Cricket / India beat New Zealand by four runs via DLS in second ODI

Wellington, Nov 7: India held their nerve in a rain-affected second One-Day International to secure a four-run victory over New Zealand via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method after weather brought a premature end to a tense contest in Wellington on Saturday.

Chasing a modest target of 135, India appeared on course for a comfortable win before New Zealand's pace attack engineered a dramatic collapse. At 113 for seven after 26 overs, the visitors were only marginally ahead of the DLS par score when persistent rain forced players off the field for the final time.

Early collapse

The match, reduced to 47 overs a side following a delayed start due to rain, saw India stumble almost immediately. Captain Shubman Gill fell for a golden duck, edging Jacob Duffy to second slip, while Virat Kohli departed for seven after being caught at cover-point.

Rohit Sharma struck two fours and two sixes during a brisk innings of 23 but struggled to settle against Kyle Jamieson, who eventually induced an outside edge to dismiss him. Axar Patel's promotion up the order did not pay off as India slipped to 47 for four in the 13th over.

Resistance and pressure

Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul briefly steadied the innings with a 39-run partnership. Iyer top-scored with 30 off 46 deliveries, while Rahul remained unbeaten on 26. However, Jamieson returned to remove Iyer before Duffy dismissed Naman Dhir, leaving India vulnerable.

Jamieson then accounted for Anshul Kamboj as New Zealand fought their way back into the contest. Yet, when rain halted play at 113 for seven, India were three runs ahead on the DLS calculations.

Despite efforts by the ground staff, conditions failed to improve and officials eventually called off the match at 11 p.m. local time, awarding India victory.
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Earlier, India bowled New Zealand out for 134 in 41 overs, thanks largely to Gurnoor Brar's career-best figures of four for 30.

Auqib Nabi and Anshul Kamboj reduced the hosts to 23 for three before Brar struck crucial blows, dismissing Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips in the same over. Daryl Mitchell battled for 55 off 104 balls and shared a 59-run stand with Mitchell Santner (31), but Brar broke the partnership to keep India in control.

Axar Patel claimed two wickets as New Zealand were eventually bundled out for 134, a total that ultimately proved insufficient as rain tipped the balance India's way.