Cricket: Southee snares three as Black Caps beat India

Trent Bolt and Tim Southee picked up seven wickets between them in New Zealand's six wicket victory over India. Photo / Photosport

Northland's Tim Southee picked up a three wicket bag as the Black Caps started their tour of India in emphatic style.

New Zealand have pulled off a remarkable chase to beat India by six wickets and take a 1-0 lead in their ODI series in sweltering Mumbai early yesterday. Having been set 281 to win, Ross Taylor and Tom Latham shared a fine 200-run stand for the fourth wicket enabling New Zealand to reach 284/4 with an over to spare. It is New Zealand's best ODI stand for that wicket against any opponents.

The pair had warmed up for the match by scoring big runs in the second of the two friendly games in Mumbai last week and they gave New Zealand's season a cracking start.

It is New Zealand's eighth win in 33 ODIs in India, and was their first 50-over international victory against the hosts at the Wankhede Stadium.

Boult's display, 4-35 off 10 overs in gruelling conditions, was top class; Santner, save his final over which cost 10, splendidly parsimonious. Southee took late punishment but finished with three wickets.

"We though 275 plus was good on that wicket but New Zealand batted really well in the second half and Ross and Tom were outstanding," an admiring Virat Kohli, India's captain, said.

"They deserved to win. Their partnership was outstanding. When you get a 200-run partnership in ODI cricket, more often than not you end up on the winning side."

Black Caps skipper Kane Williamson was elated.

"The way we set the tone with the new ball at the start of the day was outstanding from our front two bowlers (Boult and Southee) and we struck at it well throughout that innings," he said.

"That 200-run stand was a special, special partnership."

The second match in the three-game series is in Pune on Wednesday night (NZT).