RAJKOT: Indian spinners were outplayed on home turf yet again as Daryl Mitchell’s sublime unbeaten 131 overshadowed KL Rahul’s lone battle, helping New Zealand level the three-match ODI series 1-1 with a seven-wicket win in the second match at the Niranjan Shah Stadium on Wednesday.
On a sluggish surface, India managed 284 for 7, largely thanks to Rahul’s resolute unbeaten 112 off 92 balls. New Zealand, however, adapted far better to the conditions, chasing down the target in 47.3 overs to finish on 286 for 3. The series decider will be played in Indore on Sunday.
Mitchell and Will Young anchored the chase with a decisive second-wicket stand that took the game away from India. The pair added 162 runs off 152 balls, maintaining composure even as the asking rate hovered above six. Young played the role of the stabiliser, scoring 87 off 98 balls with seven boundaries, before falling to Kuldeep Yadav. Mitchell, meanwhile, was in complete control, using the sweep to great effect against the spinners as he brought up his third ODI hundred against India. He finished unbeaten on 131 off 117 balls, striking 11 fours and two sixes.
New Zealand’s spinners set the platform earlier with a disciplined effort. Debutant left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox impressed with figures of 1 for 42 from 10 overs, while Michael Bracewell returned 1 for 34. Glenn Phillips chipped in with three economical overs as the visitors’ spinners conceded just 89 runs for two wickets in 23 overs. In contrast, India’s main spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja leaked 126 runs without control, managing only one wicket between them.
India’s innings had see-sawed before Rahul held it together. After a steady start, the hosts slipped from 99 for 1 to 118 for 4 as Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer and Virat Kohli fell in quick succession. Gill top-scored alongside Rahul with a fluent 56, while Kohli’s scratchy 23 ended when he played on. Ravindra Jadeja contributed a useful 27 in a 73-run fifth-wicket stand with Rahul, allowing India to post a competitive total.
New Zealand remained composed despite early pressure from the Indian pacers, and once Mitchell took charge, there was no late drama as the visitors sealed a convincing win to set up a decider.
India 284/7 in 50 overs (KL Rahul 112*, Shubman Gill 56, Kristian Clarke 3/56) lost to New Zealand 286/3 in 47.3 overs (Daryl Mitchell 131*, Will Young 87)