New Zealand vs India 2020: Twitter Reacts As Hosts Post Mammoth Total In First T20I

Riding on quickfire fifties from Colin Munro, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor,  New Zealand posted a mammoth total of 203 for 5 in the first T20I against India in Auckland.

Asked to bat first, New Zealand openers – Colin Munro and Martin Guptill – started well with the bat. The two fired on all cylinders right from the word go to make Virat Kohli regret his decision of bowling first. Guptill made his intentions clear by dispatching the second ball of the match from Jasprit Bumrah for a four.

In the second over, he hit another four off Shardul Thakur before Munro hit a six in the same over to set the tone for the big total. By the time the powerplay ended, New Zealand had raced away to 68 for no loss. Shivam Dube gave India the much-needed breakthrough when he accounted for Guptill in the eighth over. Before departing, the right-handed batsman smashed 30 off just 19 balls while adding 80 runs with Munro.

But Guptill’s depature did not bring any respite for India as Munro kept playing his shots and found an able partner in captain Kane Williamson. Munro completed his fifty off 36 balls in the eleventh over with a four off Yuzvendra Chahal and hit another four in the same over to take the score past the 100-run mark.

50 up for Munro ?
BLACKCAPS 102/1 in the 11th over#NZvIND #CricketNation

Live Scoring | https://t.co/T8XHFQRmok
? = @photosportnz pic.twitter.com/RY6AJEprmk

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 24, 2020

But before Munro could get close to scoring his third T20I century against India, Shardul Thakur sent him packing for 59. A couple of balls later, Ravindra Jadeja sent back the dangerous Colin de Grandhomme for a two-ball duck to put India on top for the first time in the match.

But the joy was shortlived as Williamson and Ross Taylor brought New Zealand’s innings back on track quickly. Taylor smashed three sixes and a couple of four between 15th and 16th over to put the hosts back on top. Williamson, on the other end, kept going strong and reached his fifty off just 25 balls but was out on the very next ball. Taylor went on to score a fine fifty to make sure New Zealand finish strongly.

Here is how Twitter reacted to the innings:

Bumrah is a genius

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) January 24, 2020

https://twitter.com/Shahrcasm/status/1220620867295535105

Such is the size and dimensions of this ground in Auckland, that even Kane Williamson is dealing in sixes only!#NZvsIND

— Rishabh Jain (@MonkInEden) January 24, 2020

Ross Taylor is Shahid Afridi of New Zealand. #IndvsNZ

— mthn  (@Being_Humor) January 24, 2020

https://twitter.com/ArjunNamboo/status/1220618451305156608

Ross Taylor to Indian Bowlers ??#NZvsIND pic.twitter.com/sOGOuo5Ncb

— RoflIndian (@kushwahaji73) January 24, 2020

Reactions of all IPL franchises after watching the form of COLIN MUNRO in T20 as any one them didn't pick Colin Munro in IPL auction #NZvsIND pic.twitter.com/mn86nnovkl

— Subham. (@subhsays) January 24, 2020

https://twitter.com/GappistanRadio/status/1220607733067476992

Guptill and Munro solid start for series,

— Danish Kaneria (@DanishKaneria61) January 24, 2020

Colin Munro is the quickest starter in T20Is at the start of the innings in recent times. Since 2017, he has a strike rate of 164.9 in the first six overs. Of the 73 players to have faced 100+ balls in the PP in the timeline, none have scored at a quicker rate. #NZvIND

— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) January 24, 2020

Whenever shardul thakur bowls a dot ball #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/qZaEIMSYbf

— Gitartha Kalita (@gitartha_k) January 24, 2020

Shardul Thakur was picked up in the team so that he could score quick runs in both the innings. #NZvsInd

— Sagar (@sagarcasm) January 24, 2020

This dialogue was written after watching Shardul Thakur bowl. #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/RoDbsRebWl

— Manya (@CSKian716) January 24, 2020

Shardul Thakur making sure team management regrets their decision of picking him over Navdeep Saini.

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 24, 2020

Virat is a wonderful human. Giving Shardul his much need match practice before joining csk.

— The Alchemist (@ponananthvs) January 24, 2020

Earlier it was Pant vs Samson, now both of them are on the bench. Life is unpredictable.#NZvIND

— ` (@FourOverthrows) January 24, 2020

How can you not play Pant in T20 cricket ?‍♂️ #NZvIND

— Raunak Kapoor (@RaunakRK) January 24, 2020

So, Pant isn’t going to play even in Dhawan’s absence. It seems Sanju’s selection will only do a lip-service on this tour too. #Musings #NZvInd

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 24, 2020

india have a bone to pick with martin guptill #youremember #NZvsIND

— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) January 24, 2020