Gurnoor Brar Claims Career-Best 4/30 and Player of the Match in India's 2nd ODI Win Over New Zealand

Pacer Gurnoor Brar took a career-best 4 for 30 in the second ODI against New Zealand in Wellington on Saturday, November 7. He was named Player of the Match. India won the rain-hit game by 4 runs (DLS method) and lead the series 2-0.

Brar bowled his full quota of ten overs. He gave away just 30 runs and bowled two maidens. His economy rate was a tight 3.00. India had chosen to bowl on a pitch with uneven bounce. Brar made the best use of it.

New Zealand were 53 for 3 at the start of the 20th over. Brar then struck twice in that one over. He had Tom Latham caught by Naman Dhir for 7. He then had Glenn Phillips caught by Anshul Kamboj for a duck. New Zealand were suddenly 53 for 5. Both batters fell to short deliveries that climbed on them.

Daryl Mitchell and Mitchell Santner steadied things with a 59-run stand. Brar broke it too. He had Santner caught by KL Rahul for 31. He then had Nathan Smith caught by Rohit Sharma for 3. New Zealand were bowled out for 134 in 41 overs.

Brar spoke after the match. He said the extra bounce and pace in New Zealand suited him. He said the pitches in India are flatter, so he usually bowls a hard length there. Here he could bowl at shoulder height and attack the batters. He added that a bowler at 140 kph must be aggressive but also know his limits.

He had good support from the other bowlers. Auqib Nabi took 2 for 31 and removed both openers. Anshul Kamboj finished with 2 for 25. Axar Patel had 2 for 28. Arshdeep Singh conceded just 16 runs in seven overs.

India's chase was shaky. They lost wickets steadily and were 113 for 7 in 26 overs when rain ended play. The score kept them four runs ahead of the DLS par. Brar's spell had given them enough of a cushion to survive.

The third ODI is on Tuesday, November 10, at Seddon Park in Hamilton.