NEW DELHI: Daryl Mitchell stood tall with a stroke-filled half-century to help New Zealand post 300 for 8 in the first One-Day International against India on Sunday.

Mitchell, ranked world No. 3 behind India superstars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, lived up to the billing with a gritty knock that gave New Zealand a much-needed push amid a middle-order collapse.

He clobbered five fours and three sixes to make 84 off 71 balls after New Zealand’s middle order failed to build on a strong start provided by Devon Conway (56 off 67 balls; 6 fours, 1 six) and Henry Nicholls (62 off 69 balls; 8 fours).

Openers Conway and Nicholls had put on 117 runs to defy India in the first 21 overs, but Harshit Rana’s (2/65) second spell of 2-0-13-2 turned the momentum and the home side chipped away with regular wickets.

New Zealand slumped from 117 for no loss in the 22nd over to 198 for five in the 38th. But Mitchell stitched together crucial partnerships to rescue the innings, while debutant Kristian Clarke struck three late fours to make 24 not out off 17 balls.

In the 22nd over, Rana slowed the pace to break the century stand between Conway and Nicholls. An innocuous off-cutter bowled away from the batter induced an edge from Nicholls that carried to the wicketkeeper for India’s first breakthrough.

In the 24th over, Rana mixed slower balls with deliveries exceeding 140 kmph to keep the Kiwis guessing. On the final ball of the over, he had Conway’s inside edge crash into the stumps.

India and Rana might have had an earlier breakthrough if Kuldeep Yadav (1/52) had held on to a simple catch at third man in the fifth over when Nicholls was on five.

Siraj bowled a slower one that had Will Young feathering it behind the wickets, while Prasidh Krishna (2/60) cleaned up Mitchell Hay (12) in the 37th over.

Under the weather for the last few days, Glenn Phillips looked a little sluggish and his brief stay ended when Kuldeep got him, and a brilliant direct hit by Shreyas Iyer from long-on caught Kiwi skipper Michael Bracewell short of his crease.

Earlier, Conway began confidently with a drive down the wicket for his first boundary while Nicholls took his time and used the sweep shot well to find occasional runs.

The duo grew in confidence, bringing out sweeps and reverse sweeps with precision while rotating the strike well to put on the century stand.

(With PTI Inputs)