NZ overpower India

DAMBULLA, Sri Lanka (AP)

New Zealand humbled India by 200 runs at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in the one-day international tri-series opener yesterday.

India were all out for 88 in the 30th over in reply to New Zealand's 288 inside 49 overs.

It was India's fifth lowest-ever score in one-dayers, and lowest against New Zealand, while the Black Caps posted their fourth biggest win by runs.

Only three India players hit double figures, as they were transfixed by medium pacer Daryl Tuffey (3-43), and seamers Jacob Oram (2-15) and Kyle Mills (2-26).

India made a decent start of the chase with 39 runs but, on the last ball of the seventh over, Virender Sehwag edged Mills to wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins for 19.

Dinesh Karthik then departed next ball for 14 to a questionable lbw decision by Australian umpire Simon Taufel.

The batsmen then arrived and departed with alarming frequency, with only Ravindra Jadeja enduring. He used up 44 balls for the top score of 20.

Man of the match

For taking four catches in the slips and hitting 95, stand-in New Zealand captain Ross Taylor was named man of the match.

Taylor - leading the Kiwis in the absence of regular skipper Daniel Vettori - and Scott Styris rescued New Zealand when they came together at 28-3 in the seventh over.

Their run-a-ball, 190-run partnership for the fourth wicket ensured New Zealand posted a competitive total.

Taylor made 95 off 113 balls, hitting eight fours and a six in his fifth half century in eight matches this year.

Styris collected 89 off 95 balls with nine boundaries and a six for his best ODI score in more than two years. He also went past 4,000 runs in one-dayers.

Both capitalised on sloppy India fielding.

Styris was on 16 and went well down the wicket, but wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni missed the flight of left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha's delivery and an easy stumping.

Taylor was let off on 45 when Suresh Raina failed to hold onto a one-handed diving catch as the ball flew to short extra cover off the leading edge.

Ojha finally broke the stand when he had Styris clean bowled in the 39th over, and three overs later Ashish Nehra trapped Taylor leg before wicket when the batsman looked set for his much-deserved century. Nehra took 4-74 and Praveen Kumar 3-43.