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Heading into the second ODI between India and New Zealand on the weekend, things were as tight as could be.
Both sides entered the three-match ODI series in good form, with India have white washed Sri Lanka and New Zealand clinching a gritty away series win over Pakistan. In the first ODI, India went big with their batting, but New Zealand stuck with them, only losing narrowly by 12 runs.
With the series on the line in the second game, punters were expecting a coin flip of a game, with India the slight favourites. Turns out, India were well-placed favourites, as they went out and completely annihilated New Zealand, scoring a dominant win over their rivals.
Here’s a look at how the match unfolded, and what’s to come in the rest of this India vs New Zealand series.
India’s Bowlers Have Their Moment in the Sun
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The past few matches that India have played, it’s been all about their batsmen. Across the last four matches the side has batted first, they’ve racked up totals of 409/8, 373/7, 390/5 and 349/8. When captain Rohit Sharma opted to bowl first, it came as something of a surprise. However, it turned out to be a masterstroke, as India’s bowlers would put on a clinic, blowing away the Kiwi batting line up cheaply.
Stuck in to bat first, the Black Caps were rudely reintroduced to Mohammad Shami, who has only played a handful of India’s last 50 ODIs. The fast bowler veteran quickly displaced Finn Allen for a duck, and with the help of India’s other bowlers, reduced the Kiwis to 15/5. At this stage, the match was almost lost already, but if there’s any partnership that can claw a game back for New Zealand, it’s Michael Bracewell and Glenn Phillips.
While the two did stop the bleeding, adding 22 and 36 respectively, they were unable to stay long enough to make a difference. Mitchell Santner also added 27, but ultimately, the Black Caps were wiped out for 108 within 35 overs to set India a very gettable target.
New Zealand Unable to Pull Off Miracle Defense
Needing to defend 108 to win was a tall order, and one that the Black Caps fell well short of.
The bowlers tried their best, but with India’s batsmen in the kind of form they are currently, this was always going to be something of an impossibility. Rohit Sharma capitalised on the opportunity to pick up another half century, making it 48 times he’s passed the milestone in his ODI career now. The opener was dispatched soon after for 51 from 50, and while Virat Kohli was unable to contribute more than 11, the in-form Shubman Gill was more than capable of seeing India home with his 40 off 53.
Henry Shipley and Mitchell Santner were among the wickets, but even their contributions weren’t enough to get the Black Caps close to making this a competition with the home side winning by eight wickets with 30 overs to spare.
Dead Rubber Followed by T20 Series to Come
Next up, the Black Caps and India will play out a dead rubber in the third ODI of the series, before heading into a three match T20I series. Watch out for our betting preview of the next match coming up tomorrow.
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