India win Napier ODI by 53 runs

Napier, Mar 3 (ANI): Breaking the past two matches jinx, team India on Tuesday registered a 53 runs victory over New Zealand in the first One Day International of the five-matches series here at McLean Park.

In a rain-interrupted match, India won the toss and chose to bat first.

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni led from front with a composed unbeaten 84 to power India to an imposing 273 for four in a 38-over game.

Virender Sehwag (77) and Suresh Raina (66) also slammed quick-fire half-centuries.

Chasing a revised target of 278 runs, New Zealand got two early blows to their line-up when Brendon McCullum (0) and Jesse Ryder (11) could not cope with Praveen Kumar's pace.

New Zealand lost wickets at regular intervals. The only time it seemed the Kiwis stood a chance of overhauling their score was when Taylor and Guptill added 58 for the third wicket.

Guptill (64) revived the innings and played a sensible knock to raise his well deserved fifty but the heroics weren't enough to make his side float.

The Kiwis could score only 162 runs in a revised target of 216 runs in 28 overs.

For India, Harbhajan had a superb time, taking three wickets in our balls to complete a comprehensive win for the visitors

Indian skipper Dhoni was adjudged the Man-of-the Match for his unbeaten 84. (ANI)