New Delhi, Nov 1 (UNI) Veteran Indian pacer Ashish Nehra received a farewell gift from his team after they won against the New Zealand in the opening T20 match by 53 runs of the three T20 series on Wednesday at Feroz Shah Kotla ground.
The hosts started on a brilliant note putting a huge total of 202/3 before the New Zealand who faltered to 149/8 in the 20 overs.
With this win India are 1-0 up in the three T20 series.
Nehra who had started his Test debut in 1999 against Sri Lanka played his last international match and retired from all forms of cricket.
New Zealnd won the toss and opted to bowl putting the hosts to bat first with openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma gave India a solid start smashing the Kiwi bowlers all round the ground.
Dhawan and Sharma built a partnership of 158 runs for the first wicket.
Dhawan was lucky to be dropped by Mitchell Santner at point at score of 8 scored 80 off 52, hitting 2 sixes and 10 fours in his blistering knock.
Rohit was also lucky after Tim Southee dropped catch at long-off when Sharma was on 16, but went on to score 80, hitting 4 sixes and 6 fours.
However, Virat Kohli remained not out on 26 was also luckywhen Martin Guptill dropped a catch of Kohli in the deep the skipper went on with three sixes in 11-ball.
Leg-spinner Ish Sodhi dismissed Dhawan and Hardik Pandya in the same over but could not stop India passing 200.
New Zealand lost both openers inside four overs with Pandya sprinting from long-off and diving full length to take a stunning catch near the sightscreen to dismiss Guptill.
For New Zealand Tom Latham top-scored with 39 and Santner made 27 not out but other New Zealand batsman failed to chip in.
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