Mount Maunganui (New Zealand): Maintaining their winning streak, a dominant India outclassed New Zealand by 90 runs in the second match of the five-game rubber at the Bay Oval here, Saturday to go 2-0 up in the series.
After the Indian openers – Rohit Sharma (87, 96b, 9×4, 3×6) and Shikhar Dhawan (66, 67b, 9×4) handed a solid start of 154 runs to the visiting side, chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav (4/45) starred with the leather to help India register a thumping win.
Chasing a challenging 325 for victory, the hosts suffered another batting collapse as most of their batsmen succumbed before a clinical Indian attack. The Indian bowlers struck at regular intervals, denying the Kiwi batsmen the chance to build big partnerships.
Bowling all-rounder Doug Bracewell chipped in valuable 57 (46b, 5×4, 3×6) runs down the order. However, it wasn’t enough to help the Kiwis cross the line.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar came up with an early breakthrough, dismissing Kiwi opener Martin Guptill (15) cheaply before Mohammed Shami packed back hosts’ skipper Kane Williamson (20) with New Zealand’s scorecard reading 51/2 in the eighth over.
With the addition of 33 runs in the Kiwi scorecard, leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal (2/52) also joined the party, sending back a good looking Colin Munro (31). Then parttime off-spinner Kedar Jadhav packed off Ross Taylor (22), who was smartly stumped by Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Tom Latham (34) then tried to rescue his side but became Kuldeep’s first victim in the 25th over. The left-arm bowler then struck thrice in quick succession, sending back Colin de Grandhomme (3), Henry Nicholls (28) and Ish Sodhi, who failed to open his account, with New Zealand at 166/8.
Bhuvneshwar then finally applied brakes on Bracewell’s innings as the batsman, while trying to clear the fence, handed an easy catch to Dhawan at long-on.
Earlier, a brilliant batting display helped India put a challenging 324/4 against the Kiwis. Opting to bat, India were off to a perfect start before Kiwi pacer Trent Boult (2/61) gave some relief to the hosts, dismissing Dhawan in the 26th over. Lockie Ferguson (2/81) then sent back a well-settled Rohit.
Skipper Virat Kohli (43, 45b, 5×4) and Ambati Rayudu (47, 49b, 3×4, 1×6) were then involved in a 64-run partnership for the third wicket. After Kohli’s dismissal Dhoni (48 n o, 33b, 5x, 1×64) took centre stage. After Rayudu’s dismissal Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav (22 n o, 10b 3×4, 1×6) put on 53 runs in just 28 balls to put India on a firm pedestal.
Brief scores: India 324/4 (Rohit Sharma 87, Shikhar Dhawan 66; Virat Kohli 43, Ambati Rayudu 47, MS Dhoni 48 n o) beat New Zealand 234 all out in 40.2 overs (Doug Bracewell 57, Tom Latham 34; Kuldeep Yadav 4/45, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 2/42, Yuzvendra Chahal 2/52) by 90 runs.
Agencies