India vs New Zealand first ODI Auckland Virat Kohli, Digi Mart USA News (Auckland, New Zealand): Virat Kohli smashed his 80th half-century in one-day internationals and took a screamer of a catch to help India beat New Zealand by five wickets in the rain-hit series opener in Auckland on Wednesday.
A day before his 38th birthday, Kohli underlined his enduring class with a knock of 74 off 51 balls at Eden Park. India chased down 143 under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method after repeated rain showers interrupted their reply.
Kohli eventually holed out to deep square leg off the bowling of Jacob Duffy and exited waving his bat to the Indian fans who dominated the crowd.
Only five days after posting 259 for seven in the fourth T20 match, New Zealand were bowled out for 185 in 40.2 overs after losing the toss to India captain Shubman Gill.
“I think we were very good with the bowling,” said Gill. “Overall a very good team performance.”
Pace duo Arshdeep Singh (4-70) and Gurnoor Brar (3-44) took seven wickets between them, rattling through New Zealand’s top order as the home batters repeatedly struggled against short-pitched bowling.
Fast-bowling all-rounder Anshul Kamboj was impressive in his second ODI, taking two wickets and conceding a miserly 22 runs from his 10 overs to be named man of the match.
“The way both of them bowled tonight was really magnificent to watch,” Gill said of Kamboj and Brar.
Kohli also gave Kamboj his first wicket with a brilliant diving catch in the slips, plucking a one-handed effort above the grass to remove all-rounder Nathan Smith for one.
Tim Seifert opened the batting for New Zealand, replacing the concussed Devon Conway, and top-scored for the hosts with 38 in his first ODI in over 18 months.
The five-match series moves to Wellington on Saturday.
