It could be worse for the Blackcaps – they need 325 to beat India at the Bay Oval tonight and level the five-match ODI series after the visitors reached 324 for four in their 50 overs

An opening partnership of 154 between star openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohot Sharma in 25 overs had India looking at a huge total after their captain Virat Kohli had won the toss and chosen to bat on an immaculate looking Bay Oval pitch.

Indian batting icon Virat Kohli recieved a huge reception when he walked out to replace Shikhar Dhawan

But good work from the Blackcaps bowlers, notably Trent Boult and Ish Sodhi, put the brakes on the India scoring to an extent in the latter overs.

Sodhi conceded just 43 runs off his 10 overs, though without taking a wicket, which proved a challenging task on a Bay Oval pitch which is built for batting.

Ish Sodhi went for just 43 in his 10 overs

Boult and Lochie Ferguson took two wickets apiece, conceding 61 and 81 runs respectively off 10 overs.

For India Sharma top-scored with 87, while Dhawan made 66, and Kohli, who received a huge reception from the capacity crowd as he walked on at the fall of Dhawan's wicket, reached 43.

Sodhi brought the house down with his catch to dismiss Kohli

The match is the second in the five-match ODI series against India. The third is at the same venue on Monday.

Indian opener Rohit Sharma on his way to his team's top score of 87