India cruise to an emphatic 90 run win in the 2nd ODI against New Zealand
The Indian Cricket team gave a perfect Republic day present to all Indian fans as they cruised to an easy win in the 2nd One day international played at the Bay Oval, Mount Maungauni on Saturday. It was a dominant display by the Men in Blue, who outplayed New Zealand in all departments and won the match easily.
Indian captain Virat Kohli won the toss and decided to bat first. Rohit Sharma was dropped on the very first ball of the innings. After that drop, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan played with positive intent, scoring 56 runs in the first 10 overs. Both Indian openers continued to pile on the pressure on New Zealand's bowlers.
Rohit Sharma reached his half century off 62 balls while Shikhar Dhawan soon reached his 50 off 53 balls. Just as things started looking increasingly ominous for New Zealand, Trent Boult broke the big partnership of 154 runs for the opening wicket as he dismissed Shikhar Dhawan for 66 runs. Rohit Sharma also fell for well made 87 off 96 balls. Virat Kohli played with positive intent and was looking good for a big total but was dismissed by Trent Boult for 43 runs. Kohli and Ambati Rayudu added 64 runs for the 3rd wicket.
Rayudu struggled for timing and was looking out of sorts. He was dismissed for 47 runs off 49 balls. MS Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav showed their class smashing by the New Zealand bowlers in last 2 overs. Kedar Jadhav scored a quick fire 22 off 10 balls while MS Dhoni remained not out on 48 off 33 balls. Kedar Jadhav and MS Dhoni added 53 unbeaten runs for the 5th wickets in quick time. India posted 324 for 4 in 50 overs.
Chasing a steep target of 325 runs to win, Martin Guptill looked edgy before he was dismissed by Bhuvneshwar Kumar for 15 runs. The New Zealand captain Kane Williamson played some lovely strokes before being dismissed by Mohammed Shami for 20 runs. New Zealand were 63 for 2 at the end of 10 overs.
Colin Munro and Ross Taylor steadied the innings adding 33 runs for the 3rd wicket before Yuzvendra Chahal got the big wicket of Colin Munro for 31. Kuldeep Yadav troubled the New Zealand batsmen picking wickets of Tom Latham, Colin de Grandhomme, Henry Nicholls and Ish Sodhi to break the backbone of the New Zealand batting line up.
Doug Bracewell played some excellent shots against the Indian bowlers and reached his fifty off 35 balls. India bowled out New Zealand for 234 in 40.2 overs. Doug Bracewell was the top scorer for New Zealand with 57 runs.
India, with 324 for 4 in 50 overs ( Rohit Sharma 87, Shikhar Dhawan 66, Dhoni 48*, Trent Boult 2/61, Ferguson 2/81) beat New Zealand, who scored 234 in 40.2 overs ( Doug Bracewell 57, Tom Latham 34, Kuldeep Yadav 4/45, Yuzvendra Chahal 2/52, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 2/52) by 90 runs.
India now has a 2-0 lead in the five match ODI Series. The third match of ODI series will be played on 28th January at the same venue.