India vs New Zealand - 1st ODI: As it Happened...

Live updates of India vs New Zealand, first ODI from Napier

Zee Media Bureau

SCORECARD» | COMMENTARY» | AS IT HAPPENED» ================================================================= Over 48.4|| Score 268/10 It's all over in Napier. Kiwis now beat the No.1 ranked team in the world by 24 runs with more than an over to spare. Despite Kohli's heroics, India succumbed. New Zealand fought back to clinch the match and start the series with a bang. Ishant Sharma b Tim Southee 5 (10b) ================================================================= Over 47.2|| Score 259/9 India Nine Down! Or the last wicket in hand! Required run – 34. Kane Williamson strikes in his over. Huge contribution from the batsmen, who resurrected the Kiwi innings earlier today. R Ashwin c Tim Southee b Kane Williamson 12 (10b) ================================================================= Over 45.1|| Score 244/8 Eight down for India. Typical tail scramble, without any clue. 49 runs required from 30 balls, will all the recognise batsmen back in the hut. What a turn-around for the Kiwis. Ashwin and Ishant at the crease. Bhuvneshwar Kumar run out 6 (4b) ================================================================= Over 44.2|| Score 237/7 Now what about this? Centurian Kohli departs. Three quick wickets and the Indians are in big trouble. The in-charge of the wreck, Mitchell McClenaghan. All three falling to him - inside a spell of two overs. Virat Kohli c Jesse Ryder b Mitchell McClenaghan 123 (111b) ================================================================= Over 42.6|| Score 224/6 Ronchi and McClenaghan combine again. Jadeja returns after a three-ball duck. With that Kiwis are back into the match. Ravindra Jadeja c Luke Ronchi b Mitchell McClenaghan 0 (3b) ================================================================= Over 42.3|| Score 224/5 Kiwi wicket-keeper takes a beautiful wicket to send Indian skipper and wicket-keeper, Dhoni back to the pavilion. A crucial strike for the hosts. MS Dhoni c Luke Ronchi b Mitchell McClenaghan 40 (46b) ================================================================= Over 40|| Score 210/4 Now, Dhoni joins the fun. Already in his thirties! But the required run rate is still more than 8 and over, 83 from 60 balls to precise. In between, hugely impressive Anderson completes his 10 overs. Some runs, few wickets and fielding... that's a complete package for any cricketer. ================================================================= Over 37.5|| Score 190/4 Another Chase, another Hundred for Kohli And everybody knows, when he scores a hundred while chasing, India wins. For the record, this is Kohli's 18th hundred. Already amongst the greats! Way to go! Dropped when he was in the nineties by Ryder, Kohli reaches his hundred with a four, 10th for the innings. Impressive knock. ================================================================= Over 35|| Score 162/4 India still require another 131 runs from 15 overs at 8.73 runs an over. That's quite an task. However, if this partnership continues, that shouldn’t be a problem for the visitors. Still in the batting power play period, expect some hitting from the Indians, specially the specialist in Dhoni. That helicopter shot, very much possible in this small fields ================================================================= Over 30|| Score 137/4 With the arrival of skipper Dhoni, India will look at their last recognise batting partnership in this chase. How well these two batsmen rotates and milk runs from the Kiwis will decide the outcome of the match. Kohli has so far compiled 63 from 69 balls, keeping India well within the sight of a victory. ================================================================= Over 28.2|| Score 129/4 And Kohli finds himself losing another partner. This time, it's Suresh Raina. The southpaw, trying to pull a rising delivery from Adam Milne, ended offering a catch to Southee in deep. The fielder in Southee lunge forward to complete a well judge catch. Cheers all around for the Kiwis. Suresh Raina c Tim Southee b Adam Milne 18 (22b) ================================================================= Over 25|| Score 103/3 Virat Kohli reaches his 50th with a nudge (from 58 balls), off Nathan McCullum. It's his first outing in New Zealand, tremendous effort from the mainstay of Indian batting. With another 25 overs to be bowled, India should look to consolidate this partnership. ================================================================= Over 21|| Score 83/3 That's hell of a catch! Outstanding from sometimes a keeper, sometimes an outfielder Kiwi skipper. Diving full length, takes a catch out of low drive from Rahane towards mid-off. These are the things which motivate bowlers and demoralise batting sides. Catches win matches, that age old adage is still in relevance. AM Rahane c NL McCullum b Corey Anderson 7 (13b) ================================================================= Over 18.1|| Score 78/2 Corey Anderson – who bludgeoned Indian bowlers a little while ago, returns to break a flourishing partnership, as Dhawan lofts the ball, without any control. A cool Taylor completes the sending off of the remaining Indian opener. The Delhi batsman made 32 runs from 46 balls, and was looking a perfect foil to a free-scoring Kohli. S Dhawan c Ross Taylor b Corey Anderson 32 (46b) ================================================================= Over 