1st ODI: Kohli anchors another 300-plus chase as Jamieson sparks collapse; Rahul, Rana see India home

VADODARA: Virat Kohli slammed a majestic 93 (91b, 8x4, 1x6), but after suffering a collapse, India found their heroes in Harshit Rana 29 (23b, 2x4, 1x6) and KL Rahul 29* (21b, 2x4, 1x6) to huff and puff their way to a thrilling four-wicket win in the first ODI against a spirited New Zealand at the BCA Stadium on Sunday night. The hosts have taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.Walking out bravely to bat despite suffering a side strain that must worry India ahead of the T20 World Cup next month, Washington Sundar (7 not out off 7 balls) added 27* in 16 balls with Rahul for the seventh wicket to ensure India head to Rajkot for the second ODI on Jan 14 with a leg up. Showing off his fabulous finishing skills once again, Rahul aced the tense chase with two fours—a scoop followed by a booming cover drive—followed by a match-sealing six to deep mid-wicket off debutant Kiwi pacer Kristian Clarke off the last ball of the 49th over, triggering the 30,000-packed crowd here into celebrations.Credit must be given to Rana too for taking pressure off Rahul by striking some lusty blows in their crucial 37-run stand for the sixth wicket.Losing their composure in the tense moments, the Black Caps uncharacteristically dropped catches to let off Rana (Daryl Mitchell at long on) and Sundar (Adithya Ashok at short fine-leg), to let India sneak through.Fired by Kohli’s regal show, India seemed to be cruising while chasing 301, placed at 234 for 2 in the 40th over, before suffering a stunning collapse as tall pacer Kyle Jamieson took a career-best 4 for 41 to wreck their innings. Jamieson took the big wickets of Rohit Sharma (26, 29b, 3x4, 2x6), Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (47, 41b, 4x4, 1x6) and Ravindra Jadeja (4) to jolt India.Unleashing some exquisite strokes, Kohli put on 118 in 107 balls for the second wicket with captain Shubman Gill (56, 71b, 3x4, 2x6), and then 77 in 76 balls for the third wicket with Iyer. The trio took a heavy toll of Black Caps leggie Ashok (1-55 in six overs)Coming back into the side after being out for three months due to a spleen injury, Iyer enjoyed a fine outing, and effected a run-out to send Bracewell back after sprinting in from long-on and firing in a brilliant direct hit to catch Bracewell short.Earlier, continuing his fondness for feasting on India’s bowling attacks, Daryl Mitchell smashed a sublime 84 off 71 balls, in an innings studded with five fours and three sixes, to take New Zealand to 300 for 8, after they looked like finishing with much less following a middle-order collapse.The 34-year-old Mitchell, who stroked two magnificent centuries— both in a losing cause—against India in the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, showed exactly why he is the world’s No 3 ranked batter in ODIs behind India superstars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Asked to bat first by India, the Kiwis received a perfect start when their openers Devon Conway (56 off 67 balls; 6 fours, 1 six) and Henry Nicholls (62 off 69 balls; 8 fours) put on a 117-run stand in 130 balls. However, the Black Caps lost their way to slide to 239 for 7 in the 44th over, as India fought back through pacer Harshit Rana’s second spell, which saw him take two wickets in two overs.