Wellington: India defeated New Zealand by four runs under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method in the second ODI at Hnry Stadium in Wellington on Saturday. In a low-scoring thriller, India’s fast bowlers delivered an impressive performance to restrict the hosts to just 134 runs. However, New Zealand’s bowlers made the chase difficult for India, putting the visitors under pressure before rain brought the match to an early end.
The victory helped India take a 2-0 lead in the five-match ODI series.
Rain delayed the start of the match, reducing the contest to 47 overs. India won the toss once again and elected to bowl first. The decision worked in their favour as the Indian pacers made early inroads into the New Zealand batting line-up.
Auqib Nabi struck twice with the new ball, reducing New Zealand to 11/2. Opener Tim Seifert was dismissed for a duck, while Will Young managed just six runs.
The early setbacks put the hosts under pressure, and wickets continued to fall at regular intervals. Eight New Zealand batters failed to reach double figures, leaving Daryl Mitchell to shoulder much of the responsibility.
Mitchell played a fighting knock of 55 runs, while captain Mitchell Santner provided support with 31. However, the Indian bowlers kept the pressure on and restricted New Zealand to 134.
Gurnoor Brar was among the standout performers with two wickets. Axar Patel and Anshul Kamboj also claimed two wickets each.
Indian Top Order Collapses In Run Chase
Chasing a modest target, India got off to a disastrous start as captain Shubman Gill was dismissed for a golden duck in the second over. Virat Kohli followed soon after, scoring just seven runs.
Despite his brief stay at the crease, Kohli achieved a major milestone, becoming the highest run-scorer against New Zealand in ODI cricket. He surpassed former Australia captain Ricky Ponting’s record.
Rohit Sharma looked comfortable initially but was eventually dismissed by Kyle Jamieson for 23 runs. Axar Patel also failed to make a significant contribution, leaving Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul to handle the pressure.
India slipped to 47/4, but Iyer kept the innings moving and helped the visitors recover from the early collapse. He eventually departed for 30 runs.
New Zealand Bowlers Put India Under Pressure
India were expected to complete the chase comfortably after restricting New Zealand to a low total. However, the hosts’ bowlers made the contest much closer than anticipated.
Jacob Duffy picked up the important wicket of Naman Dhir, further increasing the pressure on India. Anshul Kamboj then lost his wicket cheaply, giving New Zealand another opportunity to fight back.
Just when the hosts appeared to be gaining momentum, rain interrupted play again. The match could not resume, and India were declared winners by four runs under the DLS method.
The result gave India a 2-0 advantage in the five-match series, with their fast bowlers once again playing a crucial role in the victory.