The New Zealand captain won the toss and decided to bowl first against India. Indian batters did a fantastic job with the bat and went past 300 runs. After losing the toss and being sent in to bat, the Men in Blue posted a competitive score with Washington Sundar (37* off 16) making a brilliant cameo at the end.
Dhawan and Gill, Team India’s openers, added 124 more runs for the first wicket. India reached 40/0 in 10 overs, despite Gill scoring a few sixes off Matt Henry’s bowling. India’s start was relatively calm.
After that, Dhawan began to open up and established a few crucial boundaries.
He also hit a four, sending Adam Milne wide long-on, to reach his half-century. Gill, on the other hand, hit a single off Tim Southee for a patient 64-ball fifty (3/73).
As New Zealand’s bowlers fought back, Team India’s openers both fell quickly. Gill chipped a conveyance from Lockie Ferguson (3/59) to a profound square leg.
Men in Blue captain Dhawan sliced Southee’s drive to backward point in the following over. At the halfway point of their innings, India reached 128/2.
By uppercutting Ferguson’s first ball of the 26th over from a maximum over deep third man, Shreyas made a statement of intent. However, in the 33rd over, the Kiwi speedster bowled Rishabh Pant (15) and Suryakumar Yadav (4), putting India behind.
Pant’s poor run continued as he dragged a pull onto his stumps, and Suryakumar managed to slip through a length delivery in the hallway.
Before Sundar tees off, Shreyas and Samson rebuild for Team India.
Their 36 runs off 38 balls lifted the visitors and added 94 runs for the fifth wicket. During his impressive knock, the first one skillfully juggled aggression and caution.
The Men in Blue reached 210/4 after 40 overs when Shreyas hammered Southee with a four-to-deep midwicket and a six-to-long-on. He charged down the pitch after getting a fifty off 56 balls and hit Mitchell Santner, a left-arm spinner, for a maximum. Samson was content to rotate the strike and score at approximately a run-a-ball rate.
When Samson tried to break free, he fell to Milne and ended the partnership. Glenn Phillips ran in from a deep square leg and made a well-timed catch after he skied the delivery. Shreyas was then assisted by Sundar, who made an excellent cameo appearance.
In the penultimate over, Sundar pursued Henry and hit him with four, four, and six consecutive deliveries. Shreyas’ fine innings finished when he pulled Southee to midwicket in the last finish.
Tom Latham’s brilliant catch allowed Southee to also dismiss Shardul Thakur (one) off the final ball, but Team India had reached 300 runs.