Kohli's century takes India 1-0 up against NZ

Royal Challenger Virat Kohli scored a scintillating century as he led India to a 40-run victory in the first ODI against New Zealand. The century earned Kohli the Man of the Match award and puts him ahead in the race to seal a place in the Indian World Cup squad.

Virat's 105 was the cornerstone in India's total of 276 as India lost the last 6 wickets within 26 runs. Virat, who survived a close caught behind appeal when he was yet to open his account, played cautiously in the beginning but began to free his arms as the overs moved on. His 104 - ball stay at the wicket was studded with 10 hits to the fence and some deft running between the wicket, especially with Yuvaraj Singh with whom he shared a crucial 108 runs partnership. Once Virat returned as the fifth batsman to be dismissed at 250, India still had 6 overs left in their innings. But Indian tail made a mess of things losing all their wickets adding only 26 runs more within the 49th over.

Royal Challenger Virat Kohli scored a scintillating century as he led India to a 40-run victory in the first ODI against New Zealand. The century earned Kohli the Man of the Match award and puts him ahead in the race to seal a place in the Indian World Cup squad.

Virat's 105 was the cornerstone in India's total of 276 as India lost the last 6 wickets within 26 runs. Virat, who survived a close caught behind appeal when he was yet to open his account, played cautiously in the beginning but began to free his arms as the overs moved on. His 104 - ball stay at the wicket was studded with 10 hits to the fence and some deft running between the wicket, especially with Yuvaraj Singh with whom he shared a crucial 108 runs partnership. Once Virat returned as the fifth batsman to be dismissed at 250, India still had 6 overs left in their innings. But Indian tail made a mess of things losing all their wickets adding only 26 runs more within the 49th over.

With the wicket playing true, NZ had a relatively easy target, but made bad start losing both their openers within the first 10 overs in their chase. Stand-in skipper Ross Taylor was valiant in his attempt but couldn't win the pressure of over 7 asking rate and losing partners at the other end. Taylor made a spirited 66 off 69 deliveries with three hits to the fence and three over it but was dismissed trying to hit R Ashwin over the ropes for his fourth. With his dismissal and New Zealand tottering at 157/7, it was thought that India already pocketed the match. But Nathan McCullum and Kylie Mills put up a spirited effort partnering for 67 runs for the 9th wicket and taking the total to 236/8. As India was looking for answers to keep McCullum out of the middle, Sreeshanth returned with a two-wicket-in-two deliveries dash that won the match for India. Skipper Gambhir took a stunner running back for 30 yards to hold on to a McCullum skier while wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha held on to a Mills' miscue to give Sreeshanth his dues in the match.

With this win, India goes 1-0 up in the 5-match series.