Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni led from front with a composed unbeaten 84 to power India to an imposing 273 for four in the rain-curtailed first one-dayer against New Zealand at McClean park today.
Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni led from front with a composed unbeaten 84 to power India to an imposing 273 for four in the rain-curtailed first one-dayer against New Zealand at McClean park today.
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Virender Sehwag (77) and Suresh Raina (66) also slammed quick-fire half-centuries after India were sent in to bat.
India were gasping for runs in the rain-marred 38-over game at one stage and a total beyond 200 looked unlikely.
However, Raina rose to the challenge, slamming a 39-ball 66 and Dhoni remained at the crease till the end to finish off the innings in style. The two posted a blistering 110 runs for the fourth wicket to give India the edge in the match.
If Bollywood actress Preity Zinta, who had accompanied the captains for toss, was restless when India searched for runs, she was on her toes as Raina breathed life into the match.
Earlier, the 141-minute rain-break and the heavy outfield had no effect on Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar (20) as the celebrated openers went about caning the Kiwi pace attack without much ado.
India were cruising along at 69 for no loss in the tenth over when Tendulkar, venturing to work the ball to third man, nicked the nagging Ian Butler to Brendon McCullum.
Dhoni came ahead of Gautam Gambhir but the Indian captain failed to break free from the Kiwi clutches.
Dhoni's initial struggle was in contrast to Sehwag's unrestrained stroke-play. If runs had cascaded like the Brahmaputra in spate at the start, it began to dry up as Daniel Vettori and Butler bottled up Sehwag and Dhoni, who kept most of strike during the 13th to 18th overs. And when Sehwag (11 fours, one six) fell to a brilliant catch by Ross Taylor at short covers off the niggardly Vettori, India were in trouble.
Like Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh also struggled to work the ball off the square, as Vettori commanded respect with his teasing variations. Yuvraj, who searched for runs as much as looked for his lost chain during the warm up, was eventually put out of his misery by Martin Guptill, who rifled in his return from point to Vettori even as Dhoni sought to take a second run.
Raina then changed the complexion of the match for the visitors. His fiery innings was full of energy and boundaries. The youngster seemed to be possessed as he carted the ball to the all parts of the park, hoisting Vettori and Kyle Mills twice each into the stands.
Raina's belligerence seemed to rub off on Dhoni, as the Indian captain, cut loose in the end overs. Dhoni hit six boundaries in his innings while Raina punished rival bowlers with five fours and four sixes.
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