Blanked by Team India on the T20 series, New Zealand opened the three match ODI series against India in style. It won the first ODI at Hamilton by 4 wickets. The match was a high scoring affair .A staggering 695 runs were scored . India scored 347 / 4 in their 50 overs. And New Zealand showed some grit to score 348 /6 to seal a fine win and take a 1-0 lead in the series.
New Zealand skipper Tom Latham ( in place of injured Kane Williamson) won the toss and elected to field first. Staging comeback into the Indian team after a while Prithvi Shaw opened the innings and scored ( 20). Rohit Sharma’s replacement Mayank Agarwal scored ( 32) . But the impetus to the innings were laid by skipper Virat Kohli ( 51) off 63 balls . Shreyas Iyer one of the finds of the tour so far scored his first ODI hundred a superb innings of 103 off 107 balls. In fine form K L Rahul chipped in with an aggressive 88 off 64 balls. Kedar Jadhav played a useful cameo of 26 . India posted an impressive total of 347/ 4 in their 50 overs. Rishabh Pant did not figure in the eleven again
The Kiwis bowlers were sent on a leather hunt by the Indian batting line- up. Tim Southee 2/ 85 ( 10 overs), Hamish Bennett 0/ 77 ( 10 overs), Colin de Grandhomme 1/ 41 ( 8 overs), James Neesham 0/ 52 ( 8 overs), Mitchell Santner 0/ 58 ( 10 overs), Ish Sodhi 1/ 27 ( 4 overs)
Chasing the huge Indian total and keen to restore pride after T20 series whitewash, the Kiwis lost Martin Guptill early for 32 . Henry Nicholls put them back with a fighting 78 before he run out sensationally by Indian skipper Virat Kohli . Tom Blundell fell for ( 9). Stand in skipper Tom Latham scored a fine 69 . They lost some wickets in the middle and nearly made a mess of the chase. James Neesham ( 9) , Colin de Grandhomme run- out for ( 1).
But the experienced Ross Taylor anchored the chase with a brilliant unbeaten hundred. Unfazed by wickets falling at the other end, Taylor held his ground and with Mitchell Santner unbeaten on 12 helped the kiwis cross the line . New Zealand reached 348/ 6 in 48.1 overs with four wickets to spare to clinch a terrific victory. That too chasing a stiff target.
It was tough for Indian bowlers. Their figures said it all. Jasprit Bumrah 0/ 53 (10 overs), Mohammed Shami 1/ 63 ( 9.1 overs), Shardul Thakur 1/ 80 ( 9 overs), Ravindra Jadeja 0/ 64 ( 10 overs), Kuldeep Yadav 2/84 ( 10 overs)
