As New Zealand outperformed India by 21 runs in the inaugural T20I to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series on Friday, Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell produced fluent and furious half-centuries before the spinners suffocated the hosts. Conway, who was given the opportunity to bat first, extended his recent hot streak with a 35-ball 52, and Mitchell slammed a 30-ball unbeaten 59, which included a 27-run thrashing of Arshdeep Singh in the final over, to propel the Black Caps to a harrowing 176 for six. After that, the home batsmen were caught in a web created by the Kiwi bowlers, led by Mitchell Santner (2/11) and Michael Bracewell (2/31). This allowed them to restrict India to 155 for 9 in 20 overs.
Ishan Kishan (4) and Rahul Tripathi (0) were both bowled out in the third over, giving India a dismal start to their chase.
Bracewell bamboozled Ishan, while pacer Jacob Duffy (1/27) forced a sharp edge from Rahul's blade. Soon after being tricked by Santner, Shubman Gill (age 7) also died as India slipped to 15 for three.
However, Suryakumar Yadav (47), who first hit two boundaries before plucking one off Lockie Ferguson (1/22)'s hips for a six, appeared to be in fine form.
As India reached 33 for three in the powerplay overs, Santner bowled a maiden.
The New Zealand spinners maintained control of the situation by keeping the pitch flat and varying the length even as Hardik sent a drive over extra cover to relieve the pressure.
To keep the scoreboard moving, Suryakumar also utilized his assortment of sweep shots. As India reached 74 for 3 in 10 overs after Blair Tickner's introduction, he played a square cut and then sent another one past backward point for consecutive fours.
After sending leg-spinner Ish Sodhi inside-out over extra cover for a maximum, New Zealand struck again in the following five balls to dismiss both of the scheduled hitters.
Surya chipped a Sodhi ball to Finn Allen at long on, and Hardik was caught and bowled by Bracewell as things started to deteriorate and India reached 85 for 5.
Before being defeated, Deepak Hooda slammed one over the rope. Then Santner left Shivam Mavi. Kuldeep was removed with Ferguson's wicket-maiden delivery.
Despite Washington Sundar's valiant 28-ball 50, it was already too late.
Prior to then, Indian bowlers had trouble getting their line and length, which let New Zealand get off to a strong start.
While Arshdeep hit a delicious half volley straight to the boundary, Allen (35) repeatedly hit Hardik for boundaries.
As New Zealand put up 23 in two overs, Conway, who had made 138 in the third ODI in Indore, punished the left-arm bowler for a widish ball.
Sundar, though, quickly dismissed Allen and Mark Chapman (0) in the span of five deliveries after gaining a lot of purchase from the wicket, bringing New Zealand to 43 for 2.
However, Conway continued the run with two fours and a six against Umran Malik, who allowed 16 runs to score in his single over.
As New Zealand reached 79 for 2 in 10 overs, Hardik recovered and attempted to vary up his bowling, using more cutters and slower deliveries.
As New Zealand passed the 100-run threshold in the 13th over, Conway exploited the slog sweep and his footwork to take up boundaries off Kuldeep and Hooda.
Glenn Phillips attempted a slog as Kuldeep attacked with a googly, but Surya holed him out at deep midwicket.
After surviving two video referrals for a caught behind and an LBW, Daryl Mitchell joined Conway and blasted Hardik for two maximums.
Contrarily, Conway reached his fifty in the sixteenth over before being quickly dismissed by Arshdeep with Hooda taking the catch at long-off.
Then, as India appeared to have regained control, Ishan Kishan ran out newcomer Bracewell (1), and Shivam Mavi had Santner (7) caught by Rahul Tripathi.
Arshdeep, however, gave up 27 runs in the final over after Mitchell smacked him for three sixes and a four.
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