India won the second ODI by a dominant 90 runs against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series, writes ANITHA MADIKIZELA.
Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan put on a masterclass show of batting at the top of the order as the two openers posted a clinical 154-run partnership for the first wicket after India had won the toss and elected to bat first.
The exhibition saw Sharma score freely to post 87 off 96 balls (which included nine fours and three towering sixes) alongside Dhawan’s near run-a-ball 66 runs, that also included nine fours at a strike rate of 98.50.
WATCH: Kiwis crushed by Kuldeep and Dhawan
Virat Kohli (43 off 45 balls, 5×4) and Ambati Rayudu (47 off 49 balls, 3×4, 1×6) added plenty of runs in the middle and latter stages of the innings, but it was the ever dangerous MS Dhoni that took India well over the 300-run mark in the final stages of the innings.
Dhoni’s clinical finishing resulted in him racing to an unbeaten 48 off just 33 deliveries, which was peppered with five fours and one six, and alongside Kedar Jadhav’s scintillating cameo of 22 not out off 10 balls (3×4,1×6), helped India post 324-4 in their allotted overs.
READ MORE: Imperious Dhoni sees India romp home in series clincher
The second innings saw Kuldeep Yadav (4-45) and Yuzvendra Chahal (2-52) devastate the Black Caps’ batting order once again as the spin twins picked up a combined 6-97 from their 19.2 overs.
Tom Latham (34 off 32 balls, 3×4, 1×6) and Colin Munro (31 off 41 balls, 3×4, 1×6) made starts at the top of the innings, but Kuldeep and Chahal dismissed them before they could offer a meaningful contribution to the New Zealand cause.
Doug Bracewell top-scored for the home team with 57 off 46 balls (5×4, 3×6), but the return of Bhuvneshwar Kumar (7-1-42-2) to the attack saw the end of the No 8’s counter-attack.
India have been convincing yet again today to go 2 up in the series. The opening partnership was the key & bowlers did the rest. Most sides will have to find a way to score runs against @yuzi_chahal & @imkuldeep18 & not lose too many wickets in the middle overs. #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/OyJVq63h8d
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) January 26, 2019
New Zealand were bowled out for 234 within 41 overs, falling 90 runs short of India’s total and 2-0 down in the series. The Kiwi’s will need a positive result in the third ODI at the same venue on Monday (4am SAST) if they plan on stopping the visitors from securing the series victory.
Photo: Hannah Peters/Getty Images
