New Zealand went one-nil ahead in this series thanks to a brilliant batting display by their ODI specialist Tom Latham. The Kiwis won the first ODI by seven wickets and 17 balls to spare.
India was put into bat by the home team New Zealand after they won the toss and chose to bowl first. The Indian openers, Skipper Shikhar Dhawan and Subhuman Gill played exceptionally well to get India to a decent start in the 1st ODI.
Dhawan scored 72 runs and looked good for more. While Gill showed, he is in good form in the ODIs. The youngster slammed another half-century in the fifty overs format, and the Indian opening duo shared a mammoth 124 runs stand for the opening wicket. The Kiwis were under pressure because of this opening stand.
The Indian openers threaten to run away with the game. The 124-run partnership was scored in just 23.1 overs. But the Kiwis made a remarkable comeback and broke this tremendous opening wicket partnership.
Lockie Ferguson removed Shubman Gill for fifty runs, and the hosts paved their way back into the match with regular strikes.
Shikhar was the next one to depart for well-made 72 runs, and the Indian middle order didn't make the most of this opportunity. Rishabh Pant was promoted ahead of Suryakumar Yadav.
But the vice skipper of this series, Pant, didn't use this chance as he departed for another low score. Suryakumar also didn't transfer his T20I form and was out very early.
After a great start to the innings, India was reeling because of the middle-order batters. But Shreyas, who came to bat at number three, still hung around and shared a vital partnership with Sanju Samson to steady the sinking ship for India. In the end, the visitors reached a decent score, mainly because of this partnership.
Shreyas and Sanju shared a stand in a critical situation when the team needed the most. Their stand allowed Washington Sundar to play a cameo and take the score of more than three hundred runs.
Shreyas Iyer was the top scorer with 80 runs, and Sanju Samson gave him good company with 36 runs.
Washington Sundar played cameo innings which helped India reach 306 runs in their fifty overs quota. The spin-bowling all-rounder scored 37 runs in just 16 deliveries with three boundaries and sixes.
India looked good for more than 330 runs, especially when the openers were batting. But the Kiwis didn't allow this to happen because of good bowling. Southee and Ferguson picked up three wickets, while Adam Milne picked up the lone Indian wicket.
The visitors had wasted two good starts with this match. With the ball as well, the pacers picked up early wickets. But they couldn't apply more pressure on the home side.
Finn Allen, Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell were dismissed early in the run chase of 307 runs. Umran Malik picked up two wickets, and Shardul Thakur got one New Zealand scalp.
New Zealand displayed a better show under pressure. Skipper Kane Williamson and the ODI specialist Tom Latham played amazingly well to see the BlackCaps side through a seven-wicket win.
Kane was unbeaten on 94 runs, while Latham notched up a ton and was not out on 145 runs.
The next match of this three-match series will be played on Sunday, 27th November 2022, at Seddon Park in Hamilton.
