India’s Virat Kohli struck a blistering century, his 18th in One Day Internationals but it was New Zealand who walked off with victory in the first One Day International yesterday.
The first of five ODI’s between the two sides ended in a 24-0run defeat for the visitors at Mc Lean Park, Napier, New Zealand.
The victory was New Zealand’s first against India in seven ODIs with their previous win against India being in Dambulla in 2010.
Batting first, the New Zealanders relied on consistent batting from the middle and lower order to post 292-7 from their allotted 50 overs.
Kane Williamson, batting at number three, was the top scorer with 71, an innings which included seven fours and came off 88 balls.
Corey Anderson supported with an unbeaten knock of 68 off 40 balls.
The all rounder belted three fours and four sixes while the evergreen Ross Taylor, batting at number four, made 55 from 82 balls with a solitary four.
Williamson and Ross Taylor featured in a third wicket stand of 121-run in 24.2 overs following the dismissals of openers Jesse Ryder and Martin Guptil.
Later Brendan Mc Cullum and Luke Ronchi added impetus to the innings with scores of 30 each.
Mohammed Shami bagged 4-55 his best figures in ODIs.
In reply, India, despite a brilliant 123 from Kohli, was dismissed for 268. Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who became the first Indian wicketkeeper to snare 300 ODI dismissals, made 40 while Mitchell Mc Clenaghan grabbed 4-68 taking the key wickets of Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja in one over while Anderson picked up the wickets of Shikhar Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane to crown a fine all round performance. The next ODI is set for Wednesday in Hamilton.
