A spectacular knock of 74 from batting supremo Virat Kohli has inspired India to a commanding five-wicket win (DLS) over New Zealand in the first ODI in Auckland. Chasing a meagre target of 186, India suffered an early blow with the departure of veteran star Rohit Sharma for a duck. However, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli anchored the innings brilliantly to fire India back in the game.
Meanwhile, just as India were cruising along nicely in their chase, rain disrupted the proceedings in the 11th over when the men in blue were 54/1. Following a lengthy wait and repeated disruptions by passing showers, India were handed a revised target of 143 runs in 32 overs. And as ever, Kohli, who was in splendid form, continued where he left off, bringing up his fifty in 35 balls, which turned out to be one of the fastest half-centuries of his ODI career.
But his innings came to an end in the 20th over when New Zealand bowler Jacob Duffy struck to take him out at a crucial time. After Kohli’s dismissal, things got a bit challenging for India, but they somehow managed to get over the line in 22.4 overs to go 1-0 up in the series. Earlier, New Zealand, asked to bat, were folded for 185 in 40.2 overs, with Arshdeep Singh returning with a four-fer and Gurnoor Brar claiming three wickets. For the Black Caps, Tim Seifert, Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips scored 38, 28 and 30, respectively, to power New Zealand to a respectable total.