By Brian Thomas
India put into bat failed with bat as they slumped to 111 for 9 wickets in their alloted 20 overs.
Sadly for the Indian fans , their batting against a disiplined bowling attack by New Zealand saw them crumble under pressure. Excessive media hype, too great an expectation from their fans had its toll.
Ishan Kishan was disappointing , when he got the nod to open the innings ahead of Rohit Sharma as he was caught off a pick up shot at deep mid wicket off Trent Bolt for 4. K.L Rahul was shaping up well , but he perished for 18 caught at deep mid on by Martin Guptil o the bowling of Tim Southee , with India on 35.
Rohit Sharma who got a life off the first ball he faced off Trent Boult , was undone for 14 when Guptil caught him at the cow corner , to the leg spin of Ish Sodhi , and India were dumb founded with the score on 40 for 3 wickets.
Virat Kholi was a big scalp for the Kiwis. He fell victim to Sodhi for 9 , and the writing on the wall was inevitable with India on 48 , hence the Kiwis broke the back bone of India’s strong batting unit.
Rishab Pant lost his patients was gone for 12 , after which India looked diwn the barrel on 5 for 70.
Pandiya hung around for his 23 , whilst the ever reliable Ravindra Jadejah made an unbeaten 26 to get the Indian total to a three figure score of nelsons.
Trent Boult took 3 for 20, Ish Sodhi 2 for 17 , whilst Tim Southee and Adam Miline took a wicket each.
New Zealand had easy pickings . They got to the target in 14.3 overs with Daryl Mitchel scoring at will with 49. Guptil 20 and kane Williamson an unbeaten 33.
Bumrah the only wicket taker for India with 2 fir 19.
Comprehensive win for New Zealand by 8 Wickets, in a crunch game. India will now find it difficult to qualify for the semi finals , and this is an unexpected result in the 2021 T 20 World Cup.
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