Kohli's record ton takes India to 280/8 vs NZ in 1st ODI

Mumbai: Skipper Virat Kohli made it a memorable 200th ODI with a record breaking century in demanding conditions to guide India to respectable 280 for 8 against New Zealand in the opening encounter of the three- match series, here today.

Kohli mixed caution with aggression hitting 121 off 125 balls — his 31st hundred in the 50-over format, that took him past former Australian captain Ricky Ponting as the second highest ton-getter in this format. Only Sachin Tendulkar with 49 hundreds is ahead of him.

Hitting nine boundaries and two sixes — including a majestic bowler’s back drive to reach his fifty, Kohli became the second player behind AB de Villiers’ to reach three-figure mark in his 200th game.

While Kohli has had some regal knocks in the ODI format over the years, the energy sapping humidity and the slowness of the track made batting difficult.

Coming to bat in the fourth over, Kohli was finally dismissed in the 50th over after he had successfully steered his team to safety after they were reduced to 71 for 3 in just shade above 15 overs.

Credit should also be given to Bhuvneshwar Kumar, whose unbeaten cameo of 26 off 15 balls helped India cross the 275- run mark.

The two significant partnerships were a 73-run stand for the fourth wicket with Dinesh Karthik (37 off 47 balls), who got out after getting set and and 57 for the fifth wicket with Mahendra Singh Dhoni (25 runs off 42 balls).

Hardik Pandya (16) had a rare off-day by his standards.

With India losing both the openers early, Kohli showed a different approach, by taking considerable time to settle, initially dealing in ones and twos, and then taking the Kiwi bowlers to task.

After a cautious start, Kohli hit a cover drive in the 11th over and followed it up with two consecutive boundaries in the 15th over off Colin De Grandhomme.

The skipper, was lucky to get a reprieve on 29, after Mitchell Santner dropped a straight forward chance at cover off De Grandhomme.

There was no looking back for the Indian skipper after that as he punished pacer Adam Milne, hittig him for a six over long leg.

It was Trent Boult, who gave the Kiwis early breakthroughs, removing Shikhar Dhawan (9 off 12 balls) and Rohit Sharma (20 off 18 balls) cheaply on a Wankhede pitch which had spongy bounce and ball was holding up a bit.

Boult lived up to his reputation and got the ball to swing and seam. Dhawan nicked one to ‘keeper Tom Latham in the fourth over, with the hosts 16-1.

Boult then cleaned up Sharma in his next over, as he got the ball to come into the right-hander leaving India struggling at 29/2.

Rohit pulled Southee for consecutive sixes but the Mumbai batsman failed to convert his start. For the Kiwis, Boult (4- 35) was the pick of the bowlers as he later removed Dhoni and Pandya.