Kiwis breeze past India

Trent Boult led an inspired bowling attack as New Zealand thrashed Twenty20 World Cup favourites India by eight wickets on Sunday to leave Virat Kohli's men facing a desperate struggle to reach the semi-finals.

Boult and leg-spinner Ish Sodhi shared five wickets between them to restrict India to 110 for seven after being invited to bat first in the Super 12 clash in Dubai.

Skipper Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell, who made 49, put 72 runs for the second wicket as the Kiwis romped home in 14.3 overs and hand India their second straight loss of the tournament.

Jasprit Bumrah denied Mitchell his maiden fifty but the wicket proved a minor blemish for the Kiwis, who bounced back from their opening loss to group toppers Pakistan.

India, who lost their first Super 12 match to Pakistan by 10 wickets, remain in danger of slipping out of the race for the semi-finals.

"I don't think we were brave enough with bat or ball," said Kohli. "We didn't have much to defend but we weren't brave when we walked out to field. When you play for the Indian cricket team you have a lot of expectations - not just from fans, but players as well.

"So there's always going to be more pressure with our games and we've embraced it over the years."

Williamson hailed his team as they collected their first win.

"A fantastic all-round performance from us against a formidable India side," he said. "We were able to build pressure throughout and the way the openers came out really set the platform."

Boult dismissed Ishan Kishan for four and nearly had Rohit Sharma on the next ball but Adam Milne dropped an easy catch at fine leg. But the New Zealand pace bowlers kept coming at the Indian batsmen to restrict them to 110 for seven.

In reply, Martin Guptill started on an attacking note to smash three boundaries before falling to Bumrah who returned figures of 2-19. Mitchell took on the Indian bowlers as he hit left-arm spinner Jadeja for a six and then got another shot over the fence to bring up New Zealand's fifty in the seventh over.  He departed with New Zealand needing 15 and Devon Conway joined Williamson to complete the formalities.

NZ THRASHING PUTS INDIA ON THE BRINK... India captain Virat Kohli (R) wears a frustrated look during his side’s T20 World Cup fixture against New Zealand in Dubai yesterday. India lost the match by eight wickets, leaving their chances of reaching the semifinals hanging by a thread. PHOTO: AFP