Kiwi batters overpower Indian bowlers to level ODI series

Rajkot: A magnificent unbeaten century by Daryl Mitchell guided the visitors to a comfortable victory as New Zealand beat India by 7 wickets in the second ODI at the Niranjan Shah Stadium on Wednesday. With this win, the Black Caps have leveled the three-match series 1-1, setting up a thrilling decider.

Chasing a target of 285 runs, New Zealand faced early hiccups as Indian pacers removed both openers, Devon Conway and Henry Nicholls, cheaply. However, the match turned on its head thanks to a match-winning 162-run partnership between Will Young and Daryl Mitchell.

Young played a composed knock of 87 off 98 balls, anchoring the innings perfectly. But the star of the show was Mitchell, who remained unbeaten on 131 off just 117 deliveries. His aggressive innings, peppered with 11 boundaries and two sixes, ensured the Kiwis chased down the total in just 47.3 overs.

Earlier in the day, India was asked to bat first and posted a competitive total of 284/7. The hosts struggled early on, losing key wickets including Rohit Sharma (24) and Virat Kohli (23) without major contributions. Shubman Gill provided some stability with a well-made 56, but it was KL Rahul who rescued the Indian innings.

Rahul played a sensational knock, scoring an unbeaten 112 off 92 balls. He smashed 11 fours and one six, dragging India from a precarious position to a defendable score. For New Zealand, Kristian Clarke was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 3 wickets for 56 runs.

Despite the total, the Indian bowling unit struggled to break the third-wicket stand. Kuldeep Yadav was expensive, conceding 82 runs in his 10 overs, while Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna managed only one wicket each.

The series is now tied, and both teams will look to clinch the trophy in the final match.