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The location might have changed from Melbourne to Napier but the Indian dominance in the southern hemisphere hasn't received a setback. After winning their first-ever bilateral ODI series Down Under, India have now taken a 1-0 lead in the five-match ODI series against New Zealand.
New Zealand opted to bat first after winning the toss but a threatening four-over spell from Mohammed Shami ended the home team's hope of posting a huge total. Shami, who was at his belligerent best, knocked over the stumps of both Kiwi openers - Martin Guptill and Colin Munro.
The initial two wickets slowed the run-rate as Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor tried to rebuild the innings. The partnership between New Zealand's two most experienced batsmen could not last long as Yuzvendra Chahal got the wicket of Taylor. Chahal did not stop with that and went on to enforce another caught and bowled to get rid of Tom Latham.
To push New Zealand into further trouble, Kedar Jadhav too, chipped in with the wicket of Henry Nicholls. With New Zealand scoring just over a 100 runs at the fall of the fifth wicket, the Kiwi captain expected some support from all-rounder Mitchell Santner. That plan did not fructify for the home team's skipper as the Shami sent the all-rounder packing in his second spell.
After Santner's dismissal, half-centurion Kane Williamson bore the burden of all the Kiwi hopes but Kuldeep Yadav had different plans. The chinaman bowler not only picked up the wicket of Williamson but also picked the remaining three wickets and bowled New Zealand for just 157 in 38 overs.
With small target to reach, the Indian openers - Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma - initially took their time in the middle. Before the dinner break, the dynamic duo added 41 runs in 9 overs and gave India a decent start.
After the break, Rohit Sharma could not continue for long as he got out on the second ball of the 10th over. Virat Kohli then joined Dhawan in the middle but the players had to leave the field in a bizarre manner as the setting sun did not allow the batsmen to see properly. As a result of the delay, the play was reduced to 49 overs and the revised target for India was 156.
Once the play resumed, Dhawan and Kohli ensured that India were in a comfortable position by adding 91 runs for the second wicket. While Virat Kohli got out for 45, half-centurion Shikhar Dhawan and Ambati Rayudu took the Men in Blue over the line.
Here's how Twitter reacted to India's win in the first ODI against New Zealand.
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