Iyer, Rahul power India to 347/4 against NZ in first ODI

New Delhi: Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul played knocks of 103 and 88, respectively, to help India post 347/4 against New Zealand in the first ODI of the three-match series here at the Seddon Park on Wednesday.

After being put in to bat, India got off to a quickfire start as openers Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal put on 50 runs. Colin de Grandhomme finally provided the breakthrough to the Kiwis as he sent Shaw (20) back to the pavilion in the eighth over.

Agarwal (32) was also dismissed soon after by Tim Southee and the Men in Blue were reduced to 54/2 in the ninth over.

Skipper Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer then retrieved the innings for the visitors as the duo put on 102 runs for the third wicket. Kohli brought up his 58th half-century in the 28th over.

FIFTY!

A composed 58th ODI half-century for @imVkohli ??

Live – https://t.co/ewSrnE8I9m #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/dGM4qw8dnQ

— BCCI (@BCCI) February 5, 2020

Ish Sodhi got the crucial breakthrough of Kohli (51) in the 29th over as he clean bowled him to reduce India to 156/3. However, Iyer continued to march on and brought up his maiden ODI century in the 43rd over.

KL Rahul, who came in to bat at number five provided the much-needed impetus to the innings. He along with Iyer put on a stand of 136 runs for the fourth wicket.

A sensational ? from Shreyas Iyer, fifties from Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, and a cameo from Kedar Jadhav power India to 347/4 in the first #NZvIND ODI in Hamilton.

Can Tom Latham’s men chase down the target?

SCORECARD: https://t.co/ecd7GI5os8 pic.twitter.com/psEZBeH8xr

— ICC (@ICC) February 5, 2020

Iyer (103) was finally sent back to the pavilion by Southee in the 46th over, reducing India to 292/4.

In the final overs, Rahul and Kedar Jadhav hammered the Kiwi players to take India’s score past the 340-run mark. Jadhav remained unbeaten on 26. (ANI)