Brendon McCullum smashed an unbeaten half-century to steer New Zealand to a seven-wicket win over India in their first Twenty20 international in Christchurch on Wednesday.
McCullum hit three sixes in his 56 not out from 49 balls as the Kiwis cruised past India’s total of 162-8 with seven balls to spare.
Martin Guptill (41), Ross Taylor (31) and Jacob Oram (29 not out) all chipped in with valuable runs after India’s top-order had crumbled, leaving the world champions defending a modest total.
The tourists were in early trouble when they slumped to 61-5 inside the first eight overs before Suresh Raina rebuilt the innings with an unbeaten 61 off 43 balls, featuring five sixes and two fours.
He received some handy support from Yusuf Pathan, who clubbed three sixes in a row in a quickfire 20, and Harbhajan Singh, who made 21, but it was not enough to trouble the New Zealanders.
The two sides meet again in Wellington on Friday before playing each other in five one-day internationals and three Tests. — Reuters