Indian spinners were out-bowled on home turf once again and KL Rahul’s unbeaten ton was eclipsed by Daryl Mitchell’s splendid 131 not out as New Zealand levelled the three-match series 1-1 with a seven-wicket win in the second ODI here on Wednesday.
New Zealand not only adapted, but also executed better than India on a sluggish wicket here at the Niranjan Shah Stadium to keep the hosts to 284-7 despite Rahul’s 91-ball 112 not out (9 fours, one six), and overhauled the target in 47.3 overs to end at 286-3.
NZ’s Will Young during his 87 on Wednesday. Pic/PTI
The series-deciding third ODI will be played in Indore on Sunday.
Young and Mitchell, among the architects of New Zealand’s 3-0 Test series win over India on their previous visit, batted with poise and control even as the asking rate hovered over six an over.
India’s KL Rahul after getting to his century against NZ. Pic/BCCI
They cruised at a little above five during their second-wicket association, which consumed 152 balls for 162 runs, and there wasn’t any late hiccup to prevent a turnaround.
Young’s (87 from 98 balls; seven fours) solidity in the middle was complemented by the adroitness of Mitchell, who brought out almost all kinds of sweep shots to notch up his third ton against India.
Earlier, KL Rahul held a faltering innings together on a sluggish surface with a gutsy hundred.
New Zealand had seized control with discipline and some stroke of luck as India had slipped from 99-1 to 118-4 before the halfway mark. The other major contribution came from captain Shubman Gill (56 off 53).
286-3
Runs scored by NZ on Wednesday — their highest-ever chase against India in India, surpassing their previous best (281 at Wankhede in 2017)
Five
No. of 50-plus scores for Daryl Mitchell in his last six ODIs
Three
No. of centuries for Mitchell in his last four ODIs vs India in India
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