Outstanding New Zealand fielding paved the way for a never-say-die 24-run win over India in the opening one-day international at McLean Park in Napier yesterday.A classy Virat Kohli century looked to have anchored India to the win as they chased New Zealand’s 292-7.
But the world No.1 ODI side crumbled from 224-4 to be all out for 268 in 48.2 overs to give New Zealand a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Mitchell McClenaghan led the way, returning figures of 4-68 including the crucial wicket of Kohli for 123 early in the 45th over.
Kohli had dominated in racking up his 18th ODI century off 93 balls as he and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni constructed a 95-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
The pair came together with the score on 129-4, and looked unshakeable until McClenaghan struck halfway through the 43rd over.
A short-pitched ball hurried onto Dhoni, who gloved it onto his helmet for wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi to take a superb diving catch.
New batsman Ravindra Jadeja lasted just three balls before edging another McClenaghan delivery to Ronchi, and McClenaghan struck again two balls into the 45th over when Kohli blasted a full toss straight to Ryder.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar was run out on the first ball of the next over, then tailenders Ravichandran Ashwin and Ishant Sharma were dismissed in short order as the Kiwis wrapped up the win.
Earlier, big hitting Corey Anderson took charge in the closing stages of the New Zealand innings to belt an unbeaten 68 off 40 balls, including three boundaries and four booming sixes.
The 23-year-old allrounder, who also picked up 2-51 off his 10 overs, had been relatively subdued since smashing a world record 36-ball century in the second ODI against the West Indies in Queenstown on New Year’s Day.
But he rediscovered his mojo on Sunday, putting on 66 in 37 balls for the sixth wicket with Ronchi, who continued his recent good form with a quickfire 30 off 18 balls.
Mohammed Shami was the best of the Indian bowlers with overall figures of 4-55 off nine overs, picking up the early wickets of Jesse Ryder (18) and Martin Guptill (8) to leave the Kiwis struggling at 32-2 in the eighth over.
Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor rebuilt the innings with poise and patience in adding 121 runs for the third wicket.
Williamson kept the score ticking over with an 88-ball 71 and Taylor provided the perfect foil in working the ball around and stroking just one boundary in his 82-ball 55.
Brendon McCullum contributed a breezy 30 from 25 balls before edging another superbly taken catch to Dhoni, leaving Anderson to play the mainstay in guiding the Kiwis to a competitive total.
The second ODI in the five-match series is in Hamilton on Wednesday. (CA)