Despite a stunning collapse from New Zealand, where they lost seven wickets for 55 runs in the first innings of the second ODI at Auckland, the Men in Blue were unable to capitalize and lost the game, and eventually the series by 22 runs. After India won the toss and sent the hosts in to bat first at Eden Park, the New Zealand team got off to a cracking start and were well poised to get to the 300-run mark at 142 for 1. A well-set Martin Guptill and Henry Nicholls added 93 runs for the first wicket, with the former, in particular, playing aggressively. He picked up 14 runs off Jasprit Bumrah’s over to set the ball rolling.
Ramps and flicks dominated his batting style as Guptill put India under pressure. He attacked he spinners as well, and despite the departure of Nicholls, the opener, along with Tom Blundell played aggressively to pile on 49 for the second wicket. The latter, though, was sent back off Shardul Thakur, which changed the momentum towards India.
Guptill and James Neesham were soon run-out, while Colin de Grandhomme, Mark Chapman and Tim Southee all fell while miscuing shots. New Zealand skipped to 197 for 8 in the 42nd over, and were in serious threat of getting all out, but Ross Taylor and debutant Kyle Jamieson played cautiously as they took the team to 273 for 8.
The Indians, on the other hand, got off to a dismal start, losing quick wickets. Mayank Agarwal was out for just 3, while his partner Prithvi Shaw made 24 in 19 balls. His quickfire innings, however, was cut short by Jamieson, which bought Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer together.
The talented duo could only manage 23 runs, and India soon lost wickets in a flurry. At 129 for 6, the writing was on the wall, but Ravindra Jadeja showed why he is so highly regarded, as he stuck around and helped India get close to the target. A 44-run stand with Shardul Thakur and another 76-run stand with Navdeep Saini gave India some hope of a series leveling win, but once Saini was out for 45, the end was all too clear.
Though Yuzvendra Chahal chipped in with 10 runs off 12 balls, his untimely run-out increased the pressure on Jadeja, who eventually perished trying to go for a big hit. Jadeja ended with 55 off 73 balls. Jamieson was the star with the ball as well, picking up 2 for 42.
India lost the three match ODI series, and will hope to give their bench some much needed game time in the last ODI.
Brief Scores: New Zealand 273/8 (Martin Guptill 79, Ross Taylor 73*; Yuzvendra Chahal 3-58) beat India 251 all out (Ravindra Jadeja 55, Shreyas Iyer 52; Tim Southee 2-41) by 22 runs
