Black Caps v India result: New Zealand batting implodes as visitors claim ODI series opener at Eden Park

Despite taking some late tap from Tickner, Arshdeep Singh (4-70) was India’s chief destroyer, with support from Gurnoor Brar (3-44) and Anshul Kamboj (2-22). Once India lost a wicket in the first over, the sight of Virat Kohli walking in at No 3 for what will be his final innings in Auckland was exactly what the fans in attendance came to see.

One day shy of his 38th birthday, and chasing a rain adjusted target of 143 runs in 32 overs, Kohli scored his 80th ODI half-century at better than a run a ball to finish with 74 off 50 balls, after a partnership worth 113 with captain Shubman Gill (37).

Every ball Kohli faced became an event for the crowd in attendance, who were rewarded with 13 boundaries and a six for good measure, before he fell in the final overs, and left to a standing ovation that surely won’t be his last on this tour, as India got home with 56 balls to spare.

Both teams will now head to Wellington for the second match of five, played on Saturday.

As Gill opted to bowl first under grey skies after a 30 minute rain delay, India’s bowlers emphatically backed up their captain’s decision by reducing the Black Caps to 97-5 in the 22nd over, as none of Will Young (9), Henry Nicholls (9) or Tom Latham (3) even reached double figures.

Making the most of a rare chance back in the ODI side, Tim Seifert was positive, and ramped over the keeper for the first six of the day, but couldn’t capitalise on being dropped on seven and departed when he top-edged a pull to mid-on to fall for a 43-ball 38 – the best any Black Cap could manage.

Daryl Mitchell looked to continue his sublime record against India in the 50-over format, only for miscommunication with Glenn Phillips resulted in him being run out for 28, as the Black Caps lost half their side with nearly 29 overs still to bat.

Things would only get worse, too, as 109-5 at the halfway point became 115-7 not long after, as Phillips was left to try and manufacture some kind of defendable total while running out of partners, before his afternoon ended on 30 when he was caught at mid-on off Arshdeep.

Some lusty blows from Duffy and Tickner – who hit three sixes in one Arshdeep over – at the very least took the score over 150, but a target of less than four an over was never going to trouble India.

Chasing 186, Kyle Jamieson (1-34) taking the opening wicket – Rohit Sharma caught by Santner at mid-off for a duck – arguably drew the biggest cheer of the day as Kohli arrived. He and Gill added 50 in 55 balls, with every run the former scored met with rapturous applause, notably with a drive over cover for four off Jamieson.

Rain delays reduced the target to 113 off 175 balls, then 79 from 120, and mathematically ended any chance of Kohli reaching a 56th ODI century. A pull shot off Tickner took Kohli to 50 in 35 balls, with eight boundaries and one six, before pulling two more in the same over to raise the century stand with Gill in 90 deliveries.

Nathan Smith (1-17) struck late to remove Gill attempting to pull the short ball, before Duffy (3-49) had three more when he removed Kohli, Axar Patel (0) and Shreyas Iyer (15) within eight balls – all out caught attacking short deliveries.

It ultimately proved too little, too late, as India got home for a 1-0 series lead having hardly got out of first gear, as the Black Caps couldn’t defend the remaining seven runs after the final wicket fell.

New Zealand 185 all out (Seifert 38; Arshdeep 4-70)

India 143-5 (Kohli 74; Duffy 3-49)

India win by five wickets (DLS method)