New Zealand beat India by seven wickets in their first ODI in Auckland. Set a total of 307 to win, the hosts chased that down with nearly three overs to spare, thanks to an unbeaten stand of 221, between their captain, Kane Williamson, and wicketkeeper Tom Latham, who made 145 not out.
Most of the Indian bowlers will not be in a hurry to revisit their figures again after this match, although Umran Malik can take some credit from his individual performance..
Teams
Both teams lined up as expected, with Williamson back to lead his side having missed the 3rd T20I because of a pre-arranged medical appointment, India chose to play Sanju Samson as a specialist batter, with Rishabh Pant on wicketkeeping duty.
Match recap
It was Williamson who won the toss for his side and invited India to bat first.
The wisdom of that decision initially seemed questionable as Shubman Gill and his captain Shikhar Dhawan put on 124 for the first wicket, before both fell in the space of eight balls, Gill out for 50 followed by Dhawan for 72, including 13 fours.
Shreyas Iyer then came to the crease and made 80, in an innings that featured 4 sixes, but both Pant and Suryakumar Yadav both missed out, dismissed cheaply, and it was left to Samson, with 36 to provide support, until Shardul Thakur injected some late momentum with an unbeaten 37, made of just 16 balls, including 3 sixes.
On a pitch where the par score was 270, a final total of 306/7 looked like it might take some getting.
In the event, though, it proved be anything but. India hopes were raised when Finn Allen was caught behind off the bowling of Thakur, and when Umran Malik claimed the wickets of both Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell.
But with Williamson content to play the anchor role at one end, Latham was free to play his shots at the other, and he took full advantage of some lax bowling. He finished undefeated on 145, having faced 104 balls, and struck 5 sixes and 19 fours, His skipper meanwhile was 94 not out at the end, made off a comparatively sedate 98 balls.
It was New Zealand’s 13th consecutive ODI win at home, which is their longest winning run.
It was also the second time that they successfully chased down a total in excess of 300 in an ODI, the other time being two years ago in Hamilton when they made 348 to win a match.
Key talking points from the match
The top order did well for India
Whilst India have had problems putting together meaningful opening stands on any form of cricket, this was not the case in this match, as both Gill and Dhawan did what was required of them. Iyer also kept the runs flowing, However, Suryakumar Yadav had an off day, meaning that India could not fully build on the platform given them.
Latham and Williamson show how to do it
It was left to Williamson and Latham to show the middle order it should be done. They played together sensibly at first, with the captain the senior partner.
But then, having got themselves into a winning position he was content to sit back and let Latham take over. His reward was a career best ODI innings.
Malik’s eventful debut
Malik was making his debut and demonstrated why he is tipped as a star of the future with two earl wickets. He was not able to stem the flow of runs at the end, but that was as much down to his colleagues as him. Thakur for example, conceded 23 runs in the 40th over.
India continues, on occasion, to look toothless with the injured Jasprit Bumrah, and this was one of those days.
A concern that on a day when the seamers proved expensive Yuzvendra Chahal was not able to offer any more control with his spin.
The next match
The two sides will meet again on Sunday in Hamilton for the next ODI. By then India need to work out a way to take ten wickets because otherwise they may find it difficult to beat this New Zealand side.
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