India edge New Zealand in rain-hit thriller to take 2-0 lead

India secured a dramatic four-run victory over New Zealand in the rain-affected second ODI on Saturday, taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

Chasing a revised target in a contest reduced to 47 overs per side due to wet conditions in Wellington, New Zealand were bowled out for 134. Persistent rain eventually brought the match to an end with India at 113-7 after 26 overs, four runs ahead of the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) par score of 109.

KL Rahul remained unbeaten on 26, while Auqib Nabi was on one when play was abandoned, ensuring India crossed the required DLS mark.

India’s victory was built on another impressive display from their pace attack, which exploited the challenging conditions to trouble New Zealand’s batting line-up. Gurnoor Brar led the bowling effort with career-best ODI figures of 4-30, while Auqib Nabi claimed his first two international wickets, finishing with 2-31.

New Zealand struggled early in their innings as Nabi dismissed openers Will Young and Tim Seifert. Brar then struck twice in the 20th over, removing Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips to leave the hosts struggling at 53-5.

Daryl Mitchell offered resistance with a patient 55, while captain Mitchell Santner contributed 31. However, the remaining batters failed to build meaningful partnerships, and New Zealand were dismissed in 41 overs.

Despite a difficult chase, India’s top order also came under pressure from New Zealand’s seamers. Jacob Duffy claimed three wickets for 35 runs, dismissing captain Shubman Gill for a first-ball duck and Virat Kohli for seven. Kyle Jamieson also picked up three wickets, including the crucial dismissal of top-scorer Shreyas Iyer, who made 30.

India had already won the opening ODI in Auckland by five wickets after bowling New Zealand out for 185.

The visitors now need just one more victory to seal the series, with the third ODI scheduled to take place in Hamilton on Tuesday.