India score first T20 win against Kiwis in Nehra’s farewell tie

A record opening partnership between Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan powered India to a 53-run win over New Zealand in the first Twenty20 international in New Delhi yesterday.The pair put on 158 runs – India’s best for any wicket – to take the hosts to 202-3 and then restricted the Kiwis to 149-8 and take lead in the three-match series. Notching up their maiden win over New Zealand in the format, the Indian team gave a fitting farewell to veteran paceman Ashish Nehra, who called time on his playing career.Nehra, 38, who retired after an injury-plagued 18-year-old career, went wicketless but was carried by his teammates in a lap of honour at his home ground Feroz Shah Kotla.But Dhawan, who hit a career-best 80, and Sharma, who also made 80, stole the show. They surpassed the 136-run opening stand between Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir against England in the 2007 T20 World Cup.Indian batsmen also benefited from a sloppy effort by New Zealand fielders with Dhawan, on eight, and Sharma, on 16, surviving dropped chances.Skipper Virat Kohli also got a reprieve on eight before going on to make an unbeaten 11-ball 26.Leg-spinner Ish Sodhi claimed two wickets in an over including Dhawan’s prized scalp but the damage had already been done. While the left-handed Dhawan smashed 10 fours and 2 sixes in his 52-ball knock, Sharma also entertained the raucous home crowd during his 55-ball stay.In reply, the New Zealand innings could never take off after losing their openers for just 18 runs inside four overs.Martin Guptill, who scored four, fell to leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal while Colin Munro was bowled for seven by a superb yorker from fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar.Skipper Kane Williamson tried to revive the innings with his 24-ball 28 but Hardik Pandya got him caught behind to spell trouble for the visitors.Left-arm spinner Axar Patel struck twice in an over to send back Tom Bruce and Colin De Grandhomme as the wheels came off the Kiwi chase.Tom Latham top-scored with a valiant 39 before becoming Chahal’s second victim. The second T20 is scheduled on Saturday in Rajkot. Scoreboard IndiaR. Sharma c Latham b Boult 80S. Dhawan c Latham b Sodhi 80H. Pandya c Latham b Sodhi 0V. Kohli not out 26M.S. Dhoni not out 7Extras (b5, lb1, nb2, w1) 9Total (3 wickets; 20 overs) 202Fall of wickets: 1-158 (Dhawan), 2-158 (Pandya), 3-185 (Sharma)Bowling: Santner 4-0-30-0, Boult 4-0-49-1, Southee 4-0-44-0 (w1), Grandhomme 3-0-34-0, Sodhi 4-0-25-2, Munro 1-0-14-0New Zealand (target 203)M. Guptill c Pandya b Chahal 4C. Munro b Kumar 7K. Williamsonc Dhoni b Pandya 28T. Latham st Dhoni b Chahal 39T. Bruce c Sharma b Patel 10C. de Grandhomme c Dhawan b Patel 0H. Nicholls run out (Kohli) 6M. Santner not out 27T. Southee c Dhoni b Bumrah 8I. Sodhi not out 11Extras (lb3, nb1, w5) 9Total (8 wickets, 20 overs) 149Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Guptill), 2-18 (Munro), 3-54 (Williamson), 4-83 (Bruce), 5-84 (de Grandhomme), 6-94 (Nicholls), 7-99 (Latham), 8-111 (Southee)Bowling: Nehra 4-0-29-0 (w3), Chahal 4-0-26-2, Kumar 3-0-23-1, Bumrah 4-0-37-1 (w2), Patel 4-0-20-2, Pandya 1-0-11-1.