India wins the series clinically by crushing New Zealand.
India defeated New Zealand by an eight-wicket margin in the second one-day international (ODI) played in Raipur, so securing a 2-0 victory in the three-game ODI series. The hosts easily reached the meager objective in the 21st over.
Rohit and Gill used the pull, hook, and drive to put India on cruise control on a track that seemed to have relaxed a touch in the second innings. Rohit, who appeared to be in an experimental mood, smacked a reverse sweep past Mitchell Santner. In the 15th over, the visitors finally got their first wicket of the innings when Rohit was caught in front trying to hit Henry Shipley with an across-the-line shot. The ball kept dropping, which was bad news for Rohit.
Through a slog-sweep and pull, Gill drew India closer to the goal. However, India lost another wicket when Virat Kohli was removed by Santner for the second time in the series. Left-arm spinner Tom Latham whipped off the bails after luring Kohli out of the crease. With a boundary off Santner, Gill quickly plated the game-winning runs.
India’s bowlers were important in the team’s victory. In the opening over, Mohammed Shami set the tone by dismissing Finn Allen. Even though he usually hangs back, Allen slogged one across the line, and Shami picked it up. And then Mohammed Siraj used his signature three-quarter seam to nip it away from left-hander Henry Nicholls, who could only edge it behind. The next man out was Daryl Mitchell, who was bowled by Shami after getting a leading edge back to the bowler.
Hardik Pandya pouched a wonderful one-handed return catch to send Conway back to the hut, continuing the steady stream of wickets. New Zealand’s plight became increasingly perilous after Latham lost a close match against Shardul Thakur by edging to Shubman Gill. Michael Bracewell and Glenn Phillips tried to save the innings at that point, but the tourists were in deep trouble. But Bracewell couldn’t duplicate his maiden ODI heroics, top-edging a pull to the wicket-keeper.
After that, Phillips teamed up with Mitchell Santner to take part in a very strong 47 card hand. Santner was bowled by a slower delivery from Hardik, and in the following over, Phillips hit Washington Sundar for a six over midfield. The finishing touches were delivered by Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav, who claimed the final two wickets.
The final score was India 111/2 in 20.1 overs (Rohit Sharma 51; Mitchell Santner 1-28) versus New Zealand 108 in 34.3 overs (Glenn Phillips 36; Mohammed Shami 3-18).
