India beat New Zealand by 4 runs on DLS in rain-hit second ODI, lead series 2-0

India beat New Zealand by four runs on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method in the second ODI in Wellington on Saturday. Rain repeatedly interrupted the match. The win puts India 2-0 up in the five-match series.

India won the toss and chose to bowl. New Zealand were bowled out for 134 in 41 overs. Daryl Mitchell top-scored for the hosts with 55, facing 104 balls. Mitchell Santner contributed 31.

Gurnoor Brar was India's most successful bowler, taking four wickets for 30 runs, and was named Player of the Match. Aqib Nabi took two wickets, and Anshul Kamboj and Axar Patel also took two each.

New Zealand made a poor start. Tim Seifert was out for a duck in the second over. Nabi also removed Will Young, who made only six. Kamboj then dismissed Henry Nicholls for 11, leaving the hosts in trouble.

In the 20th over, Brar dismissed Tom Latham (7) and Glenn Phillips (0) to deal New Zealand another blow. Mitchell and Santner tried to steady the innings, but the Indian bowlers kept taking wickets at regular intervals.

Mitchell completed his half-century in the 34th over, but Axar then dismissed him for 55. Brar removed Santner for 31 and Nathan Smith for three, his fourth wicket. Axar bowled Kyle Jamieson for seven, and Kamboj dismissed Blair Tickner for two to end the innings at 134 in 41 overs.

Chasing 135 to win, India did not start well. Jacob Duffy dismissed Shubman Gill off the first ball. Virat Kohli also fell to Duffy after scoring seven, while Jamieson dismissed Rohit Sharma for 23.

After 10 overs India were 40 for three, with the New Zealand bowlers keeping up the pressure. Axar Patel returned after scoring seven. Jamieson then dismissed Shreyas Iyer, who made 30 off 46 balls, with four fours and a six.

Wickets kept falling, but KL Rahul held firm at one end. When rain stopped play he was unbeaten on 26, with Naman Dhir at the other end.

At the time play was halted, India had scored 113 for seven in 26 overs. The DLS par score at that stage was 109, which put India four runs ahead.

The rain did not ease and play could not resume. The umpires eventually called off the match, and India were declared winners by four runs on the DLS method, extending their lead in the series to 2-0.

India are in a strong position in the five-match ODI series. New Zealand will have to win all three remaining matches to come back.