NZ spinners star in shock win over India

NAGPUR, India (AP):

New Zealand's spinners inflicted a shock 47-run defeat on tournament favourites India in the first game of the Super 10 stage at the ICC World Twenty20 yesterday.

Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner grabbed 4-11, leg-spinner Ish Sodhi took 3-18 and off-spinner Nathan McCullum added 2-15 on a helpful pitch as India were bowled out for 79 in 18.1 overs.

New Zealand had earlier reached 126-7 in the Group Two match.

Captain Kane Williamson's decision to go in with three spinners paid off as India, which came into the tournament with 10 wins in 11 previous T20 games, failed to come to terms with the slow pitch.

New Zealand have now beaten India in all five T20 games between the two teams, including two times at the World Twenty20.

India had beaten South Africa inside three days in a Test here last year, but the turn on offer this time proved detrimental.

Sodhi struck first ball as the in-form Virat Kohli (23) edged one to the wicketkeeper, at which stage India were 39-5.

Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni tried to rally his team, but his knock of 30 was of little use.

"It was a low-scoring wicket," Dhoni said. "I thought we restricted them to a good total, but the batting let us down. The shot selection kept putting pressure on the batsmen coming in.

"They bowled well and exploited the conditions, but we lacked adaptability. We could have applied ourselves more."

Earlier, India restricted New Zealand to a moderate total with left-hander Corey Anderson holding the innings together. He scored 34 before being dismissed by pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah while trying to scoop the ball towards fine leg. Luke Ronchi got an unbeaten 21 off 11 balls down the order.

"It was a tough surface," Williamson said. "Any score was going to be tough here, but we would have liked to have a few more. We went in with this bowling attack after we had a look at the conditions."