Twitter Reactions: Tom Latham's stunning century help New Zealand swat aside India in first ODI

Tom Latham registered his highest ODI score to brush aside India in the ODI series opener.

By Chaitanya Prakash

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Tom Latham
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Tom Latham. (Photo Source: Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

New Zealand extinguished the disappointment of the T20I series defeat after hammering India in the first ODI in Auckland. Tom Latham compiled a majestic ton to give the hosts a 1-0 lead in the three-match series as half-centuries from Shikhar Dhawan, Shubman Gill, and Shreyas Iyer went in vain. Kane Williamson and Tom Latham compiled a mammoth unbroken 221-run stand to hand New Zealand a comfortable victory by seven wickets while chasing India's 306.

The home side made a sedated start to the chase as Devon Conway, and Finn Allen were cautious against the moving ball at the start of the innings. But Shardul Thakur broke the opening stand with a peach, getting rid of the dangerous Finn Allen. His opening partner was dismissed in the 16th over by the debutant Umran Malik, registering his first wicket in ODI cricket.

The tearaway pacer struck again in the 20th over, getting rid of the experienced Daryl Mitchell. Mitchell's dismissal brought the elegant Tom Latham at the crease, who played the innings of his ODI career, while his skipper went about his business from the other end without any fuss.

The southpaw was rarely troubled by the Indian bowlers and just milked boundaries at will. He took full toll on an inexperienced Indian pace attack, boasting of two debutants, who were guilty of bowling too many freebies. He notched up a magnificent ton in just 76 deliveries to bring New Zealand to the cusp of victory.

While Latham was slaying the Indian bowlers in a majestic batting display, his skipper kept the scoreboard ticking from the other end, contributing valiantly to a mammoth partnership for the fourth wicket. The southpaw also shattered Nathan Astle's 23-year-old record to register the highest individual score by a Kiwi against India in ODIs.

Shreyas Iyer impressed with yet another half-century after Gill and Dhawan's solid start

Earlier in the match, Kane Willamson won the toss and elected to bowl first on a pitch that had something for fast bowlers. India's opening pair of Shubman Gill and Shikhar Dhawan negated the early threat commendably and gave India a solid start with a 124-run stand for the first wicket. Both batters registered their respective half-centuries during that stand.

However, the Kiwi bowlers wrestled back the momentum, dismissing both the set openers in quick succession. Rishabh Pant, who has been getting a lot of stick from fans of late, failed to make an impact and was dismissed after a sluggish 15 off 23 deliveries. The in-form Suryakumar Yadav entered the arena to a great reception, but his stay was cut short by a fiery Lockie Ferguson.

From a position of strength, India were in a spot of bother after being reduced to 160/4. That is when Shreyas Iyer and Sanju Samson joined hands to frustrate the Kiwi bowlers. The duo added 94 runs for the fifth wicket, with Iyer looking at home in the longer format of the game after a horrendous T20I series. Samson's handy innings was followed by a breathtaking assault by Washington Sundar, smashing 37* off just 16 deliveries to propel India to a par score of 306 runs.

Here is how Twitter reacted to New Zealand's commanding victory against India in the first ODI:

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New Zealand vs India 2022IndiaNew ZealandTom LathamKane Williamson