15|| Score 64/1 India's push for quicker runs continues with both Dhawan and Kohli in fine touch. The last five overs have yielded 24 runs. For the Kiwis, skipper McCullum have so far used four bowlers. Of the lot, Southee has been the most effective. ================================================================= Over 10|| Score 43/1 Suddenly, Indians have taken the initiative. Shikhar Dhawan, who was dropped when in 16, seems to have found his touch. He is in his twenties... enjoying the shot-making, his favourite. In his company, India's man of the moment, Virat Kohli is occupying the crease with consummate ease. If this partnership flourishes, this seemingly big score will be down without dealing with much trouble in the Indian camp. ================================================================= Over 5.2|| Score 15/1 Wicket!!! A circumspect Rohit Sharma finally departs. Brave enough to play a hook in the alien conditions but, the end result... a crash landing, in the deep fine leg. Catch well taken by McClenaghan. The opener made 3 runs of 23 balls, with a strike rate of 13.something...It's ODI that too chasing 290+. Rohit Sharma c Tim Southee b McClenaghan 3 (23b) ================================================================= Over 5|| Score 15/0 It's a quite start to the chase from the Indians. In the first five overs that the visitors have played, neither of the batsmen have managed to find the gaps. Kiwi opening bowlers, Tim Southee and Mitchell McClenaghan are enjoying their spell conceding only 15 runs between them. ================================================================= Over 50|| Score 292/7 That's the end of first innings from McLean Park. India finish strongly, conceding only 32 runs in the final five overs. Summing up the story so far – Dhoni's choice of bowling first may well prove beneficial as the pitch is turning into a batting turf, which was reflected by the way New Zealand stroke-makers batted and scored. And considering India's recent run-chasing exploits, under 300 target should not be that tough. Yes, the fields are small too. In the bowling front, young bloods – Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami ere exceptional. Kumar was miserly while, an expensive looking Shami returned with four wickets. For the most experienced bowler, Ishant Sharma, a tough outing. For the Kiwis, a creditable middle order resurrection took the score to a reasonable total. Corey Anderson, certainly a batsman to watch out for. ================================================================= Over 48.6|| Score 284/7 Another Shami dismissal! Quick wickets for India. Nathan McCullum tried to work-out from a fullish delivery but, ended up offering a low return catch the bowler. Somehow, India manage to pull plug in the run-leak. NL McCullum c & b Mohammed Shami 2 (5b) ================================================================= Over 47.5|| Score 279/6 Catch! Wicket! Finally some cheer for Ishant. Bhuvneshwar Kumar took a tumbling catch to give his bowling partner a wicket. Ishant's figure reads: 8 overs-64 runs-1 wicket Ronchi departs after making a quick-fire 30 from 18 balls. Corey Ronchi c Bhuvneshwar Kumar b Ishant Sharma 30 (18b) ================================================================= Over 45|| Score 256/5 Fields in New Zealand may be smaller, but these clean strikes from the inhabitants are certainly bigger... way bigger And thanks to such massive blows, Kiwis have accumulated more than 50 runs in the last 5 overs. Leading the way is certain newbie, called Corey Anderson. The 23-year-old has found stands three times in his 42 runs. His striking partner, Luke Ronchi is no stranger to such situation - the death overs, and has already amassed 24 from mere 12 balls, that is 2 runs a ball with two massive sixes. In between, Ravichandran Ashwin has completed his quota of 10 overs. A quite show for the spinner, after conceding 52 runs without a single scalp. Another record for the Indian skipper. Dhoni, by taking that catch to dismiss Ross Taylor, has become the first and fourth overall to effect 300 dismissals in One Day Internationals. Kudos! ================================================================= Over 41.4|| Score 213/5 Great catch! Dhoni got his opposite number. Standing upto the stumps to not so slow Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Brendon McCullum departs after making a quick 30 from 25 deliveries. He was certainly starting to warm up. Big wicket for the Indians. BB McCullum c MS Dhoni b Bhuvneshwar Kumar 30 (25b) ================================================================= Over 40|| Score 202/4 Just played the last over of the batting power-play. McCullum milked 17 runs from that Ishant over, as New Zealand crossed 200 run mark. Anderson, on the other hand, is giving a quiet company to his skipper, who has started to dictate the terms in Napier. With that, Ishant has conceded 52 runs from his 7 overs, without any return. An ordinary effort from the lanky bowler! ================================================================= Over 36.2|| Score 171/4 Shami has got another one, third for the innings. No so beautiful ball – a loosener perhaps. But it got enough to coax Taylor play. The in-form batsman ended up offering a low diving catch to Indian skipper. Dhoni accepts it gleefully, as ever. Ross Taylor c MS Dhoni b Mohammed Shami 55 (82b) ================================================================= Over 35|| Score 161/3 Skipper Brendon McCullum arrives in the centre to give company to his former captain, Taylor. Slowly, the Kiwis are increasing the tempo. Now, with another 15 overs remaining, the run rate is 5. Considering the number of wickets in hand and all capable of swinging the bat, expect some hitting. ================================================================= Over 33|| Score 153/3 It's wicket No.3. Williamson departs after making a well constructed innings of 71 runs. Probably a lapse of concentration has done him in. Comfortable catch for Rahane in mid-off, off a Jadeja delivery, the last delivery of 33rd over in the New Zealand innings. Kane Williamson c Ajinkya Rahane b Ravindra Jadeja 71 (88b) ================================================================= Over 30|| Score 136/2 Ashwin, who has been bowling well so far conceded 10 runs in his 7th over. For the Kiwis, there was only one shot to the boundary, but exceptional running between the wickets helped them score easy runs. ================================================================= Over 20|| Score 90/2 Dhoni is juggling his bowlers to much at the moment. It shows his desperation to break this partnership between Kane and Ross, which is now looking solid. Both have already added 58 runs for the third wicket. After the fall of two early wickets they have been playing sensibly cricket. ================================================================= Over 15 || Score 60/2 Ross Taylor has come to the crease after the fall off second New Zealand wicket, to join Kane Williamson in the middle. Where Taylor is a bit shaky to start off with, Kane is looking quite confident at the crease and is middling the balls well. Second bowling change of the innings in over number 14. And this time its spinner Ravinder Jadeja who has been introduced. Jadeja bowled a tight first over and gave just two runs an with that the hosts also touched the mark of 50 runs. In the next over off Ishant, Kane and Ross scored a boundary each to collect ten runs from the over. ================================================================= Over 10 || Score 38/2 Shami is on a roll here. After scalping the first wicket in the form of Ryder, Shami didn't take much time to sent the other opener, Guptill, back to the pavilion. A slightly short of length ball at the off stump and Guptill went for a cut but only managed to get the outside edge and Ashwin took a sharp catch at slips. Both the openers are back in the pavilion within 10 overs, means India got off to a good start in the first ODI at Napier. First bowling change.Ishant Sharma has been introduced into the attack to bowl the tenth over. And he started off well by giving just three runs in the over. MJ Guptill c Ashwin b Mohammed Shami 8 (23b) ================================================================= Over 5 || Score 26/1 Ryder Out.India got the first breakthrough early on in the form of dangerous looking Jesse Ryder. Shami has provided India the first break. A perfectly pitched ball by Shami and it went through the gates of double-minded Ryder. The hosts lost their first wicket in the fourth over, as Ryder departed after scoring 18 runs. D Ryder b Mohammed Shami 18 (16b) ================================================================= Over 2 || Score 16/0 Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami have started the bowling proceedings for India, whereas Jesse Ryder and Martin Guptill have come to open the innings for New Zealand. Ryder sent the last ball of the first over by Bhuvi out of the park. Half jab by the southpaw and the ball flew over the square leg boundary. In the next over by Shami, Ryder smashed two consecutive boundaries to collect nine from the over. ================================================================= India have won the toss and elected to field first. India is all set to kick-off their new year campaign against the Black Caps. If we compare both the teams in terms of their rankings then India is placed at the top in the ICC ODI rankings, whereas the hosts are sitting far below, at 8th position. Indian team is undoubtedly strong on papers as well, if compared with their counterparts. But while playing at home Black Caps have maintained a good track record. And home advantage might give them an edge over India. Apart from that NZ have players like Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor and Kyle Mills who are capable of winning matches on their own and can give India a run for their money. So, one can say that the hosts too have a fair chance to win the series against the world champions and the top ranked team. ================================================================= Napier: India would look to gain some valuable experience and confidence when they clash with New Zealand in a five-match ODI series, beginning here tomorrow, as Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his boys will begin the defence of their World Cup title on these very shores next year. The reigning World Champions will also be looking to defend their number one ranking, in this format of the game, against the eighth-ranked hosts. Unlike their previous tour in December, this trip imparts greater significance to India. Against South Africa, the Indian team management decided to use the three-match series as a learning exercise for the ensuing Test series.