SCORECARD
Harbhajan Singh gets the big one as Jesse Ryder's drive lands straight into Yuvraj Singh's hand. A soft dismissal sees India right on top.
Over: 24.4: Piyush Chawla strikes! What a wicket, a simple one for umpire as James Franklin is caught plumb in-front.
Jesse Ryder seems to be the lucky man as Gambhir drops a sitter at mid-wicket. New Zealand are in with a chance as Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill gave the team a solid foundation.
Chasing a mammoth 361 runs for victory, New Zealand were off to a brisk start as Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill brought up a fifty-run partnership in quick time.
India Innings
An explosive unbeaten knock of 108 by captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and a classy 89 by Gautam Gambhir powered India to an imposing 360 for five.
After sharing 68 runs in 9.3 overs for the fourth wicket with Gambhir, Dhoni set the nearly-packed MA Chidambaram stadium on fire as he tore into the Kiwi bowling in the company of Suresh Raina, who made his exit just 12 balls before the hosts ended their innings.
Raina made a quick fire 50 off just 26 balls with three huge sixes and four boundaries and added 124 runs in 9.2 overs along with Dhoni.
For the hapless New Zealand, Jacob Oram and Tim Southee were the most successful bowlers sharing two wickets each, while Kyle Mills accounted for one wicket.
After sharing 68 runs in 9.3 overs for the fourth wicket with Gambhir, Dhoni set the nearly-packed MA Chidambaram stadium on fire as he tore into the Kiwi bowling in the company of Suresh Raina, who made his exit just 12 balls before the hosts ended their innings.
Raina made a quick fire 50 off just 26 balls with three huge sixes and four boundaries and added 124 runs in 9.2 overs along with Dhoni.
For the hapless New Zealand, Jacob Oram and Tim Southee were the most successful bowlers sharing two wickets each, while Kyle Mills accounted for one wicket.
Over 42: 1, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4. Thats how Jacob Oram was treated by India's back-in form skipper MS Dhoni. Total of 21 runs scored as New Zealand fielders watched Oram's plight haplessly. India captain then added two more fours to make it seven fours in a row.
Over 38.4: Tim Southee accounted for Gambhir's dismissal as change of gloves and bat proved unlucky for the Delhi star. Gambhir's 89 runs though has ensured that Indian team has no reason to worry with big-guns lined up-next.
Scintillating stuff from Gautam Gambhir has seiged initiative from Kiwi bowlers as Chennai's jam packed crowd anticipates some fire-works towards the end. But the real good news for India is that skipper MS Dhoni is still there.
Over 29.1: Chasing a widish delivery from Jacob Oram, Kohli gives an outside edge as Brendon McCullum takes a great reflex catch. So a fine knock comes to an end. Kohli scored 59 runs before being dismissed.
Over 21.2: Inside-out shot from Kohli sees 100 up for India. A chip shot over the infield gets past the boundary ropes as Woodcock has nothing to do but smile and applaud a great shot.
Virat Kohli is finally giving some impetus to the Indian innings. The young Delhi lad has shown tremendous form coming into the ICC Cricket World Cup and that is clearly reflected in his shots.
Bowling change: Ross Taylor- the stand in skipper- gets James Franklin into bowling attack after Sehwag's dismissal. Gautam Gambhir is joined by Virat Kohli at the crease.
Over 9.1: Another blow for India. Trying to go with a straight bat, Sehwag made little effort to check his shot on a ball which was never rising after pitching. In the end a lazy shot sees Sehwag (23 runs) take the long walk back to pavillion.
Early blow for India as Tim Southee got rid off Sachin Tendulkar (17 runs). The little master missed a slower one as the ball crashed into the timber.
Ominous signs from Virender Sehwag early on. Scant regard for any technique and some big heave has thrown early caution to the Chennai winds. If you can sense that all roads are leading to the MA Chidambaram stadium in Chennai then your guess is as good as mine!
Sachin Tendulkar has opened the innings with explosive batsman Virender Sehwag. Both Indian openers have looked comfortable as the pitch showed true bounce.
India get a final opportunity to fine-tune their grey areas against New Zealand before the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 kicks off.
Teams:
India: MS Dhoni (c), V Sehwag, SR Tendulkar, G Gambhir, V Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, SK Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Z Khan, MM Patel, A Nehra, R Ashwin, YK Pathan, PP Chawla, S Sreesanth
New Zealand: MJ Guptill, BB McCullum†, JD Ryder, LRPL Taylor*, JEC Franklin, SB Styris, JDP Oram, NL McCullum, KD Mills, HK Bennett, LJ Woodcock, TG Southee, JM How, KS Williamson, DL Vettori
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