Kohli ton in vain as India lose 1st ODI to New Zealand

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AFP
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Kohli ton in vain as India lose 1st ODI to New Zealand
NAPIER, New Zealand: India were defeated by 24 runs despite Virat Kohli’s brilliant century against New Zealand in the first One-day International here at McLean Park on Sunday.

Kohli seemed on course to take India to victory in the first match of the five match series when he reached his 18th one-day century and shared a 95-run partnership with MS Dhoni (40) for the fifth wicket.

But when McClenaghan dismissed Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja (0) and Kohli in the space of six deliveries in the 43rd and 45th overs, the course of the match changed and India were all out for 268 in reply to New Zealand´s 292-7.

India lost their last six wickets for 44 runs and McClenaghan finished with 4-68.

McClenaghan achieved just that when he had Dhoni caught by wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi with the third ball of the 43rd over then, as a bonus, had Jadeja caught in exactly the same fashion three balls later.

Kohli hit the first ball of McClenaghan´s next over for four then, in a rare mistake in a masterful innings, drove the next delivery — a full toss outside offstump — straight to Jesse Ryder at cover.

Earlier, allrounder Corey Anderson provided another display of world-class power hitting, making an unbeaten 68 from 40 balls with four fours and three huge sixes.

Anderson claimed the record for the fastest century in the history of one-day internationals, from 36 balls, during New Zealand´s recent series against the West Indies.

He reached his half century from 30 balls and put on 66 runs for the sixth wicket with Luke Ronchi (30) in a partnership that lasted only 6.1 overs.

Anderson was able to build on the solid foundation laid by Kane Williamson who made 72 and Ross Taylor who made 55 in a 121-run third-wicket partnership.

Mohammed Shami bowled two outstanding spells for India and finished with 4-55 from nine overs.

Williamson reached his half century from 67 balls and Taylor from 70 balls before he was out to give the India captain his 300th dismissal in one-day internationals.

McCullum was out for 30 with the total on 213-5 in the 42nd over. Anderson and Ronchi then accelerated the scoring rate before the innings ended with a whimper.

The second One-day International will be played at Hamilton on Wednesday.