Late surge takes New Zealand to 292/7 against India

Napier, Jan 19 (IANS) In a late surge, Corey Anderson smashed an unbeaten 68 off 40 balls to power New Zealand to 292 for seven against India in the first ODI of the five-match series at McLean Park here Sunday.

After losing openers Martin Guptill (8) and Jesse Ryder (18) cheaply, Kane Williamson crafted the innings initially, stroking his way to 71 off 88 balls, guiding New Zealand to safety.

Mohammad Shami, on his first tour to New Zealand, bowled brilliantly removing both openers before dismissing the dangerous Ross Taylor and Nathan McCullum (2).

Williamson, along with former captain Ross Taylor (55), steadied the ship with a patient 121-run stand for the third wicket.

The hosts lost Williamson just before the final powerplay, paving the way for the swashbuckling wicketkeeper batsman Brendon McCullum (30).

Shami dismissed Taylor early in the powerplay but New Zealand still managed to score 41 off the five overs.

That set the stage for Anderson, who recently displaced Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi as the holder of the record for the fastest hundred in ODIs.

Anderson bludgeoned his way to a half-century in just 30 balls. New Zealand benefitted immensely as Anderson and Luke Rochi (30 off 18 balls) combined well to rack up 50 runs off just five overs.

To their credit, however, India managed to limit the damage by bowling full-length balls well outside the off-stump. The tactic worked in keeping Anderson quiet in the fag end of the innings.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who picked up a solitary wicket, was the most economical of the Indian bowlers but Shami was the pick of the bowlers taking four wickets for 55 runs in his spell of nine overs.