McClenaghan inspires New Zealand win

A superb spell from Mitchell McClenaghan inspired New Zealand to a surprise 24-run win in their opening one-day international against India. McClenaghan took 4-68 in Napier on Sunday to limit India to 268 all out in reply to the hosts' innings of 292-7, which was led by Kane Williamson (71) and Corey Anderson (68 not out). That included three wickets in just six balls to swing the match New Zealand's way as the tourists looked to be heading towards victory, needing 70 runs off the final eight overs with six wickets in hand. Virat Kohli was in brilliant form for India, posting his 18th ODI century off 93 balls and going on to a score of 123 before McClenaghan had him caught at cover by Jesse Ryder. That key wicket followed on from McClenaghan's dismissals of MS Dhoni (40) and Ravindra Jadeja (0) in the previous over - a spell that changed the momentum of the game in the Black Caps' favour. New Zealand then applied the pressure on India's lower order - with Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami adding just 30 runs between them - to seal their narrow win with eight balls to spare. Brendon McCullum's side were able to set the tourists a target of 293 thanks in the main to all-rounder Anderson's unbeaten 68, which included four sixes, from 40 balls. That formed part of a late assault from the hosts, who added 131 runs to their total in the final 15 overs, with McCullum (30 off 25 balls) and Luke Ronchi (30 off 18) also playing their part. Shami (4-55) proved the pick of the Indian attack, as he accounted for openers Martin Guptill (eight) and Ryder (18), before then also taking the scalps of Ross Taylor (55) and Nathan McCullum (two). India's reply started with openers Rohit Sharma (three) and Shikhar Dhawan (32) falling to McClenaghan and Anderson. Danger man Kohli looked in sublime touch at number three, but Ajinkya Rahane (seven) and Suresh Raina (18) struggled before captain Dhoni and Kohli built a partnership of 95. However, McClenaghan then took centre stage to help New Zealand into a 1-0 lead in the five-match series, with the second game to take place in Hamilton on Wednesday.