In the first ODI match of the New Zealand tour of India 2023, India defeated New Zealand by 12 runs at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
Team India won the toss and Rohit Sharma elected to bat first. The decision once again worked in India’s favour as the team posted a humongous total on the board. Skipper hitman Sharma (34) got a good start but once again failed to capitalise on it. On the other hand, Shubman Gill (208) scored his career best. Gill almost played throughout the inning to post double a hundred. In his inning, the maestro smashed 19 fours and nine sixes and that too three maximum came consecutively in the 48th over as he reached the 200 mark. Furthermore, Suryakumar Yadav (31), Hardik Pandya (28) and Washington Sundar (12) also provided valuable contributions as India registered 337 runs in the first inning.
While chasing, Fin Allen (40) scored a few fabulous boundaries upfront to provide NZ with a strong start. Captain Tom Latham (24) also scored a few runs in the middle but the team needed a vital knock to stay in the game. To provide such a knock, Michael Bracewell (140) was on his toes to take NZ over the victory line. In his knock, Bracewell hit 12 sixes and 10 fours at a strike rate of almost 180. Mitchell Santner (57) also later scored a fifty but it was still not enough to take NZ home.
With the ball, Mohammad Siraj was at his best once again tonight as he picked up four wickets. Along with him, two wickets each were taken by Kuldeep Yadav and Shardul Thakur as well. Mohammad Shami and Hardik Pandya too bagged one wicket each.
For NZ, Daryl Mitchell and Henry Shipley got two wickets to their name. Mitchell Santner, Lockie Ferguson and Blair Tickner also plucked one wicket each.
Shubman Gill was adjudged Man of the Match for his electrifying batting performance. With this win, Team India have bagged the lead in the three-match ODI series by 1-0.
Scorecard:
India: 349/8, Overs 50, Shubman Gill 208, Daryl Mitchell 2/30
New Zealand: 337/10, Overs 49.2, Michael Bracewell 140, Mohammad Siraj 4/46