India Finally Have a Win To Show

On March 3 2009 India defeated New Zealand in the first ODI of the National Bank Series by 58 runs at Napier.

India won the toss and elected to bat.

Virender Sehwag gave a flying start to the innings and India were 27 for none after4.3 overs with Virender Sehwag batting on 23 and his partner Sachin Tendulkar batting on 3 when rain interrupted play. When the play was resumed the innings was revised to 38 overs per side.

Virender Sehwag made 77 of just 56 balls and Sachin Tendulkar chipped in with 20 of 23 balls. Sachin Tendulkar fell in the tenth over and India were 69 for 1 after 10 overs. M.S Dhoni had just come in and was struggling. he was stealing singles and doubles. Virender Sehwag on the other hand was hitting boundaries. He got out in the nineteenth over and Yuvraj Singh came in. But unfortunately he got run out on 2 and had to leave the crease early. Then Suresh Raina came in. He and M.S. Dhoni built a strong partnership of 110 runs between them which was built of just 74 balls. Suresh Raina made 66 of just 39 balls hitting five fours and four sixes. When Raina got out India were241 for 4 after 35 overs. Then Yusuf Pathan made a quick 20 of just 10 balls hitting two fours and a six to take India's total to 274 in 38 overs. M.S. Dhoni also contributed greatly to the innings by making 84 of 89 balls. He too started playing naturally after his half century.

The Kiwi bowling was very poor as only three of the seven bowlers used could pick up wickets.  There were only two maidens bowled and the lowest economy rate recorded by a Kiwi bowler was 5.25.

The Kiwis were given a target of 278 to achieve from 38 overs by the Duckworth/Lewis Method.

When the Kiwi innings started all eyes were on Brendon McCullum who had performed really well in both the T20s. But unfortunately he got out on a duck. Praveen Kumar picked up his wicket in the second over and soon he also grabbed Jesse Ryder's wicket in the eighth over. The Kiwis were 2 for 23 after 8 overs. Then Ross Taylor and Martin Guptill built a good partnership of 58 runs made of just 48 balls. But unfortunately Ross Taylor got out in the sixteenth over and the Kiwis were 82 for 3 after 16 overs. Then Grant Elliot was run out on the last ball of the twenty first over and the Kiwis were 111 for 5 when rain again interrupted play. After play resumed the target for the Kiwis was revised to 216 and was to be achieved in 28 overs. On the first ball bowled by Yuvraj Singh after the resumption Jacob Oram got out a duck. Soon the Kiwis started losing wickets quickly. The lost 3 wickets in the twenty fourth over bowled by Harbhajan Singh. Then in the next over they lost another wicket and they were 162 for 9 at the end of their innings. Only Martin Guptill top scored with 64 made of 70 balls.

India bowled really well. Five of the six bowlers used took wickets, there were two maidens and the lowest economy rate recorded was 3.16 by Zaheer Khan.

M.S Dhoni was named the Man of the Match for his splendid performance.