Bowlers, Dhawan star in India's win
India's bowlers laid the foundation before Shikhar Dhawan anchored a straightforward chase to secure the tourists a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first ODI in Napier on Wednesday.
Opener Dhawan made 75 not out and his 91-run stand with skipper Virat Kohli helped India overwhelm the revised 156-run target with 14.1 overs to spare -- the Duckworth-Lewis method employed after the setting sun stopped play for a while.
On a high having just won Test and ODI series over in Australia, India looked determined to extend their domination across the Tasman Sea as they dismissed their hosts for 157 in 38 overs.
Paceman Mohammed Shami and wrist-spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal shared nine wickets among them as New Zealand failed to post a competitive total with only Kane Williamson (64) offering some resistance with the bat.
"150-odd on that kind of wicket was quite an easy total to chase down and it all boils down to the effort of the bowlers," Kohli said.
A disappointed New Zealand captain Kane Williamson blamed his side's effort on an inability to handle the precision Indian attack.
"Usually you come here and you're thinking 300-plus, sometimes mid 300s, but it certainly wans't that and required a bit more graft," he said.
SCORES IN BRIEF
NEW ZEALAND: 157 all out in 38 overs (Williamson 64, Taylor 24; Shami 3-19, Chahal 2-43, Yadav 4-39)
INDIA: 156 for 2 in 34.5 overs (Dhawan 75 not out, Kohli 45; Bracewell 1-23)
Result: India won by 8 wickets (D/L method)
Player-of-the-match: Mohammed Shami.
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