Twitter Reactions: MS Dhoni and Jadhav give finishing touch after Rohit-Dhawan blitz as India post 324

Team India has posted a daunting total of 324 runs for the loss of four wickets in fifty overs in the second ODI against New Zealand. If the pitch at the Bay Oval stays true to its nature, then the visitors are well and truly on their way to make it 2-0 in the series. Surprisingly, there was no century in the innings and only two half-centuries by the openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan.

After India opted to bat first, Rohit and Dhawan gauged the pace of the pitch perfectly and accelerated the scoring rate soon realising the fact that they will need to score more on the small ground. They launched an assault on the opposition with perfectly calculating the shots. Rohit was once again severe against the short balls bowled at him and smashed three sixes.

Just when the century was there for the taking for him, the Hitman threw his wicket away off Lockie Ferguson after scoring 87 off 96 balls. Dhawan was dismissed just before that by Trent Boult, again, to a harmless delivery. He also raced to 66 off 67 balls before getting out even as India’s opening duo added 154 runs for the first wicket in 27.1 overs.

Kohli and Dhoni take over in two halves

Virat Kohli arrived at the middle and it goes without saying that he was at ease from the word go. Ambati Rayudu also looked in good touch today. Both of them targetted the bowlers as the Men in Blue aimed a big score. But the Kiwi bowlers found their lines at the right time as they ensured the match didn’t go completely out of their hands. The duo missed half-centuries but made sure that the finishers had the perfect platform to finish strongly.

MS Dhoni took over in the final few overs along with Kedar Jadhav. Though one felt that India played too many dot balls for their liking in the last 10 overs but the master of the finishers recovered smartly in the last three overs. He ended with the strike-rate of 145.45 unbeaten on 48 off just 33 balls with five fours and a solitary maximum.

Dhoni was well supported by Kedar Jadhav who eked out 21 runs in the last over of the innings and remained not out on 22 off just 10 balls. The way India began, they were threatening to score more than 350. But some smart bowling from New Zealand kept the run-rate in check. However, the hosts let it slip in the last three overs as Dhoni took over like he usually does in his territory.

Here’s how Twitter reacted during the innings:

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