Finance
Daryl Mitchell scored a magnificent unbroken 131 off 117 balls to lead New Zealand to a seven-wicket victory over India in the second one-day international on Wednesday at Rajkot’s Niranjan Shah Stadium. India’s score of 284/7 was based on KL Rahul’s 112 not out, his eighth century in the format.
Chasing 285, the visitors were reduced to 46/2, but Mitchell and Will Young rallied with a dominant 162-run partnership off 152 balls for the third wicket. The pair maintained the required rate under control by rotating strike and punishing sloppy deliveries to curb India’s attack on a pitch that eased out under lights after being two-paced.
Though Young was dismissed for 87 off 98 balls, including seven boundaries, Mitchell went on to score his eighth ODI century in a knock that included 11 fours and two sixes, with his destruction of Kuldeep Yadav being particularly entertaining. Glenn Phillips, who stayed undefeated on 32 off 25 balls, also provided him with valuable support.
Mitchell, who had previously hit hundreds against India in losing causes, ensured that his knock carried New Zealand home this time, ending with a flourish and scoring the winning runs to bring the chase to an end with 15 balls remaining.
India’s new-ball attack threatened early dominance, as Mohammed Siraj and Harshit Rana used seam movement to reduce New Zealand to 46 for 2 in the 13th over. While Devon Conway’s off-stump was sent on a walk by Rana for 16, Henry Nicholls tendency to pull proved his undoing against Prasidh Krishna, as he chopped onto his stumps for 10.
Rana’s uncomfortable lengths and extra bounce were problematic, but Young passed the difficult exam. However, he and Mitchell remained calm throughout the rebuilding process. The turning moment came when Mitchell began an assault on Kuldeep Yadav, hitting the spinner for six and four in his first over, setting the tone for an off-day for him and Ravindra Jadeja as the pitch flattened out due to the decreasing evening weather.
Young scored his first fifty in 12 ODI innings with a brilliant blast through point off Krishna, but fell 14 runs short of a deserving century when he top-edged a pull to the deep off Kuldeep.
India’s fielding errors exacerbated their problems; in the 36th over, Jadeja misfielded a reverse-sweep before squandering a simple run-out opportunity with Mitchell stranded mid-pitch, and Krishna spilt a dolly at long-on off the same batter.
Phillips’ steady performance ensured there were no late glitches, and Mitchell secured victory with a daring ramp over the wicketkeeper, finishing flat on his back in a clinical victory for New Zealand. The series now travels to Indore for what looks to be a thrilling series finale on Sunday.
Brief scores:
India 284/7 in 50 overs (KL Rahul 112 not out, Shubman Gill 56; Kristian Clarke 3-56, Michael Bracewell 1-34) lost to New Zealand 286/3 in 47.3 overs (Daryl Mitchell 131 not out, Will Young 87; Prasidh Krishna 1-49, Harshit Rana 1-52) by seven wickets
Source: IANS
