Black Caps big hitter Corey Anderson took charge of the opening one-day international against India, belting an unbeaten 68 as the New Zealanders reached 7-292 at McLean Park in Napier.
Anderson had been relatively subdued since smashing a world record 36-ball century in the second ODI against the West Indies in Queenstown on New Year’s Day.
But he rediscovered his mojo on Sunday in the first ODI of the five-match series, batting through for 68 off 40 balls, including three boundaries and four sixes.
Anderson put on 66 in 37 balls for the sixth wicket with Luke Ronchi, who continued his recent good form with a quickfire 30 off 18 balls.
Mohammed Shami struck twice late in the innings, removing Ronchi and Nathan McCullum for two, to restrict what looked set to be a 300-plus score.
Shami also picked up two early wickets for overall figures of 4-55 off nine overs.
Opener Jesse Ryder got the Black Caps off to his accustomed rollicking start after India won the toss, but was trapped static on the crease, bowled by a fuller ball from Shami for 18 off 16 balls.
Fellow opener Martin Guptill departed soon after, making just eight from 23 balls before he edged Shami to Ravichandran Ashwin took a sharp catch at first slip to leave New Zealand 2-32.
It was left to Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor to rebuild the innings, and the pair did that with poise and patience in adding 121 runs for the third wicket.
Williamson kept the score ticking over with an 88-ball 71, which included seven boundaries, before he lofted Ravindra Jadeja straight to Ajinkya Rahane at silly mid-off in the 33rd over.
Taylor disappeared soon after, edging a wide ball from Shami to Dhoni and becoming the Indian captain’s 300th ODI victim since his debut in 2004.
Taylor had looked solid, working the ball around in supporting Williamson and stroking just one boundary in his 82-ball 55.
Brendon McCullum contributed a breezy 30 from 25 balls before edging a superbly taken catch to Dhoni, leaving Anderson to play the mainstay in guiding the Kiwis to a competitive total.
