Kohli Scores 74 as India Beat New Zealand by Five Wickets in Rain-Hit First ODI
Virat Kohli scored 74 from 51 balls and India's pace attack bowled New Zealand out for 185 as the visitors won the rain-hit first one-day international at Eden Park, Auckland, by five wickets to take a 1-0 series lead.
India beat New Zealand by five wickets in the rain-hit first one-day international at Eden Park, Auckland, on Wednesday, taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Chasing a revised target of 143 in 32 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method, India finished on 143 for 5 in 22.4 overs, with 56 balls to spare.
Virat Kohli scored 74 from 51 balls, his 80th half-century in one-day internationals, a day before his 38th birthday. He holed out to deep square leg off Jacob Duffy. Kohli also took a diving one-handed catch at slip to remove Nathan Smith for one, giving Anshul Kamboj his first wicket.
Pace attack sets up the win
New Zealand were bowled out for 185 in 40.2 overs after losing the toss. Arshdeep Singh took 4 for 70 and Gurnoor Brar took 3 for 44, while Kamboj took 2 for 22 from 10 overs in his second one-day international and was named player of the match. Tim Seifert top-scored for the hosts with 38 in his first ODI in more than 18 months, replacing the concussed Devon Conway. India captain Shubman Gill scored 37, and Duffy took 3 for 49.
Rain shortens the chase
Rain interrupted India’s reply twice and reduced the innings to 32 overs. Five days earlier, New Zealand had scored 259 for 7 in the fourth Twenty20 match at the same ground. Gill said after the match: “I think we bowled very good. Overall a very good team performance.” The series moves to Wellington for the second ODI on Saturday.
Reporting based on coverage by cricket.com.au and ESPNcricinfo.
