India vs New Zealand T20 series: India beats NZ with five wickets

In the opening T20 match with New Zealand, India thrashed the T20 World Cup runner-up with five wickets. Just a few weeks ago New Zealand had eliminated India despite their good form in the last three matches of the group stage. India avenged their early elimination with a win. India had their competitive face on with new head coach Rahul Dravid, while New Zealand skipper Tim Southee lauded how the team battled on till the last over.

Suryakumar Yadav scored 62 runs and Rohit Sharma fell short of a half-century with 48 but put India ahead in their chase of 165 runs to claim the first win in three-match series here at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. Black Caps Martin Guptill and Mark Chapman had earlier played a knock of 70 and 63 respectively and New Zealand posted a total of 164/6, dodging Ravichandran Ashwin and Bhuvneshwar Kumar who had claimed two wickets each on Friday.