NZ VS IND - 2nd ODI, India tour of New Zealand, 2019

So, India take one step further towards a series win. NZ have strangely not turned up for the second game in a row. Yes, Bracewell's innings did narrow the margin of defeat but the game was long gone by then. The hosts need to solve the spin puzzle to come back in the series. As for the Indians, no real worries at this point although they would want to finish their innings a bit better. The next ODI is again at this same venue, at the same time. Do join us for that one. Until next time, this is Hari Sadanandan signing off on behalf of my mates Sriram, MS Ramakrishnan and our scorer Shashikant. Cheers!

Kohli: Clinical performance again. We had a par score as Rohit mentioned with the kind of pitch and boundary dimensions here. But we bowled really well and back-to-back clinical performances is really pleasing. I made a conscious effort after the second drinks break to take some risks. Once I got out, the new batsman had to take time. These are the things we need to look into with the World Cup nearby. We would like to score those 15-20 runs extra but at the same time, good to see us chip our way to a balanced total. They are always ready to bowl for you and pick wickets, which is key. They are not content to go wicketless for 40 runs in their quota, they'd rather have more wickets for 60. That mindset is crucial for us and as is Rohit and Shikhar at the top.

Williamson: Little frustrating, not so much the loss but how we are losing is the problem. Credit to India. Both surfaces so far have been slower than usual but still fair surfaces. Good signs with the ball at some points though we never got control as such. 324 was a good score that could be chased down here. There were some good steps forward, particularly by our bowlers to keep them down to 320-odd. Important not to carried away by results and focus just on small steps. Some of the dismissals were a result of us going too hard maybe. If we had wickets in hand, you never know but we didn't have wickets in hand. Those are the lessons that we need to take ahead.

Rohit, Man of the Match: Good feeling (on his performance) but more importantly, we won the match. We didn't know how the pitch will behave. The last time when SL and NZ played here, it was a high scoring game. When we got 324, we thought it was a par score and not a big score. Credit to our bowlers for doing a good job. (On his 14 century stands with Dhawan) We know each other since long and have a good understanding. Important for the team to get a good start and I have always enjoyed batting with Shikhar, I am sure it's the same for him too. Lovely ground here and it was nice to see such a big crowd on an open ground.

Most wkts after 37 ODIs:
86 Rashid Khan
77 KULDEEP YADAV
73 Saqlain Mushtaq/ M Starc
72 A Mendis
71 S Bond/ Hasan Ali

90 runs - biggest winning margin (by runs) for India in ODIs in NZ
Previous biggest was by 84 runs [DL] vs NZ, Hamilton, 2009

The Men in Blue are all smiles. Another dominant show from Virat Kohli and Co. A target of 325 wasn't really big, but India were clinical with their bowling. The fact that a 58-run stand for the ninth wicket between Bracewell and Ferguson was New Zealand's best ever stand in both the ODIs tells how poor they have been with the bat. Take nothing away from India's spin twins though. Kuldeep yet again impressed with a 4-wicket haul, while Chahal supported him very well. The hosts got starts, but none converted them into a decent innings, barring Bracewell. Earlier, Rohit and Dhawan set the tone for India with a 154-run opening stand, while Kohli, Rayudu and Dhoni made valuable 40s. Kedar's 10-ball 22 helped India push the total a bit.

Chahal to Lockie Ferguson, out Caught by Shankar!! Mishit from Ferguson and taken at long-on. India win by 90 runs. Flighted ball from Chahal, Ferguson wants a maximum, lofts, doesn't get the timing right. Lockie Ferguson c Shankar b Chahal 12(20) [4s-1]

Chahal to Lockie Ferguson, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Chahal to Lockie Ferguson, no run, flighted delivery on the off stump, Ferguson defends

Yuzvendra Chahal [9.0-0-52-1] is back into the attack

Kuldeep Yadav this series:
1st ODI: 4/39
2nd ODI: 4/45
First spinner to take four+ wkts in two consecutive ODIs in NZ

Bhuvneshwar to Boult, no run, this time Bhuvneshwar beats him for pace with a bouncer, Boult swung really hard at it and missed

Bhuvneshwar to Boult, SIX, now that's an angry response from the bowler, bowling a bumper, but Boult further irritates the bowler by backing away and flat-batting this hard over long-on

Bhuvneshwar to Boult, FOUR, the knuckle ball, but Boult has picked it, lofted that high in the air over mid-off and the timing was decent enough

Bhuvneshwar to Boult, no run, short of length delivery on the stumps, Boult defends after covering the line of the ball

Trent Boult, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Bhuvneshwar to Doug Bracewell, out Caught by Dhawan!! In the air and taken at long-on. Fullish delivery from Bhuvneshwar, looked like the slower ball, Bracewell lofted and wanted to hit a maximum, but there was not much of pace offered by the bowler so he ended up finding the fielder. End of a fine innings. Doug Bracewell c Dhawan b Bhuvneshwar 57(46) [4s-5 6s-3]

Bhuvneshwar to Doug Bracewell, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Bhuvneshwar to Doug Bracewell, no run, short of length delivery on the stumps, Bracewell backs away and pushes it towards backward point

Kuldeep ends 10-0-45-4. Chahal puts his arm around Kuldeep's shoulder to congratulate his team-mate