India took a 1-0 lead over New Zealand in the ODI series after a six wicket win at Dharamsala. Image Source: BCCI[/caption]Internet Desk: India cruised to a comprehensive six wickets win over New Zealand in the first ODI at HPCA stadium on Sunday. Chasing a modest 191 to win, India cruised home with 16.5 overs to spare. Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten 85 runs.
Earlier New Zealand could manage a modest total of 190 runs before getting bowled out in 43.5 overs. Opener Tom Latham was top scorer for the Kiwis with his unbeaten 79-run knock while Hardik Pandya (3/31) and Amit Mishra (3/49) took three wickets apiece for the hosts.
Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma provided India with a confident start as they put on 49 runs for the first wicket. Rohit had a nervous start to his innings as his thick edge ran down to the boundary. Rahane continued his good form with the bat as he smacked Doug Bracewell for two more boundaries. He even went on to improvise early in his innings as he pulled Bracewell for a six.
However, Bracewell finally had something to smile about, when Rohit became ambitious and was adjudged leg before for 14 runs. Rahane was going strong, but then, he chased one outside off from Jimmy Neesham on the first ball of the 13th over to be caught behind by Ronchi.
Virat Kohli, who began with a cover drive, took India past 100 runs. Pandey’s stay at the crease did not last too long as he fell in the 20th over. He managed to score only 17 off 22 balls. Ish Sodhi had Pandey caught at short midwicket by captain Kane Williamson.
Meanwhile, Kohli continued to make most of the form he has attained following the double-century in the final Test at Indore. Kohli played the deliveries as per their merit, and since the asking rate was not going to daunt India at any point of time, the right-hander took it pretty easy.
Kohli added 60 runs for the fourth wicket with Dhoni. As India looked well on course to achieve a comprehensive seven wicket win, Kohli led to the downfall of Dhoni with a miss call for a run. Dhoni came halfway down the wicket. The skipper did not even try going back to his end, and was run-out for 24-ball 21 which included a fantastic six over deep fine-leg. Kohli remained unbeaten on 85 (81). His innings was studded with 10 boundaries and a six.
Earlier in the game, India bowled out New Zealand for a paltry total of 190 in 43.5 overs. Tom Latham became the first batsman from New Zealand to carry his bat in ODI cricket, as he remained unbeaten on 79. He added 71 extremely crucial runs with Tim Southee — who smashed his first-ever half-century in ODI cricket — and bailed New Zealand out of trouble. At one stage, it looked like New Zealand would not get past 100, but a 41-run stand with Doug Bracewell took the Kiwis close to the 100-run mark.
Indians were on fire with the ball, as their debutant Hardik Pandya began his ODI career with a spell of 7-0-31-3. Umesh Yadav bowled with a lot of venom, returning with the figures of 8-0-31-2. India had picked two specialist spinners in Amit Mishra and Akshar Patel, but Kedar Jadhav was used as a spinner before them, and the right-arm bowler surprised one and all with the figures of 3-0-6-2. Mishra, who was introduced only after the Kiwis lost 7 wickets, claimed 3 for 49 and became the quickest Indian spinner to take 50 ODI wickets.
India lead the five match ODI series 1-0.
Brief Scores:
New Zealand: 190 all out in 43.5 overs. (T.Latham 79, T.Southee 55; H Pandya 3/31, Amit Mishra 3/49).
India: 194 for 4 in 33.1 overs. (Virat Kohli 85 not out, Ajinkya Rahane 33; Ish Sodhi 1/28).
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