AUCKLAND: Virat Kohli struck a fluent 74 as India defeated New Zealand by five wickets in the rain-interrupted first ODI of the five-match series on Wednesday.
Kohli's innings marked his 80th half-century in the 50-over format and came a day before his 38th birthday. Chasing a revised target of 143 in 32 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method, India reached 143 for five in 22.4 overs.
Kohli and Shubman Gill, who scored 37, anchored the chase with a 113-run partnership for the second wicket. India, however, lost a few wickets towards the end before completing the chase.
Earlier, India's pace attack exploited the overcast conditions to bowl New Zealand out for 185 in 40.2 overs. Arshdeep Singh led the attack with figures of four for 70, while Gurnoor Brar picked up three for 44 and Anshul Kamboj claimed two for 22.
New Zealand opener Tim Seifert top-scored with 38, while Glenn Phillips contributed 30. Blair Tickner provided a late burst with a 23-ball 34, including four sixes, but the hosts were unable to take their total beyond 200.
India's bowlers kept the New Zealand batters under pressure throughout the innings, setting up a manageable chase that was eventually completed despite repeated rain interruptions.