Read the article of India vs New Zealand 1st Match Austral-Asia Cup 1986 - Austral-Asia Cup five-nation one-day international tournament of the 1st ODI match played between New Zealand and India at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah in 10th April 1986.
Maninder Singh and Ravi Shastri's combined 5-wickets before Kirti Azad and a Impressive debut Innings from Chandrakant Pandit steers to India hard-fought three-wicket victory over New Zealand, despite a superb economical bowling figures from Ewen Chatfield in the opening match of a Austral-Asia Cup.
New Zealand scored modest total of 132 for 8 in 44 overs with top scorer by Jeff Crowe cracked a unbeaten 36 off 56-balls including three boundaries.
Martin Snedden scored 26 off consuming 75-balls including a boundary, John Bracewell hit 25 off 35-balls included one-six & a four and Ervin McSweeney cracked a unbeaten 18 off 17-balls including 2-sixes & a four.
India best bowler by Maninder Singh picked up 3-wickets for 23-runs in 9-overs, Ravi Shastri took 2-wickets and one for Madan Lal - Kirti Azad.
India chased 134-7 in 41.4 overs with top scorer by Debutant Chandrakant Pandit - who hit a unbeaten 33 off 34-balls on his debut ODI match - including 4-fours.
Kirti Azad struck 30 off 61-balls including 2-sixes and Ravi Shastri scored 25 off consuming 59-balls without a boundary.
New Zealand best bowler by Ewen Chatfield 3-14, Martin Crowe, Martin Snedden, Evan Gray and John Bracewell each took one-wickets.
Ewen Chatfield named Player of the match for his superb economical bowling performance to picked up 3-wickets for 14-runs in 9-overs including five maidens with economy rate of 1.55.
This article reference by REUTERS via The Canberra Times
World Cup winners India recovered from a dramatic top-order collapse to beat a fighting New Zealand by three wickets in the opening match of the Australasia Cricket Cup.
Wicketkeeper Chandrakant Pandit, making his international debut, pulled Ewen Gray's fourth ball of the 42nd over to the mid-wicket boundary to ensure victory for India with two overs left.
New Zealand, fielding one of its weakest sides for a long time, almost brought off a sensational win but for two costly dropped catches by wicket-keeper Erwin McSweeny.
McSweeny first dropped Ravi Shastri, who scored 25 runs before he was stumped, and also fluffed an easier chance to remove Kapil Dev while the Indian captain had yet to score.
Off-spinner John Bracewell was the bowler to suffer on both occasions.
Faced with New Zealand's modest innings of eight for 132 in 44 overs, India was virtually on its knees after losing four batsmen for 25, but the recovery was swift and effective.
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