IND vs NZ 1st ODI Highlights: Latham, Williamson shine as New Zealand beats India by 7 wickets

New Zealand have beaten India comfortably to go 1-0 up in the ODI series. It was down to a chasing masterclass from Tom Latham, who in the company of the zen-like Kane Williamson (94 n.o of 98), hit a brilliant 145 off 104 and added 221 for the fourth wicket - the highest fourth wicket partnership against India in ODIs surpassing 206 by Mohd Yousuf and Shoaib Malik in Centurion in 2009. India were undone not just by exceptional batsmanship but also by some poor catching, with a couple of easy chances going down. In the end, the Kiwis waltzed home with more than two overs to spare. The next match is at Seddon Park, Hamilton on November 27.

Latham is putting on an exhibition in Auckland, timing his acceleration perfectly. He gets to his 100 off just 76 balls. Mind you, he was on 50 off 51! He targets Shardul Thakur in the 40th over, slamming him for six over deep square leg before collecting four consecutive fours. Thakur guilty of erring on the shorter side and paying the price for it. 25 from that over including two wides. New Zealand firm favourites from hereon. New Zealand need 66 runs in 10 oevrs with seven wickets in hand.

Tom Latham is turning it on in Auckland. After reaching his 50 off just 51 balls, he has upped the ante. He pulls Arshdeep over deep-backward square leg for six. Meanwhile, skipper Dhawan has dropped Williamson at midwicket off Sundar’s bowling.

Malik returns into the attack and Latham goes after him. He begins by steering a length ball behind point for four before clearing the fine-leg boundary for a six. Latham is nearing his fifty as well. 12 from Malik’s seventh.

Kane Williamson is shifting gears after a sedate start, as he so often does. He brought up his 50 off 54 balls, with a four off Shardul Thakur. Latham, meanwhile, has struck six boundaries so far. These two have brought up the 50 stand as well.

Umran has been taken off the attack. He has two for 29 for 6. Arshdeep Singh and Washington Sundar are bowling in tandem as New Zealand’s asking rate climbs past 7. The hosts are going at less than 5 an over at the moment.

Umran’s having a dream debut. He now gets Mitchell caught by substitute fielder Deepak Hooda. New Zealand are in a spot of bother. This was fast and slightly wide, Mitchell slashed hard but could only hit it as far as the deep backward point fielder. Tom Latham joins Williamson.

WICKET! Umran Malik has his maiden ODI wicket; he gets Conway caught behind and New Zealand have lost both their openers. Conway goes for a 42-ball 24. Daryl Mitchell has joined Williamson, who is off to a steady start.

Umran Malik, making his ODI debut, clocks 145.9kph on his first ball! He concedes four off his first over, ending it with a 149.6kph thunderbolt. He is bowling in tandem with Washington Sundar, who has been very economical so far.

‘Lord’ Thakur gets the breakthrough, Finn Allen is caught behind for a 25-ball 22. Allen was dropped by Chahal at short mid-wicket earlier in the over! Doesn’t prove to be too costly. Kane Williamson is in next.

Arshdeep and Thakur bowl three overs each before Shikhar Dhawan introduces the first bowling change in the form of right-arm off break Washington Sundar, who had a pretty productive outing with the bat. Allen and Conway look very comfortable at the moment.

Devon Conway and Finn Allen have begun the run chase. Arshdeep Singh and Shardul Thakur are sharing the new-ball duties.

Washington Sundar hammers a brilliant unbeaten 16-ball 37 to take India past the 300-run mark and the late kick was produced by Sundar in company of Shreyas Iyer who scored a valuable 80 off 76 balls. Dhawan and Gill hit half-centuries and forged a 124-run stand and then India suffered a collapse before Samson and Iyer stitched a 94-run stand. But it was the 46-run stand between Sundar and Iyer that changed the complexion of the game and helped India put a par score on a good batting wicket.

Sanju Samson falls as Adam Milne strikes and Glenn Phillips pouches an excellent catch in the deep. Samson falls for a 38-ball 36 and it’s now over to Iyer to provide the finishing touches.

The 250 is up for India but Iyer and Samson will look to take India past the 300-run mark. Iyer is striking at exactly 100.00 batting unbeaten on 67 off 67 balls while Samson too has been batting at almost run-a-ball. The partnership is 90 and both batsmen are ready for the late kick.

