Discipline bowling from Indian bowlers led to level ODI series by 1-1 against New Zealand

Pune, October 26: Indian cricket team registered an impressive victory over New Zealand in the second match of three ODI series on Wednesday held in Pune, Maharashtra. Though the Indian batsmen who finished the match with the victory but the path of a win were laid by bowlers as pacer Bhubaneshwar Kumar claimed three wickets while spinner Yuzvendra Chahal picked two wickets and others were economical.

 

Chasing a low target of 231, the hosts easily reached the target with 4 overs to spare and lost only four wickets. However, India lost Rohit Sharma early at the mere score of 7 runs as Tim Southee struck for New Zealand. Opener Shikhar Dhawan and Captain Virat Kohli took the charge and built a comprehensive partnership but Kohli couldn’t convert it into a big one as he was caught by Latham against the run of play.

Dinesh Karthik joined Dhawan as India never really looked in any kind of pressure as both the players kept the scoreboard moving. Dhawan then departed for 68 runs trying to go after Adam Milne but Hardik Pandya and Karthik took the hosts at the cusp of victory. Pandya also lost his wicket at the score of 30 runs while India needing 27 more runs to win. In the end, MS Dhoni and Karthik made sure that there is no more resistance in the run chase as India reached the target with four overs to spare.

Earlier, an all-round bowling effort saw India restrict New Zealand to a modest total of 230 for 9 in their 50 overs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the pick of the bowlers for India as he returned with figures of 3 for 45. The third ODI that will be played at Green Park, Kanpur on Sunday, October 29 now becomes a decider with both teams winning a match each in the series.

Importantly, New Zealand won the first ODI at the Wankhede Stadium courtesy their preparedness against India's spinners, and the success of a key tactical move - swapping the batting positions of Colin Munro and Tom Latham.