Lights out for India in first ODI

The target was revised to 200 in 39 overs 32 runs in 8.2 overs and the Kiwis despite losing two more wickets notched up exactly 200 for five wickets in 38 overs to go 1-0 up in the five-match series, playing the final few overs under near darkness at this new one-day venue.

The Indian bowlers had fought back to give themselves a fighting chance 8212; New Zealand needing to make 90 runs in 19.4 overs 8212; after the Kiwi top order had set up a hot chase to be well ahead of the challenging asking rate of 5.16 per over, when theintervention occurred.

Robin Singh, who otherwise proved expensive, dismissed all-rounder Chris Cairns off the first ball on resumption and left-hander Chris Harris was run out close to victory but Adam Parore 16 n.o. with Dion Nash 1 n.o. brought about victory as India8217;s dismal run continued.

Rahul Dravid 123 n.o.: 124b, 10215;4, 1215;6, fresh from scoring centuries in both innings in the final Hamilton Test, maintained his golden run as he and left-hander Saurav Ganguly 60: 88b, 7215;4 raised a rapid 113 for the second wicket.

Dravid, who arrived after Tendulkar was out for nought in the very third over, set a new record score against New Zealand by bettering Tendulkar8217;s 117 made in Bangalore in 1996-97, and revelled in another breezy 60-run fifth wicket stand with veteran all-rounder Robin Singh 27 to pull India past the 250-run mark.

The stylish Karnataka batsman was denied a major share of the strike, but he played brilliant strokes and faced only 111 balls to his second century in the 46thover.

Opener Matt Horne 57: 62b and in-form Craig McMillan 73: 76b, 8215;4 went after the Indian bowling to raise a quick 105-run stand after paceman Srinath 2-35 had got rid of left-handed opener Roger Twose 10 as the Kiwis raced to 124 for one in just 20 overs.

India made a comeback as Tendulkar, who trapped Horne leg before, alongwith off-spinner Nikhil Chopra denied much freedom to the batsmen as only 44 runs came in the next 10 overs to give the visitors a chance to bounce back. But India were hamstrung on resumption as both Srinath and Chopra were out of the firing line having completed eight overs each.

Prasad bowled his final two overs tight but the Kiwis with seven wickets in hand on resumption took singles easily and eventually could afford the luxury of skipper Stephen Fleming, nursing a groin strain, not batting.

India R B 4 6
Ganguly c Larsen b Vettori 60 88 7 0
Tendulkar c Harris b Cairns 0 5 0 0
Dravid not out 123 124 10 1
Azharuddin b Larsen 922 0 0
Jadeja c amp; b Harris 10 17 0 0
Robin run out Nash 27 31 2 0
Kanitkar not out 17 14 2 0
Extras lb 5, w 6 11
Total 5 wickets, 50 overs 257
Did not bat: NR Mongia, N Chopra, J Srinath, BKV Prasad.
Fall of wickets: 1-3 Sachin, 2.1 ov, 2-115 Ganguly, 25.3 ov, 3-144 Azhar, 32.6 ov, 4-163 Jadeja, 37.4 ov, 5-224 Robin, 46.1 ov.
Bowling: Cairns 8-0-53-1 3w; Doull 7-1-34-0 2w; Nash 8-0-42-0; Larsen 10-0-46-1; Harris 10-1-35-1; Vettori 5-0-26-1; McMillan 2-0-16-0.India Run Rate: 5.14

New Zealand

Twose c Mongia b Srinath 10 12 1 0
Horne lbw b Tendulkar 57 62 5 0
McMillan c Ganguly b Srinath 73 76 8 0
Cairns c Srinath b Singh 23 31 0 1
Parore not out 16 23 1 0
Harris run out Azhar 13 23 1 0
Nash not out 1 1 0 0
Extras lb 5, w 2 7
Total 5 wickets, 38 overs 200
Did not bat: SP Fleming, DL Vettori, GR
Larsen, SB Doull.Fall of wickets:1-21 Twose, 2.5 ov, 2-126 Horne, 20.6 ov, 3-166 McMillan, 29.4 ov, 4-168 Cairns, 31.1 ov, 5-194 Harris, 37.3 ovBowling: Srinath 8-0-35-2 1w; Prasad 8-1-41-0; Chopra 8-0-37-0; Robin Singh 4-0-36-1; Tendulkar 8-1-34-1 1w; Kanitkar 2-0-12-0

New Zealand Run Rate: 5.26

RESULT

NZ won by five wickets after the target was reduced to 200 from 39 overs, as lights went off midway through NZ innings

Man of the match: Rahul Dravid