5 signature moments from the India vs New Zealand match that don't fade away
In what turned out be a fine example of falling into the pit designed for someone else, India, who had looked unassailable in T20Is in 2016, were humbled on their home turf by a resurgent New Zealand side in the opening game of the ICC World T20 2016.On a pitch that offered prodigious turn and very little pace off it, the visiting batsmen showed better application of skills than the home side. The Kiwis’ total of 126 proved to be way too much for their Indian counterparts, who couldn’t even bat out the 20 overs.NZ captain Kane Williamson's decision of resting the team's two prime bowlers – Tim Southee and Trent Boult – and playing three spinners instead in Ish Sodhi, Nathan McCullum, and Mitchell Santner, raised several eyebrows before the match. But by the end, no one was doubting Williamson’s tactical acumen.After some disciplined bowling and good fielding that saw India restrict the opposition to a seemingly below-par total, the NZ spinners wreaked havoc by grabbing nine of the 10 wickets in the Indian innings and bowling the home team out for 70, their second-lowest T20I total ever.All the Indian batsmen, with the possible exception of MS Dhoni, struggled against the turn and perished one by one, ultimately giving the visitors a 47-run victory.Despite India’s lacklustre performance, there were several memorable moments in the match that won’t fade away from our minds, much like the Axe Signature line of deodorants. Let us have a look at 5 such unforgettable moments:
#1 The start to New Zealands innings: first ball six, second ball wicket
The start to the 6th edition of the ICC World T20 was in line with the thrills associated with the shortest format of the game. After Ravichandran Ashwin took the new ball for India to open the proceedings, the action exploded right off the bat.
The first ball that he bowled, to Martin Guptill, one of the most destructive opening batsmen in world cricket, went for a six straight over the bowler’s head. It seemed, at that moment, that Guptill was in the mood to channel his inner Virender Sehwag and play a big innings, which sent some jitters down the Indian camp.
But with a small amount of luck and a tiny mistake by the Kiwi opener, India got back into the game off the very next ball. Guptill missed a sweep shot and was adjudged leg-before-wicket, despite the ball being high and seemingly going over the stumps.
As if this roller-coaster swing wasn’t enough, the new batsman at the fall of the first wicket, Colin Munro, smashed another six, this time through a reverse sweep, to round off a thrilling first over of the tournament.