‘Made 300 look like 270’ – Twitter praise New Zealand as they register commanding win against India

New Zealand and India locked horns in the first game of the three-match ODI series at Eden Park in Auckland. This series is part of preparations for both teams for the 2023 ODI World Cup next October. Meanwhile, after winning the toss, the home side elected to bowl first. They bowled well in the powerplay overs as they conceded only 40 runs even though couldn’t break through.

However, the likes of stand-in skipper Shikhar Dhawan and Shubman Gill started accelerating. They added 84 runs in the next 13 overs. Gill, after scoring 50, was the first wicket to fall. Dhawan (72) soon after and both players failed to score a hundred. After this, there was a passage in which Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant played dot balls in the middle of the boundaries.

The latter’s poor form in T20Is carried into this game too. After playing a painful inning of 23-ball 15, he was dismissed by Lockie Ferguson. Iyer scored 80 while Sanju Samson scored 38. Washington Sundar‘s 37 off 16 took the team to 307/6 at the end of the innings. Tim Southee and Ferguson took three wickets each with the former giving away 73 runs.

Ruthless Kane Williamson and Tom Latham take New Zealand home

In reply, the Kane Williamson-led side was in trouble after losing three wickets for 88 runs. Shardul Thakur struck with the wicket of Finn Allen while debutant Umran Malik took the wickets of Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell. However, the Indian bowlers failed to make any further inroads into the opposition’s batting line-up.

Skipper Williamson and his deputy Latham ensured that they took the team over the line. The Kiwi skipper scored 95 not out while the left-hander scored 145 not out. Notably, this is his highest individual score in ODIs. The team won the game by seven wickets with 2.5 overs left. The pair put together a partnership of 221 runs in 27.2 overs. Now, the Kiwis are leading the series by 1-0 with the next game to be played on November 27.

This is how Twitter reacted

https://twitter.com/WasimJaffer14/status/1596071851176124417?s=20&t=XUAYAbllA6IY2vECLwEDVA

Wiliamson’s calm, composed, classy knock and a blistering century by Latham have put New Zealand on course for an emphatic win. Barring a fiery opening spell by Umran, not much to commend in India’s bowling #NZvsINDonPrime #CricketOnPrime

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) November 25, 2022

https://twitter.com/gargiraut15/status/1596064255836839936?s=20&t=TzW__9G5e16GZjgMNrLJiw

New Zealand beats India in First ODI match..#NZvIND #INDvsNZ pic.twitter.com/ifv9PDdLMj

— RVCJ Media (@RVCJ_FB) November 25, 2022

When India play New Zealand you realise how good Tom Latham is, a complete batter, top hundred.#NZvIND #NZvsIND #SportsYaari

— Manoj Dimri (@manoj_dimri) November 25, 2022

https://twitter.com/ESPNcricinfo/status/1596071529091305473?s=20&t=XUAYAbllA6IY2vECLwEDVA

Tom Latham and Kane Williamson crash India's party at Eden Park after losing three quick wickets.#NZvIND pic.twitter.com/5RIqDA2z8W

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) November 25, 2022

https://twitter.com/PrimeVideoIN/status/1596075942954565633?s=20&t=XUAYAbllA6IY2vECLwEDVA

https://twitter.com/mipaltan/status/1596075030601162752?s=20&t=XUAYAbllA6IY2vECLwEDVA

A tough loss to swallow 😔

Not our day today, but we'll come back stronger! 👊#NZvIND | #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/v3lVnNrZ68

— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) November 25, 2022