New Zealand thrashed the 'Men in Blue' by 22 runs in the second ODI conducted at Eden Park. With this win, the hosts have clinched the short three-match series against India 2-0. It also marks their first ODI series win against India after 6 years. Sent to bat first, Kiwis managed to post a competitive total of 273/8 that India failed to chase. The unbeaten 76-run partnership between Ross Taylor (73*) and Kyle Jamieson (25*) helped New Zealand stabilize the innings. Martin Guptill’s impressive knock of 79 also dictated the tone of the game, making him New Zealand’s highest run-scorer at home.
Indian bowlers also fought back and stifled the hosts under 280. Yuzvendra Chahal emerged as the star bowler as he chipped in three wickets in his spell of 10 overs. Ravindra Jadeja also bowled an economic spell of 10 overs, conceding only 35 runs, while Shardul Thakur managed to bag 2 wickets.
Chasing the target, India got off to a bad start, with the loss of openers Mayank Agarwal (3 off 5) and Prithvi Shaw (24 off 19) early in the first powerplay overs. Shreyas Iyer's fifty and Ravindra Jadeja's unmatched efforts (55 off 73) during the death overs went in vain as NZ bowlers scalped Indian wickets at regular intervals and bundled out Indian batsmen in 43 overs.
Shreyas Iyer's 52 runs off 57 deliveries powered the innings and the duo Ravindra Jadeja and Navdeep Saini tried to keep the chase alive with their 76-run partnership for the eighth wicket. They were the key to turn the fortune in India's favour, but unfortunately, Saini departed after scoring 45. Jadeja held on till the 49th over but got out after scoring his half-century. Indian skipper Virat Kohli (15 off 25) and K L Rahul (4 off 8) also returned to the pavilion early, shattering hopes of Indian fans.
In this encounter, India was eager to level the ODI series, but failed miserably. The two teams will meet again for the third ODI that will take place on 11th February at Bay Oval Stadium.
