India’s seam bowlers thrived in favourable conditions for a second successive ODI as they defeated New Zealand by four runs on Saturday to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. The hosts were unable to defend their modest total of 134, with wet conditions in Wellington reducing the match to 47 overs per side and making batting extremely difficult. India were 113/7 in 26 overs when rain brought a premature end to the chase, leaving the visitors four runs ahead of the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) par score of 109. KL Rahul was unbeaten on 26, while Auqib Nabi was not out on one as the pair guided India ahead of the target when play was halted.
Jacob Duffy (3/35) struck twice in the opening stages, dismissing captain Shubman Gill for a golden duck and Virat Kohli for seven. Earlier, New Zealand were bowled out for 134 in 41 overs, with Daryl Mitchell top-scoring with a patient 55, while captain Mitchell Santner contributed 31. Gurnoor Brar produced the best ODI figures of his career, returning 4/30. The left-armer turned the game decisively in India’s favour with a double strike in the 20th over, removing Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips to leave New Zealand reeling at 53/5.
