India set Kiwis a target of 163

It rained sixes at the AMI Stadium on Wednesday as India began their tough tour to New Zealand with respectable 162 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs of the first of the two Twenty20 Internationals

It rained sixes at the AMI Stadium on Wednesday as India began their tough tour to New Zealand with respectable 162 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs of the first of the two Twenty20 Internationals.

Despite 13 sixes, the first three coming off Virender Sehwag's (26 off 10 balls) blade in the maiden over, registered in the Indian innings, India were stuttering at 101 for 7 in the 14th over. At this stage, the ignominy of India's innings not lasting even 20 overs loomed large.

Suresh Raina (61 not out off 43) and Harbhajan Singh (21 off 22) then rescued India with a 61-run stand before Harbhajan was bowled off the last ball of the innings.

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