5 Talking Points from the 2nd ODI between India and New Zealand

Manish Pandey’s run-out was a major setback to India’s chase (All Images Courtesy: BCCI)

New Zealand entered into the Feroz Shah Kotla eager to turn their fortunes around in what had been a rather tumultuous tour until then. After losing the toss for the fifth successive time in this trip, the Kiwis’ chances did not look too confident at the half-way mark upon reaching only a middling total.

However, their bowlers rose to the occasion to strike regularly and prevent India from overhauling the target. They helped themselves by putting in an exemplary effort in the field to conjure a hard fought six-run victory.

Here are some of the key takeaways for both teams from the gripping contest.

#5 – Where there is a ‘Will’, there’s a way

Kane Williamson produced a stellar knock on a tricky surface

Aside from shouldering the responsibility of captaining New Zealand across all formats, Kane Williamson has also been burdened with the onerous task of leading their charge in the batting department as well. Upon losing opener Martin Guptill off the second ball of the match, the visitors needed their skipper to show the way by setting a solid platform at the top of the order.

The compact right-hander began in his own enterprising manner and rotated the strike by piercing the gaps despite MS Dhoni’s best attempts to block his scoring areas. After forming a decisive partnership with Tom Latham, he cruised to a well-compiled century which came at a healthy strike-rate.