New Zealand put up a brilliant display of tight bowling and some outstanding fielding to register their first win of the tour and their first win in ODIs against India in India in 13 years. This was India’s 400th loss in ODIs. At the half way stage India were the favourites but they imploded with some injudicious shots. The ODI series is now tied 1-1 and both teams have all to play for in the remaining 3 ODIs. Here is the complete match report.

New Zealand’s bad luck with the toss continued and the Indian skipper Dhoni had no hesitation in electing to field. Umesh Yadav produced a brilliant outswinger off the second ball of the innings to dismiss the dangerous Martin Guptill. Kane Williamson came to the crease and in company with the in-form Latham, went about the job of resurrecting the innings. They played the bowling on its merit but were quick to capitalise on anything loose.

Off the 13th over of the innings bowled by Axar Patel, Williamson went on the attack hitting him for 2 fours and a six and New Zealand looked set for a big total. Latham provided the ideal foil for Williamson and the Kiwis reached their hundred in the 18th over. At that stage a total in the region of 280 to 300 looked on the cards. However, Latham went on the back foot to a straight delivery from Kedar Jadhav and was adjudged LBW. Ross Taylor struggled to get going and his innings of 21 off 42 balls robbed the innings of momentum. Williamson drove the last ball of the 36th over by Bumrah through cover for two runs and reached his 8th ODI century and 1st against India. New Zealand were 202/3 after 40 overs and looked set to post a total that would challenge the strong Indian batting line up.

However, disaster struck when Mishra trapped Anderson LBW with a quicker one. Williamson tried to hit Mishra into the stands and was well caught by Rahane at long off. The Kiwi lower order committed hara-kiri with some poor shot selection and faulty execution. They managed just 40 runs off the last 10 overs and lost 6 wickets. Axar Patel took a brilliant catch to dismiss Anton Devcich off the bowling of Jasprit Bumrah. Axar dived backwards and pulled off a stunner with his right hand. Bumrah was outstanding with his variations at the death. He bowled a clever mix of yorkers and slower balls and the New Zealand batsmen struggled to pick him. At the end of their stipulated overs, New Zealand were 242/9 and the total looked to below par on a flat deck. India just needed to play sensibly to take a 2-0 lead.

Matt Henry and Trent Boult bowled tightly at the start of the Indian innings without giving the Indian openers any loose deliveries. Rohit played one of the shots of the match when he drove a half volley from Henry for a huge six over long off. Sharma was the first to depart when he tried to force Boult through the off-side and was caught by Luke Ronchi. He injured his bicep while playing the shot. For once Kohli was dismissed cheaply, caught by Ronchi while trying to flick Santner towards the leg side. Rahane was adjudged caught by Corey Anderson when he hooked Tim Southee, even though there was some doubt as to whether the ball had carried. Manish Pandey was run out trying to steal a risky second run and India were in trouble at 73/4. Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav set about repairing the innings and put on 66 runs for the 5th wicket before Jadhav was caught by Ronchi trying to steer a delivery from Henry to third man.

Dhoni played an uncharacteristic slow innings in which he struggled to rotate the strike and he was finally dismissed when Tim Southee took a stupendous one handed return catch. Martin Guptill was given an over because of an injury to Anton Devcich and he took 2 wickets to reduce India to 183/8. At that stage it looked all over for India. However, Hardik Pandya had other ideas and in partnership with Umesh Yadav set about repairing the damage. The pair hit the odd boundary and gradually brought India closer to the target. Pandya was playing in just his 2nd ODI and he showed admirable maturity and composure without getting overawed by the challenge in front of him. Yadav too played his part with some sensible shots and India were back in the hunt.

With 3 overs to go all 3 results were possible. India needed 11 runs in 8 balls when Pandya slashed Boult straight down the throat of Santner on the cover boundary and New Zealand were just a wicket away from victory. India needed 7 runs from 4 balls when Tim Southee bowled the perfect yorker to Jasprit Bumrah who couldn’t keep it out. New Zealand had won a nail-biter by 6 runs and in the process levelled the ODI series 1-1. For his outstanding innings of 118 off 128 balls with 14 fours and a six, Kane Williamson was declared the Man of the Match. The 3rd ODI will be played at Mohali on the 23rd of October.