India vs New Zealand, 2nd ODI - Talking Points and Who Said What?

India outclassed New Zealand by eight wickets in the second One Day International at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium in Raipur on January 21. By the virtue of this win, the hosts have also taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Unlike the previous game in Hyderabad, where the Indian team was given a run for their money, the second game turned out to be a one-sided affair with Rohit Sharma and co. being on top right from the word ‘go’. The Indian bowlers made merry on a wonderful bowling surface after skipper Rohit Sharma called it right at the toss.

It was a sorry-looking scorecard for the visitors as they lost half their side for just 15 in the 11^th over with four of their batters departing for single-digit scores and one for a duck. New Zealand could have been bowled out for even lesser had it not been for the 41-run sixth wicket stand between Michael Bracewell and Glenn Phillips. Bracewell scored 22 off 30 while Phillips made 36 off 52. A vital 27-run knock from Mitchell Santner helped the Kiwis post 108 runs on the board in the 35^th over.

In reply, the Men in Blue got past the finishing line without needing to break a sweat in the 21^st over to seal the One Day series.

Talking Points from India vs New Zealand, 2^nd ODI:

Mohammed Shami dismantles New Zealand batting:

The Raipur wicket was difficult to bat on and the Indian bowlers made full use of the conditions in their favour. Pacer Shami applied the stranglehold instantly by accounting for the likes of opener Finn Allen in the very first over and followed that with wicket of Daryl Mitchell. He also deceived a well-set Michael Bracewell with a bouncer and had him caught behind by Ishan Kishan. The 32-year-old finished with figures of 3/18 from his six overs including a maiden.

Rohit Sharma roars back to form with a match-winning half-century

The stage was set for skipper Rohit Sharma to make his bat do the talking and he succeeded as he scored a 50-ball 51 at a strike rate of 102. His innings was cut short when he was caught plumb in front of the wicket by Henry Shipley. Rohit might not have remained at the crease till the very end, but he laid a solid foundation for India by adding 72 runs for the first wicket with Shubman Gill.

Losing Captain, Tom Latham said:

Batting up-top wasn't our best performance. India put the ball in the right areas and it was one of those days where everything we tried didn't work. On the other hand, everything India did worked. There was some tennis-ball bounce, some came through, some kept low and there was some movement. We just couldn't build partnerships at the top. Guys lower down tried to fight but it wasn't easy. We didn't adapt well today, considering the surface.

 Winning Captain, Rohit Sharma said:

The last five games, bowlers have really stepped up. Whatever we have asked of them, they have stepped up and delivered. You don't usually see this type of seam movement in India, you generally see it outside India. These guys have some serious skills, they work really hard and it's great to see them being rewarded. We trained yesterday and the ball was nipping around under lights. We knew that if they had 250 or so, it might have been challenging for us but that was the point of opting to chase. We batted first last game, so the idea was to challenge ourselves. Not sure what I'll do at Indore (in the final game). The confidence is high within the group and that's great to see. They (Shami and Siraj) were raring to keep bowling long spells but I reminded them that there is a Test series coming up as well (Australia at home), so we need to take care of themselves as well. I'm trying to change my game a bit now, have been trying to take the bowlers on and I think that's important. I know the big scores haven't come, but I'm not too worried about it.

 Player of the Match, Mohammed Shami said:

Whenever I start, I just focus on maintaining the right lines and lengths. But it does happen sometimes that you bowl well and yet don't get wickets. On other days you may not be in rhythm, and will still get wickets. That happens. I feel that the more you work with the ball in practice, the more success will come. I never thought I'd get to have a proper seam position and it gives me joy to see the seam upright as it goes in the air. As a new-ball bowler, it's important to assess the conditions and pass the message quickly to the other bowlers as well.

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