Latham and Williamson stars as NZ thrashes India by 7 wickets in the 1st ODI

New Zealand have defeated India by 7 wickets in the 1st ODI at Eden Park, Auckland. New Zealand were set a target of 307 runs which they comfortably chased down in 47.1 overs with 3 wickets in hand.

Tom Latham smashed a magnificent century with Kane Williamson scoring unbeaten 94 runs.

India after losing the toss came out to bat and put up a huge total of 306/7 in their 50 overs. Shreyas Iyer who scored 80 runs in 76 balls was the highest run-getter for the men in blue with skipper Shikhar Dhawan scoring 72 runs. Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson took 3 wickets each for the Kiwis.

Chasing the target, the hosts had an unlikely start as they lost the first 3 wickets with just 88 runs on the scoreboard. Skipper Kane Williamson and wicketkeeper Tom Latham then started to build a partnership.

Both experienced batters never allowed the bowlers to settle as they put up a 165-run stand for the 4th wicket in 221 balls. Blackcaps smashed 25 runs in the 40th over of the innings bowled by Shardul Thakur.

23 runs out of which was scored by Latham himself. He went on to reach the 7th century of his ODI career in just 78 balls and scored his highest ODI score of 145 in just 104 balls with the help of 19 fours and 5 sixes.

Kane Williamson also played a crucial inning of unbeaten 94 runs in 98 balls. New Zealand were 187/3 during the 35th over bowled by Washington Sundar when Shikhar Dhawan dropped an easy catch of Williamson who was batting on 68 runs at that moment.

The partnership could've been broken, had Dhawan grabbed the catch and there could've been a chance for the Indian bowlers to build pressure on the batting side.

Both Kane and Latham put up a 221-run partnership for the 4th wicket which is the highest 4th wicket stand ever for New Zealand against India.

It is also the highest 4th wicket partnership ever for a team against India, a record which previously was held by Pakistan's Mohammad Yusuf and Shoaib Malik. They both put up a 206-run stand against India way back in 2009.