Cricket / Virat Kohli breaks Tendulkar record as India down New Zealand in first ODI

Auckland, Nov 4: A record-breaking Virat Kohli once again proved why he remains India's chase master, producing a commanding half-century after a devastating pace-bowling display to guide India to a comfortable five-wicket win over New Zealand in the opening ODI at Eden Park on Wednesday.

The visitors were powered by a clinical display from their youthful pace attack before veteran batter Virat Kohli anchored the chase with a majestic 74 off 51 balls.

Asked to bowl first, India’s “inexperienced” seam unit rose to the occasion, dismantling the New Zealand batting line-up for just 185 in 40.2 overs. Arshdeep Singh led the charge with four wickets, while Gurnoor Brar and Anshul Kamboj chipped in with three and two scalps respectively.

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The trio consistently troubled the hosts with pace, movement and disciplined lines, leaving New Zealand struggling to build meaningful partnerships throughout the innings.

The modest total placed India firmly in control, although the chase began on a shaky note when Rohit Sharma fell for a six-ball duck, trapped by Kyle Jamieson in the opening over. With early pressure mounting, captain Shubman Gill joined forces with Kohli to steady the innings and gradually wrest control away from the hosts.

Rain interrupted play twice, forcing officials to revise the contest to 32 overs and reduce India’s target to 143 under the DLS method. The breaks did little to disrupt Kohli’s rhythm. The former captain looked in complete command, bringing up his half-century from just 35 deliveries after play resumed and punishing New Zealand’s short-pitched tactics with authority.

Kohli peppered the boundary ropes with 13 fours and a six during his match-winning knock. The innings also carried a historic milestone as he surpassed Sachin Tendulkar to become the highest run-scorer in ODI chases, moving to 8,741 runs and eclipsing Tendulkar’s tally of 8,720.

Gill provided valuable support with a composed 37 off 56 balls as the pair stitched together a century stand. Their partnership marked the sixth 100-plus ODI stand in just 27 innings together, further underlining their growing success as a batting combination.

Although Nathan Smith removed Gill and Jacob Duffy dismissed Kohli, Axar Patel and Shreyas Iyer in quick succession, New Zealand’s late breakthroughs came far too late. KL Rahul and Naman Dhir calmly guided India home, with Dhir sealing the victory with a boundary through mid-wicket as India raced to the revised target in 22.4 overs and took a 1-0 lead in the series.

Brief Scores: New Zealand 185/10 in 40.2 overs (Tim Seifert 38, Blair Tickner 34; Arshdeep Singh 4-70, Gurnoor Brar 3-44, Anshul Kamboj 2-22) lose to India 143/5 in 22.4 overs, via DLS method (Virat Kohli 74, Shubman Gill 37; Jacob Duffy 3-49, Nathan Smith 1-21) by five wickets.

(IANS)