Kohli in the runs as India thrash New Zealand in first ODI

Virat Kohli smashed his 80th half-century in one-day internationals and took a screamer of a catch to help India thrash New Zealand ​by five wickets in the rain-hit series opener in Auckland ‌on Wednesday.

A day before his 38th birthday, Kohli underlined his enduring class with a knock of 74 in 51 balls at Eden Park as India chased ​down 143 on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method after repeated rain showers interrupted ​their reply.

Talisman Kohli eventually holed out to deep square ⁠leg off the bowling of Jacob Duffy and exited waving his bat ​for the Indian fans who dominated the crowd.

Only five days after piling ​up 259 for seven in the fourth T20 match, New Zealand were bundled out for a paltry 185 in 40.2 overs after losing the toss to India ​captain Shubman Gill.

“I think we were very good with the bowling,” ​said Gill. “Overall a very good team performance.”

Pace duo Arshdeep Singh (4-70) and Gurnoor Brar (3-44) took ‌seven ⁠wickets between them, rattling through New Zealand’s top order as the home batters repeatedly succumbed to short-pitched bowling.

India beat New Zealand in first ODI as Kohli misses out on ton

Fast-bowling all-rounder Anshul Kamboj was impressive in his second ODI, taking two wickets and conceding a miserly 22 runs ​from his 10 ​overs to be ⁠man of the match.

“The way both of them bowled tonight was really magnificent to watch,” Gill said ​of Kamboj and Brar.

Kohli delivered Kamboj his first wicket ​with a ⁠brilliant, diving slips catch, plucking a one-hander above the grass to remove all-rounder Nathan Smith for one.

Tim Seifert opened the batting for New Zealand, ⁠replacing the ​concussed Devon Conway, and top-scored for the ​hosts with 38 in his first ODI in over 18 months.

The five-match series moves to ​Wellington on Saturday.