Stellar batting powers India to 306/7 vs New Zealand

AUCKLAND: Sublime batting performances from the top order and a late quick-fire innings from Washington Sundar helped India post a good total of 306/7 against New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday.

After being put in to bat first, knocks from Shikhar Dhawan, and Shubhman Gill gave India a bright start.

The partnership picked pace after that as the duo started finding gaps and unfurled a range of strokes to up the scoring rate.

Gill played a superb uppercut to Henry, guiding a well-directed short ball for six over the keeper's head, taking India's score to 40/0 at the end of the 10 overs.

Lockie Ferguson faced the brunt of Dhawan's bat as the left-hander smashed him for two consecutive fours in the 15th over.

The opening partnership was broken by Ferguson as he dismissed Gill in the 24th over with the score at 124.

In the very next over, pacer Tim Southee got rid of Dhawan soon, leaving two new batsmen Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant in the crease.

Pant played a below-par innings as Ferguson dismissed the left-hander for 15 off 23 balls.

In-form batter Suryakumar got out quickly to another Ferguson delivery.

Sanju Samson walked out to bat at number six when India was in need of someone to anchor the innings without much damage. He stitched a crucial 94-run partnership with Iyer.

Just when the duo looked to up the ante, Milne dismissed Samson to bring in all-rounder Washington Sundar.

The duo smashed 46 runs in just 28 balls with Sundar scoring 37 of 16 balls.

Iyer was dismissed in the last over for 80 off 76 helping India get past the 300-run mark. India finished their innings at 306/7 in 50 overs.