Rohit Sharma-led India outclassed New Zealand in the second ODI to take an unassailable lead in the three-ODI series at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur on January 21. The bruised and battered Indian bowling lineup feasted on Kiwis on a spicy wicket as they bundled the visitors out for 108 and then won the game by eight wickets with 179 balls to spare. Β
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Rohit won the toss and after a confused few seconds decided to field first. The confusion at toss amused Kiwi skipper Tom Latham but the smile on his face did not remain for long. Mohammed Shami struck in his first over as Finn Allen got bowled for a five-ball duck trying to attack. Shami and Mohammed Siraj did not let New Zealand batters score during fielding restrictions. Siraj dismissed Henry Nicholls with a peach of a delivery as the outside edge carried to slip fielder Shubman Gill.
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Daryl Mitchell and Latham failed to help their side recover as well. Shami and Hardik Pandya took brilliant catches of their own bowling to dismiss Daryl Mitchell (1) and Devon Conway (7). After the first powerplay overs, New Zealand had just 15 runs on the board for the loss of four wickets. This is New Zealand's second lowest score after 10 overs in ODIs. Latham failed to stop the flow of wickets too as he became Shardul Thakur's solitary wicket of the day.
With 15/5, New Zealand feared getting all out for a record score. Glenn Phillips and Michael Bracewell helped New Zealand cross the 50-run mark. The sixth-wicket partnership was ended by Shami who got the wicket of first ODI's centurion. Bracewell scored 22 runs from 30 deliveries. India missed a chance to bundle out Kiwis for less than 100 as Mitchell Santner was dropped twice, once by skipper Rohit and Kuldeep Yadav off his bowling.Β
Pandya returned and took the wicket of Santner who scored 27 runs from 39 deliveries. Phillips did not seem to have patience to bat with the tail and got out trying to clear the boundary off Washington Sundar's bowling. Phillips scored 36 runs from 62 deliveries including five fours. Kuldeep and Sundar got rid of the tailenders as New Zealand got all out for 108 from 34.3 overs.
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Chasing a non-threatening target of 109, Rohit and Gill dominated the proceedings. After 10 overs India had 52 runs on the board. Rohit got to his half-century from the 13th over. He took 47 deliveries to get to the milestone. He could not finish off the match as Henry Shipley got his wicket with a ball that kept low. He scored 51 runs from 50 deliveries in the 72-run opening partnership. His knock included seven fours and two sixes.
Virat Kohli hit a couple of boundaries but could not remain unbeaten till the end. Kohli was deceived by Santner as he got stumped for a score of 11. Gill continued to anchor. On the other end, Ishan Kishan hit a couple of boundaries as Latham had more fielders in the 30-yard circle. Gill finished the run chase with a boundary off the first ball of the 21st over. Gill scored 40 runs from 53 deliveries including six fours.Β
