India vs New Zealand 2019: Collective Effort Helps India Go 2-0 Up

India vs New Zealand 2019: Match Report. India National Cricket Team cruised to another convincing 90 runs win in the second ODI against New Zealand at Bay Oval on 26 January (Saturday). The Men in Blue celebrated the Republic day in style as they ticked the right boxes. In fact, this is India’s first win on Republic day.

India vs New Zealand 2019: India’s innings.

The visitors got off to a perfect start when their openers gave an ideal start to them. Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma were able to hit the ground running as both of them scored their runs freely. The talismanic pair added 154 runs to lay down strong pillars for the huge score. This was their 14th century stand as both of them looked in ominous form. They also went past Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag’s record of 13 century stands in ODI format.

In fact, at one stage it looked like that both of them will score daddy hundreds. However, it wasn’t to be the case. Shikhar Dhawan decided not to take his foot off the pedal as he went for the cut short against Trent Boult. However, the southpaw batsman could only get a thick outside edge which was sharply taken by Tom Latham.

Dhawan scored a good knock of 66 runs from 67 balls with the help of nine boundaries. This was Dhawan’s second fifty on the trot as he continued his good form going. On the other hand, Rohit Sharma also batted at the top of his game. The flamboyant batsman scored nine fours and three sixes in his knock of 87 runs from 96 balls.

Rohit Sharma timed the ball to perfection and scored his runs all around the ground.

On the other hand, Virat Kohli and Ambati Rayudu continued the impetus with crucial knocks 43 and 47 runs respectively. However, India could have attacked a bit earlier as they had wickets in hand.

The visitors scored only 29 runs between 41 to 45 overs. However, the in-form former Indian skipper MS Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav added the finishing touches to the innings. Dhoni and Jadhav turned the tides in India’s favour as they scored 54 runs off the final four overs.

Dhoni continued with his dream form as he scored a quickfire knock of 48 runs from 33 balls. The talisman batsman was able to hit the ground running from the get-go and looked at his absolute best. Dhoni was well accompanied by Kedar Jadhav who scored 22 runs from only 10 balls. Thus, India posted a competitive score of 324 runs after a collective batting effort.

India vs New Zealand 2019, New Zealand’s innings:

New Zealand needed a good opening stand to keep their run-chase on the right path. However, it wasn’t to be the case as Martin Guptill was dismissed in the fifth over. The right-hander played an uppercut straight to the third man where Yuzvendra Chahal took a simple catch.

Kane Williamson looked aggressive in his approach. The New Zealand skipper smashed two sixes against Mohammed Shami before playing a classy backfoot punch to get four more under his belt. However, Williamson could not keep his greed in check as he tried to play a cut shot even after getting 18 runs from the over. But the stylish right-hander got an inside edge which ricocheted on to the stumps to halt his innings at 20 runs.

On the other hand, New Zealand opening batsman Colin Munro tried to play the reverse sweep against Yuzvendra Chahal. However, the southpaw batsman could not find the contact and he was plumbed in front of the wickets.

Subsequently, the host’s batsman crumbled like a house of cards as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. MS Dhoni oozed another quick stumping to get rid of Ross Taylor. Furthermore, the Kiwis batsmen were all at sea against the spin battery of Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav. The mystery chinaman scalped four wickets to add salt to the injury of the host’s batsmen.

Yadav was able to plumb Tom Latham in front of the wickets when the left-hander was in two minds whether to play with a straight bat or go for the sweep. However, he was caught between two stools.

Moreover, Henry Nicholls and Colin de Grandhomme also felt prey in Kuldeep Yadav’s trap. Nicholls and Colin both tried to accelerate as the required rate was reaching new heights. However, both of them could not get their timing right.

Doug Bracewell saved some pride for the Blackcaps as the right-hander scored a quickfire 46-ball 57. The right-hander catapulted his attack on the opposition bowlers as he was able to hit the ground running from the get-go. However, New Zealand always had a mountain to climb.