Auckland, Nov. 4 -- New Zealand fast bowler Jacob Duffy admitted that late starts during the ongoing home tour against India have been "definitely a factor" in his team's inability to defend totals, after the hosts suffered a five-wicket defeat in the first ODI at Eden Park.

New Zealand were bowled out for 185 after being asked to bat first, before India chased down their revised target of 143 in 32 overs following rain interruptions. It was the fourth time in five matches on the tour that New Zealand failed to defend a total.

While the five-match T20I series began at 8 pm local time, the ODIs have a 3 pm start. Duffy, who returned figures of 3/49 in the opening ODI, felt the conditions later in the day made defending a target difficult...