New Zealand climbed the Cricket World Cup Super League standings with to outstanding efforts from Tom Latham and Kane Williamson in the opening ODI against India in Auckland. New Zealand earned 10 CWCSL points, moving up two places to fourth in the rankings. They are currently tied with Australia on 120 points, but trail in net run rate when compared to their neighbors.
New Zealand rise in CWCSL table
At the 20-over point in the chase, it did not appear as if New Zealand would win. After losing three wickets for 88 runs, the Black Caps were on the back foot. Following that, New Zealand completely dominated the game, with Tom Latham leading the charge with a scorching 104-ball 145*, his best ODI score. Kane Williamson, with a calm 98-ball 94*, was content to play second fiddle. The 221-run fourth-wicket partnership aided New Zealand’s second-highest chase against India in men’s ODI cricket.
The choice by India to play only five bowlers, two of whom were making their ODI debuts, proved expensive. The bowlers’ inexperience was evident as Latham and Williamson took advantage of familiar conditions and pitch characteristics. Earlier, Shubman Gill’s, Shikhar Dhawan’s, and Shreyas Iyer’s fifties, along with an impressive cameo from Washington Sundar, helped India to 306/7.
Tim Southee took three wickets to become the fifth Kiwi to reach 200 ODI wickets. The action now shifts to Hamilton on Sunday, November 27, where a win for New Zealand would propel them from fourth to first place in the CWCSL table.