensure they improve their net run rate in the process.
The batsman scored 49 of 35 balls hitting 4 fours and 3 sixes in the process and when his wicket fell The Kiwis needed mere 15 runs to win. Kane Williamson ensured they got their at the end comfortably and New Zealand had registered a resoudnign win over a beleaguered Indian side.
India’s world cup hopes now hang by a thread, with them needing to win all 3 games in convincing fashion and hope that Afghanistan do them a favour against New Zealand. All ifs and buts as India’s fate is out of their own hands.
New Zealand 111 for 2 (Mitchell 49, Bumrah 2-19) beat India 110 for 7 (Boult 3-20, Sodhi 2-17) by eight wickets
Full scorecard here: India vs New Zealand