Black Caps survive Virat Kohli heroics to make history in India

In a chaotic match, New Zealand recovered from 5/2 to post 337/8 thanks to centuries from Glenn Phillips and the red-hot Darly Mitchell. The visitors then thwarted a brave chase from India where talisman Virat Kohli nearly single-handedly got his team over the line. 

In the chase, India were flying but lost wickets on regular occasions. After Rohit Sharma fell cheaply, captain Shubman Gill (23 from 18) was positive but was outdone by a beauty from quick Kyle Jamieson, who castled him through the gate.

After Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul fell cheaply, India were 71/4 in the 12th. Then the Virat Kohli Show began. First, he combined well with Nitish Kumar Reddy before the latter was caught at mid-wicket for a well-played 53. 

Kohli found another willing partner in Rana and the pair's swashbuckling 99-run partnership gave the hosts hope, reducing the required run rate from over 12 to under ten. Rana blasted a maiden ODI 50, but the pressure demanded more boundaries and he eventually holed out in the deep. 

Now effectively man alone, Kohli needed to keep up the rate but his exceptional innings of 124 off 108 came to a fitting end when he skewed one to long on.

New Zealand put an exclamation point on the win with a superb runout from centurion Phillips, who threw down the stumps from an audacious angle to dismiss Kuldeep Yadav, cuing wild celebrations in the outfield.

Earlier, New Zealand were in a spot of bother. In the opening over, Henry Nicholls didn't know whether to leave or play and in the end walked off for a duck after dragging an Arshdeep Singh delivery onto the stumps. And just three balls later, Devon Conway edged one to first slip and New Zealand were 5/2.

Mitchell and Will Young began the recovery, but Harshit Rana bagged his second wicket when Young cut one straight to backward point, leaving them in a heap of trouble at 58/3.

That brought Phillips to the crease. Together with Mitchell, they took particular liking to Rana's seam, dispatching him all over the park. They brought up their 100 partnership in just 105 balls and continued to keep their foot on the accelerator. 

They passed the 250 mark on the 40th over and looked set to get over 350, but the Black Caps wobbled at the end. With two set batters and wickets in hand, the platform was there, but Patel broke the magnificent 219 partnership shortly after Phillips' century. A visibly exhausted Mitchell then fell shortly after for a brilliant 137 off 131 and New Zealand were 283/5 with six overs left.

Captain Michael Bracewell (28 not out off 18) struck some lusty blows while wickets fell around him to get his charges to 337/8, which proved to be enough.

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