Cricket: Black Caps flounder as India reign in wet

India beat the Black Caps by 53 runs in the first one day international to lead one-nil in the best of five series . Photo / Getty Images

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It may not prove a watershed moment but India issued a chilling warning as New Zealand wallowed to a heavy defeat in their rain-affected one-day cricket series opener at McLean Park here tonight.

India won by an imposing 53-run margin after New Zealand listed alarmingly in pursuit of a target that varied between 278 and 216 - as the weather continues to wreck havoc with the summer internationals.

India's 273 for four from 38 overs would have been impregnable but after light rain swept the ground a second time New Zealand returned to contemplate a mythical equation of 105 from 7.1 overs.

New Zealand at least saw out the 28 overs, closing on 162 for nine after their forlorn chase imploded spectacularly after the second rain delay.

When Martin Guptill holed out for 64, the dismissal than triggered the loss of four wickets in five balls as Harbhajan Singh toyed with the remnants of New Zealand's batting.

Guptill went down swinging, Neil Broom was stumped and although Kyle Mills avoided the hat-trick but was caught next ball at slip.

Ian Butler then joined the procession in next over when caught in the deep to leave New Zealand tottering at 132 for nine.

Ultimately the die had been cast when Brendon McCullum was swallowed up by Harbhajan at fine leg for a five-ball duck - the worst possible start to a challenging run chase.

At the halfway mark the asking rate had spiralled to 9.4 - and crucially Jesse Ryder and Ross Taylor had already made their contributions.

Ryder laboured for 11 from 25 balls, hitting out in vain two balls after he copped a nasty blow to the midriff.

Guptill and Taylor then bore the responsibility to pilot New Zealand close but the Indians were in a ring celebrating again in the 16th over when their 58-run stand for the third wicket was snapped by Yusuf Pathan.

Taylor, who made a brisk 31 from 24 balls, succumbed to a slog sweep pouched by Sachin Tendulkar to make New Zealand's task nigh impossible before the rain intervened a second time.

Earlier a torrent of Indian runs either side of the initial rain break placed Mahendra Singh Dhoni's side in an unbeatable position.

The captain was prominent in ensuring the Indians could start avenging a 0-2 series loss in the Twenty20s, top scoring with an unbeaten 84 from 89 balls studded with six boundaries.

In terms of raw power he was bettered by whirlwinds Virender Sehwag and Suresh Raina, who pounded a rapid 77 and 66 respectively.

India launched their attack from the opening over though Butler did have reason to celebrate when he marked his return from a four-year exile by snaring the iconic Tendulkar for 20, caught at the wicket by McCullum.

But there was little other cause for acclaim among a New Zealand attack pummelled without exception.

Though Tendulkar remains the star attraction, Sehwag caught the eye by bludgeoning a typically boundary-laden half century.

Sehwag took two boundaries from Kyle Mills' opening over, the first an an expensive spell for the Black Caps spearhead.

He raced to his 34th ODI half century with his eighth boundary - off just 37 balls - and three figures loomed until Taylor took a scorching drive low at extra cover to end the belligerent opener's punishment.

The run out of Yuvraj Singh for two gave New Zealand fleeting satisfaction before Dhoni justified his elevation to first drop by posting a composed half century.

Raina, meanwhile, adopted a Sehwag-like demeanor when he replaced Yuvraj, rocketing to his half century in 31 balls after clubbing three boundaries and a trio of sixes - including two off the unfortunate Mills.

Dhoni and Raina eventually added 110 for the fourth wicket in 74 balls before Raina, who made his runs from 39 balls, skied Grant Elliott to O'Brien.

Elliott was enlisted after Mills, making his return from an achilles tendon strain, was collared for 69 off seven overs.

He was not the only rehabilitated bowler to suffer. Oram, also back from an achilles injury, had a dozen taken from the first of his two overs though Butler had the satisfaction of ending with a relatively economical one for 42 from his eight over maximum.

The second match of the five-game series is scheduled for Wellington on Friday.

- NZPA