Cricket

India vs New Zealand, 1st ODI: India win by 53 runs

India beat New Zealand in the first ODI at Napier by 53 runs and took a 1-0 lead in the rain curtailed match. India outshined New Zealand in bowling as well as batting department to clinch the first One-Day International win under D/L method.

Solid fifties by Sehwag (77), Dhoni (84) and Raina (66) powered India to 273/4 against New Zealand in the first ODI at Napier. After Duckworth Lewis method, the target was revised to 278 for the Kiwis. Sehwag led from the front and smashed his 34th ODI fifty. But soon the opener too gave away his wicket to Daniel Vettori when he was negating the Kiwi attack at 77 and missed on his deserving 11th ODI century. Ross Taylor took a brilliant catch to send the opener back.MS Dhoni (89*) played captain’s knock and with the help of Suresh Raina (66) took India past 200. Dhoni added 29th half-century to his ODI career whereas it was Raina’s 10th in the 50-over version.

Chasing a revised target of 278 runs, New Zealand got two early blows to their line-up when Brendon McCullum (0) and Jesse Ryder (11) could not sustain Praveen Kumar’s pace attack. He sent back the two mighty batsmen in less than 10 overs.Guptil was playing at 49 when rain again played spoilsport to halt the play. The match was reduced to 28 overs.

Eventually covers went up and Guptill (64) revived the innings. He played a sensible knock to raise his well-deserved fifty but the heroics weren’t enough to make his side float.Ace spinner Harbhajan Singh’s arrival at the pitch ruined the left over hopes of the hosts as he swept away three batsmen – Guptil (64), Broom (2) and Mills (0) in an over to take India closer to victory.

The second match will be played on Friday.

Tags: duckworth lewis method, India, MS Dhoni, Napier, new zealand, ODI series, suresh raina, virender sehwag