India allrounder Washington Sundar played a superb quick-fire inning against New Zealand in the first ODI today.
Sundar made 37 from just 16 balls batting at No.7 that broke Suresh Raina’s record of the highest strike rate on New Zealand soil.
He finished off with a strike rate of 231.25 that took India past the 300-run mark and they finished with 306/7 in their 50 overs.
Sundar has also gone past Kapil Dev as regards the strike rate. Suresh Raina was the record holder of the highest strike rate with 211.11 against New Zealand in a series in 2009.
Kapil Dev’s record of a 30+ score in New Zealand had a strike rate of 206.25 in 1992.
Both Shikhar Dhawan and Shubman Gill batted well in the first innings and together stitched a partnership of 124 runs.
Earlier, New Zealand won the toss and asked India to bat first.
India found itself reeling after the loss of Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar Yadav when the team score was 160.
A target of 300 looked impossible when Shreyas Iyer and Sanju Samson were batting for India.
It was only when Washington Sundar came to the crease that he took India past the 300-run mark.
But the score was too easy for New Zealand to chase as they won the game by 7 wickets to spare.
Both these teams will meet again on the 27th for the second ODI.
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