India vs New Zealand: Rohit Sharma continues fine form with fifty in 1st T20I

Rohit Sharma scored 80 as India put up a commanding total of 202/3 in the 1st T20I against New Zealand at the Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi

Rohit Sharma continued from where he left in Kanpur as he slammed a half-century in the first India vs New Zealand T20 international at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground. (IND v NZ updates | scorecard)

Rohit Sharma’s fifty helped India reach a total of 202/3 in the 1st T20I against New Zealand at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground.(PTI)

After starting off cautiously in the first over from left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner, the Indian vice-captain dispatched a short delivery from Tim Southee (in the third over) over the third man boundary for a maximum to gain confidence.

While Dhawan was the aggressor, Rohit supported him and ran well between the wickets.

But soon, he joined Dhawan in the ‘boundary party’ as he smacked a flighted delivery off Santner over covers to end the powerplay.

Rohit, who was India’s second highest run-getter in the ODIs vs New Zealand (with 174 runs in three matches), was granted a life when Tim Southee dropped him at long off on Colin de Grandhomme’s bowling.

From there on, the Indian opener made full use of the extra chance and reached his fifty with a six off Santner towards the long on boundary.

This was Rohit’s 12th T20 fifty. He was eventually dismissed by Trent Boult in the 19th over. The Mumbaikar made 80, his highest score against the Kiwis in T20s, as India posted a total of 202/3.