The first match of the 3-match ODI series between India and New Zealand was played at Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara. In this match, Team India registered a thrilling victory by 4 wickets. New Zealand, batting first after losing the toss, scored 308 runs at the loss of 8 wickets, which the Indian team achieved by losing 6 wickets in 49 overs.

Virat Kohli scored the highest 93 runs. He faced 91 balls in his innings and hit 8 fours and 1 six. Captain Shubhman Gill played an innings of 56 runs in 71 balls. Vice-captain Shreyas Iyer scored 49 runs in 47 balls. Harshit Rana and KL Rahul contributed valuable 29-29 runs. Rahul remained unbeaten till the end. Harshit Rana had taken 2 wickets in bowling before showing wonders with the bat. However, Kohli was awarded the Player of the Match award.

KL Rahul finished the match

When Virat Kohli was out, India needed 67 runs in 65 balls. After this Ravindra Jadeja (4) and Shreyas Iyer were also dismissed cheaply. It seemed that the Indian team would stumble but KL Rahul held one end and Harshit Rana from the other end played big shots continuously to take the team closer to the target. Injured Washington Sundar, who came to the crease after Harshit’s dismissal, was unable to run fast.

In such a situation, Rahul decided not to take the match till the last over and gave victory to Team India by sending the last 3 balls of the 49th over out of the boundary. Like Mahendra Singh Dhoni, he finished the match with a six. Kyle Jamieson bowled lethally and took 4 wickets but it was insufficient to give victory to New Zealand.

Harshit Rana had got India’s return

The Indian team won the toss and decided to bowl first but did not get success till 21 overs. The opening pair of Devon Conway (56) and Henry Nicholls (62) had made a partnership of 117 runs. Harshit Rana made India’s comeback by sending both of them to the pavilion in consecutive overs.

After this, Team India reduced New Zealand to 198 runs by taking wickets in consecutive overs but Darryl Mitchell took New Zealand to a strong score by playing an inning of 84 runs in 71 balls. However later this proved insufficient. Apart from Harshit, Mohammad Siraj and Prasidh Krishna also took 2-2 wickets for India. Kuldeep Yadav had only 1 wicket in his account.