A match billed as a runfest was turned upside-down by India’s spin twins Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal on Wednesday, as New Zealand were crushed by eight wickets in the first one-day international in Napier.
India arrived at the ground with captain Virat Kohli expecting 300-plus to be par but when his bowlers rolled New Zealand for 157 the outcome became a formality.
“When I lost the toss I thought it’s going to be 300 plus but the way the guys bowled and created pressure turned out to be absolutely opposite,” he said.
“You know, 150 on that kind of a wicket was quite an easy total to chase down and it all boils down to the effort of the bowlers.”
Yadav and Chahal delivered a spin bowling masterclass, mesmerising New Zealand with six wickets between them, while Mohammed Shami claimed three as New Zealand folded for a mere 157 with 12 overs to spare.
The target was reduced by two runs and one over for India following a 30-minute break when the setting sun blinded the eyes of players and umpires.
