India survived a dramatic batting collapse to secure a four-run victory over New Zealand via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method in a rain-affected second ODI on Saturday. The match was abandoned after persistent showers halted New Zealand’s chase at 113/7 in 26 overs while pursuing a target of 135.
New Zealand’s pace attack had earlier restricted India to 134 in 41 overs, but the visitors were three runs ahead of the DLS par score when rain forced the players off for the final time, handing the hosts a narrow victory.
The match had already been reduced to 47 overs per side following a one-hour delay due to rain. However, New Zealand’s seamers made effective use of the conditions, with Jacob Duffy and Kyle Jamieson claiming three wickets each to put India under pressure.
India’s chase got off to a disastrous start when captain Shubman Gill was dismissed for a golden duck in the opening over. Duffy found movement outside off-stump and induced an edge that Henry Nicholls pouched at second slip.
Virat Kohli briefly looked in good touch, striking a trademark cover drive, but Duffy dismissed him for seven in the fourth over. Kohli edged a delivery while attempting a drive, with Will Young completing the catch at cover-point.
Rohit Sharma struggled to find his rhythm against Jamieson but managed a couple of boundaries and two sixes before falling for 23 off 28 balls. He edged a delivery outside off-stump to Nicholls at second slip, leaving India at 40/3 after 11 overs.
Jamieson continued to trouble the Indian batters with his extra bounce, while Axar Patel, promoted to No. 5, struggled to settle before falling for seven. He guided a delivery from Matthew Fisher straight to Duffy at third man as India slipped to 47/4 in the 13th over.
Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul attempted to steady the innings with a 39-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Iyer looked increasingly assured, scoring 30 off 46 balls, including four boundaries and a six, before Jamieson dismissed him with a sharp, in-seaming short delivery. Iyer could only fend the ball towards Tom Latham.
Rahul gradually found his rhythm, striking a six and two boundaries, while Naman Dhir contributed 12 off 16 balls. However, Duffy dismissed Dhir with a short delivery that was pulled straight to Tim Seifert at deep backward square leg.
Jamieson then removed Anshul Kamboj, who edged an attempted cross-batted shot to Duffy at third man, leaving India struggling at 113/7 after 26 overs.
Rahul remained unbeaten on 26, with Auqib Nabi on one, when rain interrupted play again. India were three runs ahead of the DLS par score at the end of the 26th over. Despite efforts by the ground staff to prepare the field for a possible resumption, persistent rain prevented further play. The match was eventually called off at 11 pm local time, confirming India’s four-run victory.
Earlier, India’s bowlers had produced a disciplined performance to dismiss New Zealand for 134 in 41 overs, with Gurnoor Brar claiming a career-best four-wicket haul.
Auqib Nabi and Anshul Kamboj struck early to reduce the hosts to 23/3 before Brar dismissed Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips in the same over, leaving New Zealand reeling at 53/5.
Daryl Mitchell top-scored with 55 off 104 balls, while captain Mitchell Santner contributed 31 as the pair added 59 runs for the sixth wicket. Axar Patel broke the partnership by dismissing Mitchell, before Brar removed Santner and Nathan Smith.
Axar claimed two wickets, while Kamboj wrapped up the innings by bowling Blair Tickner, restricting New Zealand to 134.
The result gave India a crucial victory in a closely contested encounter, with New Zealand’s bowlers having brought the chase back into contention before rain ended the contest.
Brief Scores: New Zealand 134 all out in 41 overs (Daryl Mitchell 55, Mitchell Santner 31; Gurnoor Brar 4/30, Anshul Kamboj 2/25) lost to India 113/7 in 26 overs (Shreyas Iyer 30, KL Rahul 26; Jacob Duffy 3/35, Kyle Jamieson 3/35) by four runs via the DLS method.
(IANS Inputs)
