Tom Latham scored a swashbuckling unbeaten 145 as New Zealand defeated India by seven wickets in the first one day international at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday.
After being asked to bat first by New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson, openers Shikhar Dhawan along with Shubman Gill got India off to a solid start. The duo added 124 runs for the opening stand before Gill was caught at deep square leg by Devon Conway off Lockie Ferguson for 50.
Dhawan (72) fell soon after slicing at a Tim Southee delivery to Finn Allen at backward point.
Ferguson then pegged the visitors back- first by dismissing Rishabh Pant (15) and the in form Suryakumar Yadav (4) edging one to Allen at first slip, as they were reduced to 160/4.
The pair of Shreyas Iyer and Sanju Samson featured in a valuable stand of 94 runs for the fifth wicket before the latter perished to a brilliant catch by Glenn Phillips off Adam Milne for 36.
Iyer scored a breezy 76 ball-80, before falling to Tim Southee in the final over.
Washington Sundar (37)* then provided a late flourish in the end to take the Men in Blue to a mammoth total of 306/7 in their 50 overs.
For the hosts, Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson claimed 3 wickets each.
Chasing 307, New Zealand openers Finn Allen and Devon Conway got their side off to a steady start. The pair put on 35 runs for the opening wicket. Allen who was dropped at short midwicket by Yuzvendra Chahal ,finally perished poking at delivery from Shardul Thakur to Pant behind the stumps for 22.
Conway along with skipper Williamson steadied the ship with a second wicket stand of 33 runs before the former (24) flashed at a full and wide delivery from debutant Umran Malik to wicket keeper.
Umran claimed his second wicket as he dismissed Daryl Mitchell (11), slashing at a short delivery outside off to substitute Deepak Hooda at deep backward point, leaving their side in a spot of bother at 88/3.
Latham (145)* along with skipper Williamson (94)* shared in an unbeaten 221 run stand for the fourth wicket as the hosts overhauled the target in 47.1 overs.