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Kohli Ton In Vain As New Zealand Prevail

by John Pennington Sunday 19 January 2014

New Zealand 292-7 (Williamson 71) beat
India 268 (Kohli 123, McClenaghan 4-68) by 24 runs
First One-Day International, Napier
Scorecard

Virat Kohli struck 123 in 111 balls for India but ended up on the losing side as New Zealand won the first One-Day International in Napier by 24 runs.

New Zealand posted 292 for seven as Kane Williamson made 71 to combat Mohammad Shami's four-wicket haul.

Kohli then hit 11 fours and two sixes to keep India in the game but they eventually fell short when they were bowled out for 268 in 48.4 overs.

Mitchell McClenaghan returned four for 68 while Corey Anderson took two for 51 to bowl New Zealand to victory and put them 1-0 up in the five-match series.

Shami struck twice early on to remove New Zealand openers Martin Guptill (8) and Jesse Ryder (18) before Williamson (71 in 88 balls) and Ross Taylor (55 in 82) helped New Zealand fight back, making good progress against India's spinners.

Ravindra Jadeja eventually got rid of Williamson and Shami returned to dismiss Taylor but further contributions from Brendon McCullum (30) and then Corey Anderson (68 not out in 40 balls) ensured New Zealand posted an excellent score.

Luke Ronchi also played his part with 30 in 18 balls as New Zealand continued the strong form that saw them win both Twenty20 Internationals against the West Indies.

Rohit Sharma fell early as India made a circumspect start to their run chase, the opener making three in 23 balls before McClenaghan removed him.

Shikhar Dhawan (32) then added 58 with Kohli for the second wicket but Kohli quickly became India's main hope when Anderson removed Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane (4) and Adam Milne had Suresh Raina caught by Southee for 18.

When Kohli was batting alongside his captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (40 in 46 balls) were batting together, India were still in with a good chance, particularly with Kohli looking in supreme touch.

However, their 95-run partnership was ended when McClenaghan had Dhoni caught behind and three balls later, had Jadeja also caught by Ronchi.

Those wickets fell in the 42nd over and in the 45th, Kohli finally fell and with him went India's hopes; despite Ravichandran Ashwin hitting a six during his 12 in 10 balls and a few cameos from the lower order, they had been left with too much to do.

Although New Zealand had much to be pleased about with the way they bowled, it was a bittersweet day for them as Milne, the highly-rated 21-year-old fast bowler, had to leave the field with an injury halfway through his eighth over.

The next game, on 22nd January, is in Hamilton.