Gurnoor Brar Shines As India Win Rain-Hit Second ODI Against New Zealand By Four Runs

Gurnoor Brar produced the best ODI figures of his career, returning 4/30.© AFP

India's seam bowlers thrived in favourable conditions for a second successive ODI as they defeated New Zealand by four runs on Saturday to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. The hosts were unable to defend their modest total of 134, with wet conditions in Wellington reducing the match to 47 overs per side and making batting extremely difficult. India were 113/7 in 26 overs when rain brought a premature end to the chase, leaving the visitors four runs ahead of the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) par score of 109. KL Rahul was unbeaten on 26, while Auqib Nabi was not out on one as the pair guided India ahead of the target when play was halted.

India now need just one more victory to seal the series heading into the third ODI in Hamilton on Tuesday.

The visitors had also won the rain-affected series opener in Auckland by five wickets after bowling New Zealand out for 185.

India were never entirely comfortable in their chase, losing early wickets to New Zealand's seamers.

Jacob Duffy (3/35) struck twice in the opening stages, dismissing captain Shubman Gill for a golden duck and Virat Kohli for seven.

Kyle Jamieson (3/35) then produced a crucial breakthrough by removing top-scorer Shreyas Iyer for 30, leaving India in trouble at 86/5.

Earlier, New Zealand were bowled out for 134 in 41 overs, with Daryl Mitchell top-scoring with a patient 55, while captain Mitchell Santner contributed 31.

No other New Zealand batter managed more than 11 runs, as the Indian pacers made full use of the assistance on offer.

Gurnoor Brar produced the best ODI figures of his career, returning 4/30. The left-armer turned the game decisively in India's favour with a double strike in the 20th over, removing Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips to leave New Zealand reeling at 53/5.

Earlier, Auqib Nabi claimed his first international wickets, dismissing openers Will Young and Tim Seifert to finish with 2/31.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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