Kohli struck a 104-ball 105, his second successive and fourth overall ODI century, to guide India to 276 before an abrupt collapse in 49 overs.
Part-timer Yuvraj Singh (three for 43), his lanky spin colleague Ravichandran Ashwin (three for 50) and paceman Shanthakumaran Sreesanth (three for 30) then shared nine wickets as New Zealand folded for 236 in 45.2 overs.
Ross Taylor (66) tried his best and down the order, Nathan McCullum (35) and Kyle Mills (32) threw their bats at everything but that was not enough for the tourists, beaten 1-0 in the recent Test series, to avert defeat.
However, it was Kohli who set the tone for India, walking in after openers Murali Vijay and Gautam Gambhir had put on 44 and guiding the team to the 250-mark before he fell in the 44th over.
“It feels good, I went out there and continued my form,” Kohli told ESPNcricinfo. “Hopefully I can continue in the next few games.”
For New Zealand, Andy McKay (four for 62) and Mills (three for 42) scythed through the lower half of the Indian batting order with the last five wickets making just 26. New Zealand’s regular captain Daniel Vettori was missing due to back stiffness following the Test series and Taylor meanwhile took over Vettori’s post.
“We wanted some early wickets but Vijay, Gambhir and Kohli batted well,” said Taylor. “We could not take early wickets like the other team and that was bad.
“Disappointing result, really. Martin Guptill batted well, Mills and McCullum got us close. However, Kohli had played really well and I think he took the game away from us.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 29th, 2010.
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