India take unassailable 2-0 lead
Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill shared a 72-run alliance for the opening wicket as India cruised to an eight-wicket win in the second ODI against New Zealand in Raipur to clinch the three-match ODI rubber 2-0.
On a track that seemed to have eased a bit during the second innings, Rohit and Gill employed the pull, hook and drive to put India in cruise control. Rohit also seemed to be in a mood to try out a few innovative shots as he cracked the reverse sweep off Mitchell Santner. Eventually, in the 15th over, the visitors picked up their first wicket of the innings when Rohit attempted an across the line shot off Henry Shipley but was trapped in front. The ball kept quite low which didn’t help Rohit’s cause.
Gill brought India closer to the target with a slog-sweep and pull. However, against the run of play, India lost another wicket when Virat Kohli was dismissed for the second time in the series by Santner. The left-arm spinner lured Kohli out of the crease and Tom Latham did the rest behind the stumps by whipping the bails off. Gill soon hit the winning runs with a boundary of Santner.
India in cruise control
Gill and Rohit have cracked the drive, loft and pull as India make a fine start in pursuit of a modest total. The highlight of the stand so far has been a punch essayed by Gill in the ninth over. Rohit also reached his fifty in the 13th over.
Rohit, though, played across the line to a delivery that kept a tad low and was trapped in front.
ALL OUT Kuldeep Yadav has trapped Blair Tickner legbefore and New Zealand’s innings has folded up on 108
Another promising stand broken
Santner and Phillips tried to resurrect the innings with some eye-catching shots – pull, loft and drive. However, just when it seemed as if the duo was building a stand of substance, Santner inside-edged a drive off Hardik. The all-rounder was rewarded for his clever change of pace.
Washington Sundar then accounted for the wicket of the set Phillips. New Zealand in dire-straits at 103 for 8.
Shami strikes to end promising stand
Michael Bracewell and Glenn Phillips add 41 for the sixth wicket before Shami bags the wicket of the former to pick up his third. Looking to pull, Bracewell ends up edging it to the ‘keeper to depart for 22, leaving New Zealand reeling at 56/6.
Shardul joins the party
Oh, now Tom Latham has edged one off Shardul to the slip cordon where Gill pouched the catch. That was a tame dismissal. New Zealand have been poor in conditions that has done a bit off the seam. India have been top-drawer
