India Edge New Zealand by Four Runs in Rain-Hit Wellington Thriller to Go 2-0 Up

India survived a nerve-shredding, rain-shortened contest in Wellington on Saturday, beating New Zealand by four runs under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match ODI series.

Put in to bat on a cold, windy day at Hnry Stadium, New Zealand were bowled out for 134 in 41 overs on a pitch offering pace, bounce and seam movement rarely seen in one-day cricket. Gurnoor Brar led the way with career-best figures of four for 30, while Auqib Nabi and Anshul Kamboj picked up two wickets apiece.

Chasing a revised target of 135 in 47 overs, India wobbled badly at the top, losing captain Shubman Gill for a golden duck and Virat Kohli for just seven. But Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul steadied the chase, and when the rain returned for good with India on 113 for seven after 26 overs, the visitors were four runs ahead of the DLS par score of 109.

Brar sets the tone

Brar was the standout with the ball, removing the top order and finishing with four for 30 from his ten overs. Daryl Mitchell top-scored for the hosts with a patient 55 off 104 balls, and a 59-run stand with Mitchell Santner briefly steadied the innings, but the Indian seamers shared eight wickets between them.

Rahul keeps his cool

Rahul finished unbeaten on 26 from 38 balls, with two sixes and two fours, while Iyer made 30 and Rohit 23. The series now moves to Hamilton for the third ODI on Tuesday, where India can seal the series with a game to spare.

Source: ESPNcricinfo