“Tom’s innings took the game away from us”- Virat Kohli

Tom-Latham

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After whitewashing New Zealand 5-0 in the T20 series, India suffered their first defeat of the tour on Wednesday. The Blackcaps exhibited a solid display of batting under pressure as they chased a huge 348 run total with ease in just 48.1 overs. They now lead the three-match series 1-0.

Ross Taylor scored an unbeaten 84-ball 109 run knock even as the likes of Henry Nicholls and Tom Latham made valuable contributions with the bat.

Chasing a mammoth 348-run target, Martin Guptill and Henry Nicholls put on a great opening partnership, adding 85 runs for the first wicket.

Martin Guptill missed out on another opportunity of scoring a big knock as he went for a well-made 32. Tom Blundell (9) too didn’t last long as the match was evenly poised at 109 for 2 until 19 overs.

However, a 62-run partnership between Ross Taylor and Henry Nicholls, followed by a 128-run partnership between Ross Taylor and Tom Latham meant India had no chance of getting back into the game.

Post the match, Indian skipper Virat Kohli hailed Latham’s knock and pointed out India’s lacklustre fielding in the post-match presentation ceremony.

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An outstanding performance from New Zealand. We thought 347 was good enough, especially after the start we got with the ball. I think Tom’s innings took the game away from us. We were decent in the field, we dropped one chance.” Kohli said

“We need to improve though. I got to say that the opposition played better than us today. Both new openers gave us a good start, hope they continue to do the same. Shreyas’s hundred was outstanding and KL was really good as well.” He added.

Earlier, Shreyas Iyer notched his maiden ODI hundred, playing a heart-warming 103 runs off 107 deliveries. In form KL Rahul continued his purple patch, scoring another valuable innings for the team.

Batting at number five, Rahul struck 88 runs off 64 balls and helped India finish on a high. Skipper Virat Kohli too contributed with a useful half-century as India posted 347 runs in their 50 overs.