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Kiwis defeat India by 10 runs

Captain Daniel Vettori led from the front as New Zealand brushed aside India by 10 runs in the Super Eights match of the Twenty20 world championships yesterday.

The spinner claimed 4-20, took a catch and effected a run out as the Kiwis, bowled out for 190, hit back to restrict India to 180-9 in good batting conditions at the Wanderers here.

India failed to build on a blistering start by openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, who put on 76 for the first wicket from 35 deliveries.

Sehwag struck a typically belligerent 17-ball 40 containing six boundaries and two sixes, while Gambhir top-scored with 51 off 33 with five fours and two sixes.

But once Jacob Oram broke through by having Sehwag caught at mid-wicket, India lost their way and conceded wickets at regular intervals to hand New Zealand two valuable points.

New Zealand are grouped with South Africa, England and India in group E of the Super Eights.

Group F comprises Australia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals.

New Zealand's victory was set up by a valiant fightback from the lower order, who plundered 78 runs in the last five overs after they were reduced to 112-5.

Brendon McCullum smashed 45 off 31 balls at the start, before Craig McMillan (44 from 23) and Jacob Oram (35 off 15) bolstered the total by adding 73 in 33 balls for the sixth wicket.

McMillan hit four sixes and Oram three, but New Zealand failed to cross 200 when they lost four wickets in the final over.

"I don't think we bowled well towards the end of the innings, but the target was gettable after we got such a fine start," Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said.

"But we could not get another partnership going and lost too many wickets in a heap," he said. "There is a lesson to be learned here and hopefully we will do better in the other games.

New Zealand next play England tomorrow and India take on England on Wednesday. Both matches will take place in Durban.
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