A superb display by the bowlers, backed up by a welcome return to form for Shikhar Dhawan, powered India to a commanding victory in their ODI series opener in New Zealand at Napier on Wednesday, 23 January.
Mohammed Shame dented the Kiwi top-order with early strikes, before wrist-spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav ran through the middle- and lower-order to bundle the hosts out for a paltry 157 after Kane Williamson had opted to bat first.
For his brilliant figures of 3/19, Mohammed Shami is named the Player of the Match. 👏 #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/vbVaLL71Tz
— ICC (@ICC) January 23, 2019
A brief ‘sun strike’ during the Indian innings was the only hindrance in the run-chase, as Dhawan’s unbeaten 75 saw Virat Kohli’s side over the line with eight wickets in hand and 85 balls to spare.
Skipper Kohli had seemed set to join Dhawan in crossing 50, but he fell five short when he nicked a rising delivery from Lockie Ferguson behind to Latham. That denied the Delhi duo their ninth 100+ stand in ODIs, with the partnership ending at 91.
Disciplined bowling followed by an unbeaten half-century from Shikhar Dhawan helped India seal victory in the first #NZvIND ODI.
REPORT ⏬https://t.co/Ykt5zLa2KA pic.twitter.com/fMqPHpisYn
— ICC (@ICC) January 23, 2019
Ambati Rayudu, reinstated into the XI at the expense of Dinesh Karthik after sitting out the final game in Australia, saw out the remainder of the chase alongside Dhawan to complete India’s first victory against the Kiwis on New Zealand soil in any format since March 2009.
Clinical. #TeamIndia start off the series with a 8-wicket win against New Zealand in the 1st ODI. 1-0 🇮🇳🇮🇳 #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/P4lLKjoCvu
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 23, 2019