Iyer and Samson attack Mitchell Santner trying to up the ante with Iyer smashing the spinner for a maximum over the sightscreen and then Samson pulls a back of length delivery for a boundary. Santner finishes his quota of overs with figures 10-1-59-3. In the last five overs, India has scored 45 runs without losing a wicket.

Timely half-century from Shreyas Iyer as he gets to his fifty in 56 balls with the help of three sixes and one boundary, forging an unbeaten 65-runs stand with Samson. It was important from India’s point of view as Ferguson’s double blow sucked the momentum out of the Indian batting but Samson and Iyer joined hands to drive India. Time for some fireworks at the death.

Iyer on the charge as he smokes Southee for 15 runs and the fifty-run partnership is up in 43 balls with Samson playing the supporting role and letting Iyer take on the bowlers. A pull through the mid-wicket and then a six brings the 200 up for India and with 10 more overs to go, India is ready for the late surge. Opportunity for Samson to play the finisher’s role.

Iyer gets a life and he needs to ride on it as India aims for a late flourish after suffering a mini collapse in the middle overs. Samson is using the pace of the bowlers while Iyer has taken his chances, smacking two sixes. The partnership is 30 off 33 balls and India will hope the partnership grows and for India to finish on a high both Iyer and Samson need to stay put till the end.

Iyer and Samson have a job in their hands and New Zealand is in complete control of the match. Ferguson’s double blow has further sucked the momentum away and the promotion of Rishabh Pant up the order didn’t work as the keeper-batsman failed to capitalise on the strong platform, set by Dhawan and Gill. Samson and Iyer have the ability to change the course of the game by taking on the bowlers but on a good batting surface, even 290 from here wouldn’t be that challenging for New Zealand. But, for the moment, the run-rate is under 5rpo and the last five overs, India has scored just 27 runs losing two wickets.

Ferguson has picked two wickets in five balls and has removed Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar Yadav as India is in a spot of bother. While Pant dragged back a length delivery onto his stumps, Surya edged one to Finn Allen at first slip after getting off the mark with a gorgeous cover drive. Pant’s innings lacked momentum as the keeper-batsman struggled for timing and a scratchy innings came to an end. Surya chased a length delivery outside off and got a healthy outside edge as Allen makes no mistake. Sanju Samson is the new man in and he will be itching to get some runs.

Iyer and Pant have forged an unbeaten 21-run stand but the run-rate has dipped since the last five overs as India lost the momentum with the fall of Dhawan. Iyer did hit a six but Adam Milne and Matt Herry have kept the batsmen under check and the boundaries have dried up as it’s almost six overs since India scored a boundary. It will be a crucial innings for Pant as the wicketkeeper-batsman is long due for runs and the stage is set for both Pant and Iyer to put on a batting exhibition.

Shreyas Iyer survived a scare as New Zealand went for a LBW review with the on-field decision being Not Out. It was a length delivery that came back into the batsman and sneaks past through Iyer’s defence and hits him on the pads. The ball was pitching in line, the impact was in line and it was just clipping the middle and leg stump. The on-field decision stays and New Zealand retains its review.

Tim Southee strikes and both the Indian openers depart as this time Shikhar Dhawan hits it straight to the fielder at backward point and credit to Williamson for placing a fielder at that position. Southee goes full, offers width and Dhawan accepts the invitation, but drives it straight to the fielder. Surprise, Pant walks in at No.4 ahead of Suryakumar Yadav.

Shubman Gill got to his half-century off 64 deliveries but walked back immediately after getting to the landmark as he timed a pick-up shot well but Conway ran to his right at the deep square leg and took an excellent catch as Ferguson had his man. A dismissal against the run of play and New Zealand is happy. Shreyas Iyer joins Dhawan.

Dhawan gets to his half-century in style with a boundary and is batting unbeaten on 53 with nine boundaries and it’s a matter of time before Gill reaches his little milestone. But Dhawan’s half-century has been brilliant with the India captain accelerating after getting his eye. An uppercut brings up the 100-run partnership and runs are beginning to flow.

Dhawan looks set for a big score as both openers are approaching their half-centuries with the India skipper dispatching a back-of-length delivery to the boundary and then rides on top of the bounce as the ball races away to the deep point boundary.

