Kohli ‘fails’ but India cruise to ODI victory over Black Caps
The bowlers did the bulk of the work as India smashed New Zealand by eight wickets in the first ODI at Napier.
India had arrived in New Zealand on the back of a 2-1 victory in Australia, and continued to impress on the road to this summer’s World Cup in England despite sun stopping play during a particularly bright Napier sunset.
Mohammed Shami picked up three wickets, crucially nipping out both the Black Caps’ dangerous openers Martin Guptill and Colin Munro with the new ball before the spinners got to work.
Kuldeep Yadav took 4/39 and Yuzvendra Chahal 2/43 as New Zealand folded to 157 all out despite a lone-hand 64 off 81 from skipper Kane Williamson.
India lost Rohit Sharma in the powerplay but a 91-run stand between Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli ensured India were never under any pressure in pursuit of a revised 156 in 49 overs.
To everyone’s surprise, not least his own, Kohli fell for 45 with the victory line in sight when feathering an attempted pull down the legside through to Tom Latham off Lockie Ferguson but Dhawan saw the job through to end unbeaten on 75 – his first ODI half-century for nine innings – as India got home with 14 overs to spare.
The teams now head to Mount Maunganui for the second and third games of the five-match series on Saturday and Monday.
Latest
-
Ball of the CenturyApril 2019’s Ball of the Century: Kulkarni to Lynn – FOUR
This month’s ball of the century comes, inevitably, from the IP of L.
-
2019 Cricket World CupPakistan leave Amir out of provisional World Cup squad
No Mohammad Amir in Pakistan’s first-draft squad…
-
2019 Cricket World CupSri Lanka name mad World Cup squad: Dickwella axed, Karunaratne leads
Sri Lanka have gone full England with their World Cup squad.
-
2019 Cricket World CupAmla earns South Africa World Cup recall, Hendricks misses out
Hashim Amla back for the World Cup despite recent ODI struggles.
-
Dave TicknerArcher fudge has echoes of England’s inglorious past, but they’ve got this right
England have played their Jofra Archer card just right.
-
2019 Cricket World CupEngland leave Archer out of World Cup squad – for now
England leave out Jofra Archer. Temporarily. Maybe.
-
2019 Cricket World CupICC Cricket World Cup 2019: Full squad lists
Every confirmed World Cup squad, and details of when the rest will be named.
-
2019 Cricket World CupPant left out of India World Cup squad, Karthik and Shankar picked
No Rishabh Pant in India’s World Cup squad makes us sad.
-
2019 Cricket World CupSmith and Warner in Australia World Cup squad, Handscomb misses out
Steve Smith is back, Peter Handscomb the odd man out.
-
Oli FisherCricket365’s Fantasy Review – Weeks One and Two
Get involved with Fantasy cricket. Because what else are you going to do to pass the time in the office?