India National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Match Scorecard: India's Abhishek Sharma's magnificent 84 off 35 balls, along with Rinku Singh's finishing act (44 off 20) in the first T20I, helped India beat New Zealand by 48 runs at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur on Wednesday. New Zealand's middle-order batter Glenn Phillips (78 off 40) banked on some 'serious' hitting in the middle order to keep his side in chase.

However, Indian bowling remained honest with their line and lengths to restrict the Blackcaps' batting line-up. With this win, India take 1-0 lead in the series.

Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav, who had everyone's attention due to his lacklustre form in the past, made 32 off 22 deliveries, including four boundaries and one six.

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New Zealand leg-spinner Ish Sodhi dismissed dangerous Abhishek Sharma for 84 runs (35 balls, five fours and eight sixes). Hardik Pandya scored 25 runs off 16 deliveries, including three fours and one six.

Towards the end, left-handed batter Rinku helped India reach 238/7 in 20 overs. With the ball, speedster Jacob Duffy (2/27) had good figures for New Zealand.

For India, Varun Chakaravarthy (2/37) and Shivam Dube (2/28) claimed two wickets each, while Arshdeep Singh (1/31), Hardik Pandya (1/20) and Axar Patel (1/42) were also among wickets.

Rinku Singh on his finishing act during 1st T20I:"There was pressure on me as I was in and out of the team. The plan was to take singles and then go for it. Also to stay till the end. That's what I did. GG sir told me to keep the intent.

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(on the dropped catch) There was no problem with the lights here, I just dropped one and there is nothing much to worry. We want to take this confidence and momentum forward into the World Cup and win it."

Brief Scores:

India: 238 for 7 in in 20 overs (Abhishek Sharma 84, Rinku Singh 44 not out; Jacob Duffy 2/27).

New Zealand: 190 for 7 in 20 overs (Glenn Phillips 78; Varun Chakaravarthy 2/37).

Inputs from Agency