India vs New Zealand 2019: 1st ODI - Bowlers Help India to go 1-0 Up

India vs New Zealand 2019: Report – India cruised to a convincing win in the first ODI against New Zealand by eight wickets (DLS). The Indian bowlers led the charge as they skittled out the hosts for a mundane score of 157 runs. It was always going to be a cakewalk for the potent Indian batting and they were able to get over the line with ease. Thus, the visitors have taken a lead of 1-0 in the ongoing five-match series.

Shikhar Dhawan scored 75 to help India get over the line after bowlers did a fine job in the first innings.

1st Innings:

India’s fast bowler Mohammed Shami gave a perfect start when he got rid of dangerous Martin Guptill. The ball took the inside edge of the right-hander’s bat which chopped back on to the stumps. Shami gave another breakthrough to the team when he discovered the gap between Colin Munro’s bat and pad to hit the top of off stump. The fast bowler also took a wicket in his second spell when he plumbed Mitchell Santner in front of the wickets.

Indian bowlers came with a collective effort.

Yuzvendra Chahal then carried on his form and took two good low catches to get rid of Ross Taylor and Tom Latham. Taylor advanced down the track but played a half-hearted shot straight back to the bowler. Chahal took another good low catch to get the better of Tom Latham.

Kedar Jadhav then provided another breakthrough when Kuldeep Yadav took a blinder to get rid of Henry Nicholls. Yadav jumped to his right to take a stunner. Subsequently, Kuldeep Yadav came to the party to get rid of New Zealand’s tail.

The mystery chinaman scalped the big wicket of New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson. The left-handed spinner invited the big shot from the stylish right-hander and Williamson felt for the bait. In fact, there was no need for Williamson to go for the expensive shot as there were 17 overs left in the innings.

The flamboyant right-hander scored 64 from 81 balls and once he got out, it was always going to be a one-way traffic. In fact, Williamson was given a second life as Kedar Jadhav fluffed a catch at deep fine leg. However, the right-hander could not make the most of his second chance.

Furthermore, Shikhar Dhawan also bungled a catch at long-off when Tim Southee smashed the ball to him. However, New Zealand kept losing wickets at regular intervals and could not get a partnership going.

Thus, the hosts could only manage 157 runs and even failed to play their full quota of 50 overs. Kuldeep Yadav scalped four wickets whereas Mohammed Shami took three wickets. Furthermore, Yuzvendra Chahal took two wickets while Kedar Jadhav bagged one wicket.

India’s former skipper MS Dhoni was at his absolute best as he affected a quick stumping to send back Lockie Fergusson.

2nd Innings:

India got off to a cautious start when Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan were kept in check by New Zealand opening bowling pair Trent Boult and Tim Southee. Shikhar Dhawan then chanced his arm as he decided to take the attack against the Kiwis bowlers. However, Rohit Sharma could only score 11 runs from 24 balls before he was sent back by Doug Bracewell.

Shikhar Dhawan scored a fine fifty.

The fast bowler was able to produce Rohit Sharma’s outside edge which was nicely taken by Martin Guptill at first slip. In the meantime, Shikhar Dhawan completed his 5000 ODI runs. The southpaw became the second fastest Indian batsman to reach the milestone after his skipper Virat Kohli. Dhawan became the fifth fastest to get to the landmark of 5000 runs.

Meanwhile, the play was stopped due to the sun which was facing the batsman. In fact, this was a rare occasion when play was stopped due to rain. Consequently, the match was delayed by half-an-hour. India was then set a revised target of 156 in 49 overs.

Dhawan was then given a second life when he decided to go for the pull shot. The left-hander could not get his timing right but New Zealand wicketkeeper Tom Latham dropped the catch after making good ground. The southpaw batsman made most of his second life as he scored his 26th ODI fifty to strike back form.

Indian skipper Virat Kohli played with guile as he continuously rotated the strike. Kohli was plumbed in front of the wickets but the umpire had to reverse his decision after Kohli decided to send the matter upstairs. However, Kohli was eventually dismissed for 45 runs when he tried to go for the pull shot against Lockie Ferguson.

It wasn’t a bad batting wicket and the hosts would have been disappointed by their bleak batting performance. The second ODI will take place on January 26 at Bay Oval.