India beat New Zealand by four runs under the DLS method in Wellington on 7 November, according to the ICC, after rain interrupted the tourists' chase. Gurnoor Brar's career-best bowling spell helped India move into a 2-0 lead in the five-match ODI series.
Brar's spell puts India in position
New Zealand made a difficult start after India chose to field at Hnry Stadium. The ICC's 7 November report says Auqib Nabi and Anshul Kamboj removed the top three batters before the hosts could build a platform. Daryl Mitchell then anchored a recovery, with Mitchell Santner helping to steady the innings after the early losses.
Mitchell scored 55 and Santner added 31, but Brar's second spell changed the shape of the innings. The ICC's 7 November report credits Brar with four wickets for 30 runs and says New Zealand were all out for 134 in 41 overs. Axar Patel also took the wicket of Mitchell, ending the hosts' most substantial resistance.
India's pursuit was far from comfortable. Jacob Duffy dismissed Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli early, while Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer kept the chase moving. Kyle Jamieson removed Iyer just as India appeared to be recovering. KL Rahul remained at the crease when rain stopped play, with New Zealand still hunting a way through the lower order.
Scorecard confirms the rain margin
SportsRivo cross-checked the ICC match report against New Zealand Cricket's 7 November scorecard. The scorecard records India at 113 for seven after 26 overs and says the tourists needed 110 to win when play halted. That explains why the DLS decision favoured India despite the unfinished chase.
The same scorecard identifies Brar's four for thirty as his best innings bowling analysis in ODI cricket. It also records Duffy and Jamieson taking three wickets apiece, which shows why the result remained in doubt after New Zealand's modest total. India fast bowler Gurnoor Brar told the ICC after the match that senior teammates had helped him prepare: “I had open nets with Virat and Rohit bhai, and they gave me a lot of inputs.”
India take the series advantage
- India's win put them 2-0 ahead in the five-match ODI series, the ICC's 7 November report confirms.
- Brar finished as Player of the Match and recorded a new ODI career-best bowling analysis, according to New Zealand Cricket's scorecard.
- New Zealand's seamers took seven wickets before the rain interruption, leaving the hosts with a narrow defeat despite their fightback.
Hamilton hosts the next ODI
The ICC's series schedule lists the third ODI for 10 November in Hamilton. Brar said his immediate focus was on correcting mistakes from the Wellington game. India can extend their series lead there; New Zealand have their next chance to respond.
Source: International Cricket Council