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Kohli, Iyer Steer India to Victory Despite Wobble
11 Jan
Summary
- India chased down 301 to win the first ODI against New Zealand.
- Kohli and Iyer built a crucial partnership for India's chase.
- Daryl Mitchell's late surge helped New Zealand post 300.
India started their ODI series against New Zealand with a victory, chasing down a target of 301 in the opening match. The home team reached the target, though not without some late-day jitters. Earlier, New Zealand posted 300, aided by a significant contribution in the final ten overs from Daryl Mitchell.
During the chase, openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill provided a brisk start. While Gill reached a composed half-century, it was the partnership between Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer that steadied the innings. Kohli displayed his chase-master form, accumulating runs efficiently, while Iyer attacked the spinners.
However, Kyle Jamieson's three wickets in quick succession created a tense situation for India. The game was ultimately sealed by KL Rahul, who hit crucial boundaries and a six in the penultimate over, securing the win for India and a 1-0 series lead.
