So New Zealand go up 1-0 in the series, which they will be pretty buoyed about, while India, who did not really have a stinker of a match, will need to revisit the drawing board, and hopefully address some of the deficiencies they showed out in the middle and in the field. We look forward to your company for the second ODI, which will be played on January 22 in Hamilton. Till then, this is Rohan Sharma signing off for ESPNcricinfo on behalf of the scorer, Sanjay Murari.
Corey Anderson, Man of the Match: Yeah it's nice to set it up at the end there after Ross and Kane built it for us. It was tough at the death but I guess that is something we have to look at next game. We started off well with the ball, and then through the Powerplay stage it got a bit messy, but you expect it in that stage.
Brendon McCullum, New Zealand captain: I thought we had a par score and the way India bowled they restricted us to just below 300. Virat's innings was world-class and showed why he is one of the best in the world. Mitch did the job for us with the ball, and showed how vital he is to our side. It was good to see some partnerships throughout the batting. Ross and Kane's stand in particular was important for our side. I was pretty pleased with how Corey went as well. So pleased with the batters. It's a captain's nightmare when you have those two guys there, but the message was simple, try to find a way to get a wicket. I thought Mitch was outstanding, and I thought Milne was really good tonight, despite the injury. Yeah our ground fielding was pretty good, and that is what we pride ourselves in.
MS Dhoni, India captain: I think overall it was a good decision to bat first. It had to be backed by good bowling. We didn't' do well in first three/four overs, but then we came back well. It was important for the spinners to bowl with control, while the seamers were not so consistent with their lengths. We were in the game, right till the end, but the wickets of Kohli, Jadeja and me that hurt us. It was important that one of us carried on till the end. We could have targeted the runs at the end, but we ran out of overs. We had good time to prepare ourselves. I think a few of the batsmen played well today, but it is important that if you get a decent start you push on to a big score. It is a little easier in India to do it, but here you have to work for it. Its important not to get yourself out, but only to a good ball.
We will be back shortly for quotes from the match presentation
And with that New Zealand manage to hold on to a 24-run victory over India, who did well to run them close, but they didn't quite make it till the end. McClenaghan picked up the crucial breakthroughs in his 4 for 68, with that 43rd over of his being vital to New Zealand's cause. India's innings was championed by the ever-consistent Virat Kohli, who played one of the best ODI innings of his career with 123 off 111 balls. Dhoni provided valuable support with his 40 off 46, and while the two were at the crease, an Indian victory was always on the cards, such is the pedigree and calibre of these players.
I Sharma b Southee 5 (14m 10b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50.00
Southee to bowl this penultimate over. As the match stands, India need a further 30 runs off 12 balls with just a wicket in hand