16 Mar 2016

Black Caps win World T20 opener

1:51 pm on 16 March 2016

The Black Caps have stunned hosts India by 47 runs in the opening match of the World Twenty20 tournament in Nagpur.

The Black Caps celebrate a wicket in their win over India at the T20 World Cup.

The Black Caps celebrate a wicket in their win over India at the T20 World Cup. Photo: Photosport

Batting first, the New Zealand cricketers made 126 for 7 on the slow and turning pitch.

Corey Anderson top-scored for the Black Caps with 34 runs and was backed up by 21 runs from Luke Ronchi and 18 from Mitchell Santner

As hosts and the current world number one side in the T20 format, the 127-run total appeared achievable for India - but they found themselves in trouble early when they lost four wickets within the first five overs.

When Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni were dismissed for 23 and 30 respectively, the side's chances of victory fell dramatically.

India's former captain MS Dhoni was dismissed for 30 in the World Twenty20 opener Nagpur on 16 March 2016.

India's former captain MS Dhoni was dismissed for 30, in a troubled run chase for the hosts. Photo: AFP

The match was all over by the 19th over when Adam Milne removed Ashish Nehra for a duck.

The spin-friendly pitch lived up to its expectations, with nine of the 10 wickets that New Zealand took coming from their spinners.

Mitchell Santner claimed four wickets in his spell for just 11 runs while Ish Sodhi picked up three and Nathan McCullum two.

Santner also picked up the man of the match for his batting and bowling display.

The Black Caps next match is against Australia on Friday night.

New Zealand bowler Mitchell Santner, centre, celebrates the wicket of India's Rohit Sharma during the World T20 match in Nagpur on 15 March 2016.

The Black Caps celebrate with Santner, centre, after claiming Rohit Sharma's wicket. Photo: AFP