Worcestershire Rapids 2021 Vitality Blast signing, Ish Sodhi, celebrated his 29th birthday with another telling contribution for New Zealand in their eight wicket win over India in the ICC T20 World Cup in Dubai.
Sodhi, who played the entire Blast campaign for the Rapids this summer, returned the superb figures of 4-0-17-2 and picked up the prize wicket of India captain, Virat Kohli.
The spinner played a significant role in India being restricted to 110-7, a modest target achieved by the Black Caps with 5.3 overs to spare.
Sodhi struck in his first over when Rohit Sharma (14) fell to a tumbling catch at long on by former Rapids player, Martin Guptill.
He then accounted for Kohli (9) when he went for a slog sweep but only succeeded a slicing a catch to Trent Boult, also a long on.
It followed on from Sodhi’s figures of 2-28 against Pakistan in Sharjah earlier in the tournament.
Another ex Rapids player in spinner Mitchell Santner also did an effective job in bowling four overs for 15 runs.
Sodhi picked up 11 wickets for the Rapids and, of the players bowled regularly, only fellow spinner Brett D’Oliveira had a better economy rate.
*Rapids Vitality Blast captain, Moeen Ali, was part of the England side which overpowered Australia by eight wickets in Dubai.
Moeen was not called upon to bowl after his impressive performances against West Indies, (2-17), and Bangladesh, (2-18).
England are next in action today (Monday) against Sri Lanka in Sharjah.