Dhawan and Gill have started to free their arms and with the India skipper hammering a couple of boundaries as the run-rate has gone past 5 rpo in the last five overs. Mitchell Santner is bowling from one end along with Adam Milne with New Zealand eyeing a breakthrough. However, the Indian opening pair is cautious and is looking to break free.

Dhawan and Gill have brought the fifty-run partnership and this has been solid from India’s point of view. Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry are in operation and having got a start, India will look to just up the ante as it is just going at 3.92 rpo. Both openers will look to target the straight boundaries and there is an interesting stat at Eden Park. Ravi Shastri tells that a team that hasn’t lost a wicket in the PowerPlay hasn’t lost a match.

Shubman Gill has upped the ante as the first PowerPlay is done and India will be reasonably happy with the score and most importantly hasn’t lost a wicket. The partnership is building steadily with Gill getting a life after he was dropped by Ferguson at deep. Gill played a superb ramp shot for a maximum but has to be a little cautious as this is a good opportunity for the youngster to get a big score under his belt.

Tim Southee and Matt Henry have bowled tight lines and haven’t given much width for the Indian openers to cash in. However, Gill exhibited his class with a brilliant six over the long-on and the shot was all about timing. It’s a drop-in pitch and there’s a bit of spongy bounce with the straight boundaries a bit shorter.

The Indian openers are not taking any risks and seem to enjoy the batting-friendly conditions. Both Dhawan and Gill are getting their eye in and are not rushing into their shots. Gill is yet to score a boundary and is not in a mood to force any rash shots.

Sedate start from the India openers as Shikhar Dhawan and Shubman Gill are off the mark negotiating against Tim Southee and Matt Henry. Dhawan has hit two lovely boundaries and there is just a hint of swing, not really thretening and the ball will come nicely onto the bat as the innings progresses.

Shikhar Dhawan and Shubman Gill are in the middle and it will be Tim Southee with the new ball to Dhawan. Here we go!

“It’s an amazing place, I enjoy playing over here. No issues batting first, I would have bowled first. I feel the wicket is a bit sticky but the sun is out and it should dry out soon. With this team, we have played a few series earlier as well. It’s a good opportunity for all the youngsters to perform and show their talents. We are very fortunate that we’ve got Indians all over the world and they keep supporting us, we are grateful for it. We’ve got two debutants - Arshdeep Singh and Umran Malik.”

New Zealand Playing XI: Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson(c), Tom Latham(w), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Adam Milne, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson

India Playing XI: Shikhar Dhawan(c), Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant(w), Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal

Jammu and Kashmir speedster Umran Malik makes his debut along with Arshdeep Singh

New Zealand wins toss, opts to bowl first

“It’s beautiful day here in Auckland. It’s a drop-in surface. It’s been under covers for more than a day. We see an even covering of grass. The surface might dry up as the game progresses. There’s something in it for the seamers. Average score is 250. India will be tempted to chase but it’s about countering the swing.”

New Zealand Probable XI: Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson (C), Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Adam Milne, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson

India Probable XI: Shikhar Dhawan (C), Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Deepak Hooda, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal

“We guys have been performing well for a period of time. At the same time, talking about myself, I have to keep performing. I know till the time I perform, it would be good for me. It keeps me on my toes and keeps me hungry.”

Shubman Gill has shown his prowess as an ODI opener in a dozen games he has played so far — he has an average of 57-plus and a strike rate of 100-plus.

Dhawan will be close to 38 during next year’s World Cup. He has scored nearly 1,000 runs in ODIs in the last two years. This is the only international format he plays. Since T20 has more precedence, his appearances for India have been pretty sporadic. To put things in perspective, both Kohli and Rohit have played one-third of the number of ODIs that Dhawan played as they concentrated more on Tests and T20Is.

After a long and eventful T20 ride, the Indian team will get a welcome respite and grapple with the needs of a different format for the next week. The three-match ODI series against New Zealand which begins on Friday will mark the start of preparations for next year’s World Cup.

Finn Allen, Devon Conway(w), Kane Williamson(c), Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Lockie Ferguson, Tim Southee, Adam Milne, Matt Henry, Tom Latham

Shikhar Dhawan(c), Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson(w), Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant