Kane Williamson and Tom Latham combined to get the Black Caps home. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
A record-breaking partnership between Kane Williamson and Tom Latham guided the Black Caps to a seven-wicket victory over India in the first ODI in Auckland.
New Zealand needed to score 307 to win after India had let loose late in their innings.
Latham top-scored for New Zealand with 145 runs - claiming his seventh ODI century and his highest ever ODI score.
Williamson contributed an unbeaten 94 off 98 as New Zealand eased to a 50th ODI victory over India with 17 balls to spare.
Sent in to bat, India scored 306-7.
Half-centuries from India's openers captain Shikhar Dhawan (72 off 77 balls) and Shubman Gill (50 off 65) set the platform for the competitive total.
It was the duo's fourth century partnership in nine innings.
India's Shreyas Iyer scored 80 runs in the opening ODI game of the series. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Both openers were out when the score was on 124, but Shreyas Iyer's 80 and a quick-fire 37 off 16 balls from Washington Sundar towards the end, helped India score 96 runs in the last 10 overs to move just past the 300-run mark.
Pace bowler Tim Southee picked up the wicket of Dhawan to claim his 200th ODI wicket - the fifth New Zealander to reach the milestone.
Southee finished with three wickets from his 10 overs and Lockie Ferguson also snared three wickets including two in one over.
New Zealand went into the game with four seamers and one spin bowler after Jimmy Neesham was ruled out with an injury.
Chasing India's total, the Black Caps lost Finn Allen (22 off 25 balls) and Devon Conway (24 off 42 balls) in the first 15 overs.
Williamson and Latham then combined for a record-breaking 221- run partnership to keep the hosts in the game.
It was the highest ever one-day partnership for any team at Eden Park.
Latham attacked Shardul Thakur in the 40th over taking 25 runs off the over to bring up his second ODI century against India and break open the game going into the last 10 overs.
The Black Caps took advantage of India's inexperienced bowlers to take a 1-0 lead in the series which counts towards qualification for next year's world cup in India.
The second of three ODIs is in Hamilton on Sunday.