Wisden
First One-Day International

India v New Zealand, 1999-2000

At Rajkot, November 5. New Zealand won by 43 runs. Toss: New Zealand. International debut: S. B. Styris.

New Zealand obtained their first win of the tour by amassing their biggest limited-overs total, which was also - for three days - the highest one-day international score on Indian soil. The previous record was New Zealand's 348 for eight at Nagpur, in 1995-96, which was overshadowed by the deaths of nine spectators when a wall collapsed. This time, the tourists could celebrate, especially Astle, who had scored a hundred at Nagpur and now hit 120 from 136 balls, including 12 fours and two sixes. He shared century stands with Spearman, who smashed 68 in 44 balls, and Twose. An even bigger total seemed likely when they were 187 for one at the halfway mark, but India still needed seven an over to win. Tendulkar and Ganguly matched that rate, racing to 87 in 12 overs, and Jadeja scored 95 in 97 balls. They were all out, however, with three overs to spare, having raised the match aggregate to 655, nine short of another record.

Man of the Match: N. J. Astle.

© John Wisden & Co