Related Links : Micromax Cup 2010 Tri-Series in Sri Lanka : India Player Pages : New Zealand Player Pages : Scorecard of India Vs New Zealand, 1st Match of the Micromax Cup at Dambulla
An under-strength New Zealand team crushed India by a huge margin of 200 runs in the opening match of the Micromax Cup Tri-Series in Dambulla. After some initial trouble of 28 for 3, New Zealand through a rescue act from Skipper Ross Taylor (95 from 113 balls with 8 fours and a six) and Scott Styris (89 from 95 balls with 9 fours and a six) finished at an impressive 288 all out. That runs were just too many for India as the batting collapsed under the lights to a paltry 88 with the innings lasting only 29.3 overs.
Besides the duo of Taylor and Styris who had put up 190 for the 4th wicket, Daryl Tuffey was the big performer of the match contributing in all the three departments! First he chipped in with a cameo of 19 that helped NZ from 254 for 7 to a total close to 300. Tuffey then picked up three wickets with the ball plus the run out of the Indian Captain MS Dhoni.
The Indian batsmen found life very difficult against the short and rising deliveries and also the darting balls under the lights. Just the three batsmen got into double figures and the top scorer was Ravindra Jadeja who made 20 while lasting 44 balls.
The Kiwis had won the toss in this match and elected to bat first. There was an ODI debut for Kane Williamson, a top order batsman who bowls off breaks. It was the New Zealand Skipper Ross Taylor who got the Man of the Match for scoring 95 which was followed by four catches in the slip cordon! India’s only positives of the match was the new ball pair of Praveen Kumar (9-3-43-3) and Ashish Nehra (9.5-1-47-4).