Report: New Zealand vs India, 2nd ODI - India Tour NZ
Chasing the Duckworth-Lewis set 293-run target after New Zealand posted 271, India went down fighting in the second ODI. They ended up losing by 15 runs at Seddon Park. (Also Read: Stats Highlights: NZ vs Ind, 2nd ODI)
A Corey Anderson blitzkrieg and Kane Williamson’s solid knock helped NZ to 271 for seven in a rain-curtailed 42 overs-a-side match. Anderson’s fireworks complemented by Ross Taylor and a late onslaught by Luke Ronchi helped add 101 runs off 52 balls. But with the revised target, India had a tough ask ahead of them.
After Virat Kohli set the pace with a 65-ball 78, MS Dhoni worked hard to scale the target with a 44-ball 56. But with the run-rate steadily increasing, India lost the battle completely after the departure of the skipper.
Earlier, Jesse Ryder was back in the pavilion after a short burst, while Martin Guptill bided his time at the crease after NZ were asked to bat first. Williamson, who replaced him, gave the home team a solid foundation. But after a brief rain interruption, Guptill’s innovative sweep off Suresh Raina saw the end of the flourishing partnership. Taylor then survived a stumping, while on 13.
But a rain delay, this time for a longer duration, with NZ on 170 for two in 34th over, changed the complexion of the game, reducing the innings by seven overs. The powerplay was redistributed to nine and four overs, and since Brendon McCullum’s side had already used up 10, they had three overs of batting powerplay left, which they took after the innings resumed.
In the first over of the batting powerplay, Williamson was stumped for 77. But with NZ needing to accelerate at that stage, Anderson took charge of the innings. The youngster smothered the Indian bowlers with his might. The Indian attack was tested during his 17-ball stay that added 44 runs to the NZ total. Much to India’s relief, a change of pace from Ishant Sharma sent Anderson back to the pavilion as he was caught by Dhawan at long-on. In the next over, Mohammed Shami held a return catch to send Brendon McCullum back for a duck. And later in the over, Taylor’s pull at the pacer’s delivery was caught by the Indian skipper.
The Indian bowlers had struck in quick succession to slow down the Kiwi onslaught. In the following over, Bhuvneshwar Kumar rocked Nathan McCullum’s off-stump with a yorker to leave the Black Caps on 252 for seven. With Kyle Mills at the other end, Luke Ronchi then added useful runs to set India a stiff target.
Chasing, the visitors lost Dhawan with only 22 runs on the board. And two overs later, Rohit Sharma, who was let off on four, nicked Southee to the ‘keeper to enter the books as the pacer’s 100th ODI wicket.
No.3 batsman, Virat Kohli, then found an able ally in Ajinkya Rahane. With the required run-rate hovering around eight runs per over, Kohli led the charge against the Kiwi bowlers. He lofted Southee over extra-cover for a six as the pair continued to accumulate runs. His 50 came off 41 balls as they looked to scale the target. Rahane also chipped away at the bowlers and had made his way to 36 before edging the ball to Ronchi. Mitchell McClenaghan called on by his skipper, answered by ending the partnership for 90.
With 170 required at over nine runs per over, Dhoni came in to bat ahead of Raina. The NZ bowlers kept up the pressure and the required run-rate crept up. Just as Kohli looked to keep up with the asking rate, he struck Southee to midwicket to return for 78 after India had taken the batting powerplay.
However, in the next over, the Dhoni-Suresh Raina pair collected 16 runs off Anderson, dispatching him to the boundary thrice. With the match precariously poised, Dhoni and Raina kept India in the hunt for a while. Forced to look for the big hits, Raina perished when he was caught by Southee off Mills. With the team on 226 for five, Jadeja took guard, stepped out and hit Mills for a six over long-on.
Surviving half-chances as they took the aerial route and running risky singles, India pushed their way towards the revised 293-run target. However, Dhoni soon returned to the pavilion, leaving India on 257 for six. Two balls later, Jadeja missed a slower one and was castled, while Ashwin followed him back thereafter. Bhuvneshwar Kumar then fell to Tim Southee in the last over. It was rain again that called the shots and signaled the end of the game with India on 277 for nine and three balls remaining.
New Zealand 271 for 7 (Williamson 77, Taylor 57) in 42 overs beat India 277 for 9 (Kohli 78, Dhoni 56, Southee 4-72) in 41.3 overs by 15 runs (D/L)
Man of the Match: Kane Williamson for his 77-run knock
Man of the Match: Kane Williamson for his 77-run knock
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