New Zealand Crush India by 200 runs in Tri-series

Dambulla: New Zealand got their tri-series campaign off to a rollicking start by thrashing India by 200 runs in the opening match at Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla on Tuesday.

Chasing a victory target of 289 runs, India's weakness against quality fast bowling came to the fore again as they were bundled out for 88 runs in 29.3 overs.

The Indian batting collapse started in the seventh over when Kyle Mills had Virender Sehwag (19) caught down the leg side by wicket-keeper Gareth Hopkins.

Daryl Tuffey then took three wickets in three overs to break the back of the Indian top order. The tall right-arm pacer first trapped Dinesh Karthik (14) plumb in front of the wicket, then had Rohit Sharma (4) caught by captain Ross Taylor at first slip and then had Suresh Raina (6) caught by Scott Styris at second slip.

If that was not enough, Tuffey ran out Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the next over to reduce India to 53/5. Dhoni tapped a delivery and responded to Yuvraj Singh's call for a quick single. Yuvraj backed out at the last moment, but Dhoni, who stopped and turned very fast to come back in his crease, could not beat a speeding Tuffey who collected the ball and shattered the stumps with a direct hit.

Left-arm pacer Andy McKay then got into the act when he had Yuvraj (5) caught by Taylor at first slip to reduce India to 62/6.

From then on, it was only a matter of time when the Indian innings folded.

Earlier, Ross Taylor smashed a robust 95 and Scott Styris cracked 89 under pressure as New Zealand posted a challenging 288.

New Zealand were struggling at 28/3 after winning the toss in the day-night match before skipper Taylor and all-rounder Styris propped up the innings with a record 190-run stand for the fourth wicket.

The partnership was New Zealand's best for the fourth wicket in one-day internationals, the previous highest being 168 between Lee Germon and Chris Harris against Australia in the 1996 World Cup quarterfinal at Chennai.

Taylor looked set to complete his fourth one-day hundred when he was trapped leg-before by left-arm seamer Ashish Nehra, who was the most successful bowler with 4/47.

The New Zealand captain hit one six and eight fours in his 113-ball knock.

India paceman Praveen Kumar did the early damage when he had opener Martin Guptill caught behind for 11 and then bowled debutant Kane Williamson for no score in his lively opening spell.

Nehra was the other wicket-taker in the initial overs, having opener Peter Ingram caught behind for 12.

India then had to wait for more than 31 overs to get another wicket as Taylor and Styris applied themselves remarkably well on a slow pitch to boost the innings.

Styris was bowled by left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha immediately after hoisting the bowler for a straight six. He also completed 4,000 one-day runs during his 95-ball knock.

Sri Lanka are the third team in the tournament. Each side will play the other twice in the preliminary league before the top two qualify for the final on August 28.

Brief score
New Zealand 288 (Taylor 95, Styris 89, Nehra 4-47, Kumar 3-43)
India 88 (Tuffey 3-34)
Result New Zealand won by 200 runs
Points New Zealand 5, India 0
MOM Ross Taylor (New Zealand)