India claimed a narrow four-run victory over New Zealand via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method, extending their lead to 2-0 in the five-match series. Persistent rain delayed the start of the second ODI at Wellington’s Hnry Stadium, leading officials to reduce the contest to 47 overs per side. The hosts struggled on a two-paced surface, managing only 134 all out in 41 overs.
Gurnoor Brar spearheaded the Indian attack, finishing with impressive figures of 4 for 30. Anshul Kamboj also contributed significantly with 2 for 25, while Axar Patel and Auqib Nabi provided essential support. Daryl Mitchell top-scored for the Black Caps with 55, supported by Mitchell Santner’s 31, but the batting lineup struggled to build sustained momentum against the disciplined Indian bowling unit.
The pursuit proved challenging for India as they navigated both a difficult pitch and inclement weather. The visitors faced consistent pressure from the New Zealand seamers, experiencing several setbacks throughout their innings India would have hoped that the chase would have been more straightforward than the nervy finish they ended up with.
- The visitors lost wickets at regular intervals, with Kyle Jamieson and Jacob Duffy bagging three wickets each, but useful knocks from Shreyas Iyer
- and KL Rahul (26* off 38 balls)
- kept them afloat before two more spells of rain ended the game, with India marginally ahead on DLS.
India’s top order faced immediate difficulty, with captain Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill falling early to the bowling of Jamieson and Duffy. Although Virat Kohli showed flashes of his trademark form, he was dismissed after misjudging a shot to cover. The innings stabilized slightly through a gritty partnership between Shreyas Iyer, who scored 30, and KL Rahul. Their effort was vital in keeping the team ahead of the required scoring rate before the final deluge forced the players from the field for the last time. Rohit Sharma, beaten outside off by Jamieson in the opening over, got off the mark with an uppish four wide of backward point. Shubman Gill, meanwhile, lasted only one ball, edging Duffy to second slip. Trying to play another cover drive, was early into his shot and handed a catch to cover to give Duffy his second wicket, but India had another setback as Kohli. Depositing a Duffy delivery over backward point for a six, followed by two maximums for Rohit off Jamieson as he hammered a pull over midwicket and a whip over square leg, iyer came out with a positive mindset. Leaving India at 39 for 3 in the eighth over, but Jamieson had the last laugh as Rohit edged to second slip going for a drive. Awkwardly fending one away and the ball landed short of the fielder, axar Patel nearly fell to a short delivery from Jamieson. The left-hander attempted a ramp off Nathan Smith and edged it for a four. In trouble at 47 for 4, India launched a counterattack as Iyer got a couple of fours off Fisher, while Rahul executed two classy pulls for a four and a six off Smith. Departing for 30, the fifth wicket pair struck regular boundaries as they added 39 before Iyer got into an awkward position to a short delivery from Jamieson. Rahul then top-edged a six off Duffy to take India past 100 in the 23rd over. Who came in as concussion substitute for Blair Tickner, resulted in Axar’s dismissal, but a similar attempt off Matt Fisher. A poor shot from Anshul Kamboj gave Jamieson his third wicket as India were 113 for 7 in 26 overs and 22 away when it began to rain again and forced the players off the field, with the chasing team ahead by just four runs. At the other end, Henry Nicholls got an inside edge onto the stumps, giving Anshul Kamboj his first wicket as New Zealand slipped to 23 for 3. Which came off 64 balls, ended when Gurnoor struck twice in the 20th over, mitchell and Tom Latham built a watchful partnership but their 30-run association. He first sent Latham back with a top-edged pull and then the in-form Phillips also fell in similar fashion without scoring as New Zealand were reduced to 53 for 5. Mitchell Santner supported Mitchell in a half-century stand as New Zealand crossed 100. Brief scores: New Zealand 134 all-out in 41 overs (Daryl Mitchell 55, Mitchell Santner 31; Gurnoor Brar 4-30, Anshul Kamboj 2-25) lost to India 113/7 in 26 overs (Shreyas Iyer 30, KL Rahul 26*; Kyle Jamieson 3-35, Jacob Duffy 3-35) by 4 runs (DLS method).
Earlier in the day, the Indian pacers exploited helpful conditions to dismantle the New Zealand top order.
Nabi accounted for Tim Seifert and Will Young, while Kamboj dismissed Henry Nicholls. Brar later dismantled the middle order by removing Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips in the same over. Despite Mitchell’s seventh fifty-plus score in his last nine ODIs against India, the home side was unable to recover from their initial collapse. The match was eventually called off with India at 113 for 7, confirming their slim victory. But the covers were back on as it started raining again and the game was eventually called off with India securing a narrow victory, the match was to commence as a 37-over affair with India’s target revised to 133.
