Highlights, India vs New Zealand 1st ODI: India Beat New Zealand To Take 1-0 Lead
Highlights: India vs New Zealand 1st ODI: India won the opening match against New Zealand by eight wickets.
India produced cricket of the calibre that has become synonymous with Virat Kohli's men to crush New Zealand in the first ODI but a bizarre and unprecedented sun-induced interruption overshadowed the on-field action here Wednesday. Entering the five-match rubber following maiden Test and ODI series triumphs in Australia, India signalled their intent with a clinical display, which saw them chase down a revised target of 156 by eights wickets in 34.5 overs.   The Duckworth-Lewis method came into the picture for an interruption which was not caused by rain for the first time.   On a near-perfect day, the only thing that didn't go their way was the toss. But India made light of that by bowling out the home team for a paltry 157 in 38 overs. Wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav was the most successful bowler, returning figures of 4/39 in 10 overs, while seamer Mohammed Shami finished with an excellent 3/19 in six overs. There were also two wickets for leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. Captain Kane Williamson top-scored for the hosts with 64 off 81 balls. In response, Shikhar Dhawan began the innings with a flurry of boundaries, eventually finishing as the top-scorer with 75 off 103 balls. (SCORECARD)
The left-handed opening batman, battling indifferent form, studded his innings with six boundaries.  Â
India were comfortably placed at 44 for one when, in a bizarre turn of events, players walked off the ground after dinner because the setting sun made it difficult for them to spot the ball at McLean park.   This led to an interruption that has never been seen in international cricket before. Because of the nearly half-an-hour delay, the target was revised to 156 in 49 overs, which the visitors chased without much ado. While Rohit Sharma may have lost his focus after the dinner break, Kohli and Dhawan didn't let the sun-induced stoppage distract their minds when play resumed. Kohli, though, got out five short of a fifty.  Â
The Indian captain hit three boundaries in his 59-ball knock before pacer Lockie Ferguson had him caught behind with a quick delivery that caught the batsman by surprise.   In the course of his 26th ODI fifty, Dhawan became the joint fourth fastest batsman to reach 5000 runs. Dhawan needed 118 innings to reach the mark.  Â
This knock will bring some relief for Dhawan as he hasn't scored a half century in his last nine innings.  Â
Earlier, opting to bat, the New Zealanders were off to an inauspicious start, losing both openers Martin Guptill and Colin Munro within the first five overs with just 18 runs on the board.  Â
By sending back Guptill in his 56th match, the 28-year-old Shami became the fastest Indian to reach 100 wickets in ODIs.
India Cricket Team
New Zealand Cricket Team
Virat Kohli
Kane Williamson
That is all we have for you from this first ODI. A convincing win in the end for India but they cannot afford to relax. New Zealand are know for their comebacks. The 2nd ODI will be played at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui. The game will begin at 1500 local time (0200 GMT). Join in for that, till then adios!
Victorious Indian captain, Virat Kohli, says that when he lost the toss, he felt that about 300 par was coming. Praises the bowlers for restricting the Kiwis and adds that one could not have asked for anything better. Stresses that the entire fast bowling group believes that they can knock any side over and on Shami, reckons that this is the fittest he has seen him. On the pitch, Kohli says that it got slower in the second half of the innings. Credits the wrist spinners for varying their pace and lines and lengths in the first half. On Dhawan's knock, Virat says that he has always been in good touch but he needs to develop the habit of closing out games. On the players walking off due to the 'sun' effect, VK smiles and says that never in his life has he walked off the field due to this reason and when he last played here in 2014, he felt the same experience. At that time, he says that this rule was not there and is glad that it has been introduced.
New Zealand skipper, Kane Willimson, admits that it was not the best effort from New Zealand. Agrees that India were at their best on a surface which was not great for the batsmen. Credits the Indian bowlers for choking the Kiwi batters and feels that at least 250 was minimum on this surface. On the 12-day break before this game, Williamson says that sometimes long breaks help, sometimes they don't but does not want to cite it as an excuse. Flatly says that the Black Caps did not adjust to the conditions. Wants his team to move on from this game quickly and come back harder in the second game.
MOHAMMED SHAMI HAS BEEN NAMED THE MAN OF THE MATCH. Virat Kohli is translating for him. Shami says that all his success is due to the team work. Stresses that the main part is of execution of the plans. Adds that if plan A does not work then plan B is discussed with the skipper. On his fitness, Shami says that he spent 18 months after injury in rehab and the trainers over there helped him get back to cricket. On the comparison of the pitches between Australia and New Zealand, Shami says they are more or less similar but points out the differences in the ground dimensions and the weather. States further that the last series here was a good learning curve for the bowlers. Ends by saying that all the bowlers enjoyed bowling here since they have come into cooler conditions from the hot ones in Australia.
The Kiwi bowlers were good but didn't have enough runs to play with. Ferguson and Bracewell got a wicket each but that was all about it. You cannot win a match if you have 157 on the board and not take the opposition all out. Earlier on, Shami, Kuldeep and Chahal restricted New Zealand to a paltry 157. Stay tuned for the post match presentation.
As easy as it gets! After some wonderful bowling, India back it up with good batting and win the first match of the series. Dhawan and Rohit played Powerplay 1 well enough. The players then had to stop play because the 'sun' was disturbing them. After they came back, Rohit fell but Kohli anchored the innings well and didn't allow the Black Caps a sniff. The Indian skipper missed out on a fifty but Dhawan went on and scored his 50 taking India to victory alongside Rayudu handing India a big 8-wicket win.
That will do. Length ball outside off, Rayudu taps it with soft hands to the off side and responds to Dhawan's call who makes it in time. INDIA BEAT NEW ZEALAND BY 8 WICKETS!
Still level! Outside off, Rayudu pushes it to point.
Not yet, Rayudu punches it to cover-point.
FOUR! Scores tied! Pitches it up outside off, Rayudu comes down the track and lofts this over covers. Boundary. Just one run away now.