Paceman Daryl Tuffey grabbed three wickets in a sharp opening spell to bowl New Zealand to a record 200-run win over India in the triangular one-day series on Tuesday.
The 32-year-old finished with 3-34 off eight overs as India were shot out for their lowest-ever total against New Zealand, 88, while chasing a 289-run target in the opening day-night match.
It was New Zealand’s biggest one-day victory over India by run-margin, the previous being by 108 runs at Dunedin in 1990.
Sri Lanka are the third team in the tournament. Each side will play the other twice in the preliminary league before the top two qualify for the final on Aug. 28.
New Zealand were indebted to skipper Ross Taylor (95) and all-rounder Scott Styris (89), who put on a record 190 for the fourth wicket to help their team set a stiff target.
India virtually lost the match in the opening 12 overs when they were reduced to 50-4, with Tuffey taking three wickets and Kyle Mills one.
Tuffey also had a hand in the run-out of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, for two to leave his team tottering at 53-5 in the 14th over.
Ravindra Jadeja (20), Virender Sehwag (19) and Dinesh Karthik (14) were the only batsmen to reach double-figures in India’s dismal batting performance.
Fast bowlers Mills and Jacob Oram bagged two wickets each.
New Zealand were earlier struggling at 28-3 after winning the toss before Taylor and Styris came to their rescue with their big stand.
Taylor looked set to complete his fourth one-day hundred when he was trapped leg-before by left-arm seamer Ashish Nehra, who was the most successful bowler with 4-47.
India paceman Praveen Kumar did the early damage when he had opener Martin Guptill caught behind for 11 and then bowled debutant Kane Williamson for nought.
Nehra was the other wicket-taker in the initial overs, having opener Peter Ingram caught behind for 12.
India then had to wait for more than 31 overs to get another wicket as Taylor and Styris applied themselves remarkably well to boost the innings.
Styris was bowled by spinner Pragyan Ojha immediately after hoisting the bowler for a straight six.
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