India wallop Kiwis in Nehra's last match

A record opening partnership between Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma powered India to a 53-run victory over New Zealand in the opening Twenty20 international in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Invited to bat, Dhawan, who hit a career-best 80, and Sharma, who also made 80, put together 158 runs to give the hosts a resounding total of 202-3.

The India bowlers then came good too as they restricted the visitors to 149-8 in what was the farewell match for paceman Ashish Nehra. Tom Latham top-scored with 39 runs, but he hardly found the support he needed from the others. Nehra failed to get a wicket in his four-overs spell.

Earlier, the Dhawan-Sharma pair put up India's best partnership for any wicket in T20s, surpassing the 136-run opening show between Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir against England in the 2007 World Cup.

Indian batsmen also benefited from a sloppy effort by New Zealand fielders with Dhawan, on eight, and Sharma, on 16, surviving dropped chances.

Leg-spinner Ish Sodhi got Dhawan caught behind in the 17th over but the swashbuckling opener had done enough damage with 10 fours and 2 sixes in his 52-ball knock.

Sodhi also got Hardik Pandya for nought two balls later but the unstoppable Sharma, who hit 6 fours and 4 sixes, continued to entertain a raucous home crowd.

Sharma fell to fast bowler Trent Boult in the penultimate over but skipper Virat Kohli, who was also dropped on eight, finished unbeaten on 26 off 11 deliveries.

SCORES IN BRIEF

INDIA: 202 for 3 in 20 overs (Sharma 80, Dhawan 80, Kohli 26 not out; Sodhi 2-25)

NEW ZEALAND: 149 for 8 in 20 overs (Williamson 28, Latham 39, Santner 27 not out; Patel 2-20, Chahal 2-26, Nehra 0-29)

Result: India won by 53 runs