Wellington/Alive News: India defeated New Zealand by four runs under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method in the rain-affected second ODI on Saturday, November 7. With this victory, India have taken a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
Fast bowler Gurnoor Brar played a key role in India’s victory, taking four wickets as New Zealand were bowled out for 134 runs. Anshul Kamboj, Axar Patel and Auqib Nabi picked up two wickets each.
Batting first after India won the toss and elected to bowl, New Zealand struggled against the Indian bowling attack. Daryl Mitchell scored 55 runs, while Mitchell Santner contributed to a 59-run partnership with him. However, the rest of the batting line-up failed to build partnerships.
India had a difficult start in their 135-run chase. Captain Shubman Gill was dismissed for a duck, while Rohit Sharma scored 23 and Virat Kohli managed just seven runs. Axar Patel also fell for seven.
KL Rahul remained unbeaten on 26, while Shreyas Iyer scored 30 runs. India reached 113/7 when rain stopped play. At that stage, India were four runs ahead of the DLS par score of 109 and were declared winners.
Gurnoor Brar was named Player of the Match for his four-wicket performance.
India will now face New Zealand in the third ODI at Seddon Park, Hamilton, on November 10, with an opportunity to seal the series.
