Despite three of the Indians getting to their respective fifties and a quick cameo in the slog overs getting them to 306/7, the Kiwis were a little too clinical on the day. And that on a ground where a 300+ target was chased just once in the history of ODIs.

The Dhawan-Gill bromance goes on!

In a 124-run stand, the skipper’s 72 off 77 was laced with 13 fours, while the youngster Gill’s 50 consisted of three sixes. This was their fourth 100+ partnership in 12 innings and is surely brewing up to become more and more lethal with each passing series.

Iyer’s NZ love story gets another chapter

Capitalizing on a strong start by the openers, Shreyas Iyer scored a brisk 76-ball 80 which saw four fours and sixes apiece. He made the most of his chances having survived a close LBW call and a missed chance in the field. And so, the 27-year-old recorded his fourth successive 50+ score in ODIs on New Zealand soil, with the previous three being 103, 52 and 62 in the 2020 series.

Washington’s ‘Sundar’ cameo

With Sanju Samson departing for a 38-ball-36 in the 46th over, the stage was perfectly set for some Washington Sundar fireworks and well, the southpaw didn’t disappoint! He took on the Kiwis’ pacers and blasted them all over the park with a flurry of fantastic shots, including two fours and a six off the last three balls off the penultimate over.

The Jammu Express impresses on debut

Pacer Umran Malik was handed his ODI cap earlier in the day as he was named in an ODI starting XI for the first time. Following two decent overs, Malik bagged his first wicket in the form of Devon Conway, who never looked settled in his 42-ball stay at the crease. It came in the form of a full, quick, wide delivery, which was edged straight into Pant’s hands. 

In his fifth over, he got the better of the in-form Daryl Mitchell with another delivery wide outside off as substitute fielder Deepak Hooda took a safe catch near the boundary ropes.

Williamson and Latham’s defining partnership

Team India had set their eyes on victory when the hosts were in a spot of bother at 88/3 at the end of 20 overs in a daunting run chase, but captain Kane Williamson and Tom Latham had other ideas.

The two batters played strategically throughout the run chase as the skipper played second fiddle to Latham, who went for more attacking shots. In the end, they guided their team to a memorable seven-wicket win.

More importantly, they did it with 17 balls to spare and in an absolutely unflustered manner. India have a fair amount of soul-searching to do, especially in their bowling. And they need to do it quickly; they only have a couple of days before their next game, which starts on Sunday (November 27).

Milestone Alert 1: Tom Latham’s 145* is the highest individual score for New Zealand versus India in ODIs.

Milestone Alert 2: Kane Williamson and Tom Latham’s stand of 221* is the record partnership in ODI match-ups between the two sides.

Brief scores: India 306/7 (Shreyas Iyer 80, Lockie Ferguson 3/59) lost to New Zealand 309/3 (Tom Latham 145*, Umran Malik 2/66) by seven wickets.