India Beat New Zealand by 4 Runs (DLS) in Rain-Hit 2nd ODI to Take 2-0 Series Lead

India beat New Zealand by 4 runs (DLS method) in the second ODI in Wellington on Saturday, November 7. Rain stopped play with India on 113 for 7 in 26 overs. That put them four runs ahead of the DLS par score of 109. The umpires called the match off at that point. India now lead the five-match series 2-0.

India won the toss and chose to bowl again. Rain delayed the start. New Zealand were bowled out for 134 in 41 overs. The pitch had uneven bounce and the batters struggled all day. Daryl Mitchell top-scored with 55 off 104 balls. He was dropped on 21. No other batter crossed 31. Mitchell Santner made 31 off 38 balls. The tail gave no fight this time.

Gurnoor Brar was the star with the ball. He took a career-best 4 for 30 in ten overs. He removed Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips in the same over. He later got Santner and Nathan Smith. Auqib Nabi took both openers and finished with 2 for 31. Anshul Kamboj had 2 for 25. Axar Patel had 2 for 28. Arshdeep Singh gave away only 16 runs in seven overs.

The target of 135 looked easy. It was not. Jacob Duffy sent back captain Shubman Gill for a golden duck. He also got Virat Kohli for 7. Rohit Sharma hit two fours and two sixes in his 23 off 28 balls. Kyle Jamieson then had him caught. Axar fell for 7, and India were 47 for 4.

Shreyas Iyer made 30 and put on 39 for the fifth wicket with KL Rahul. Jamieson got him with a sharp bouncer. Naman Dhir hit two fours and then holed out for 12. Jamieson also removed Kamboj with a thick edge. India were 111 for 7 and needed 22 more.

Jamieson finished with 3 for 35. Duffy also took 3 for 35. Matthew Fisher added one wicket. KL Rahul was unbeaten on 26 off 38 balls when the rain returned. It never stopped, and the match ended without another ball.

Brar was named Player of the Match. The third ODI is on Tuesday, November 10, at Seddon Park in Hamilton.