Hardik Pandya’s (36) heroics couldn’t stop New Zealand from winning the 2nd ODI of the series by 6 runs in a thrilling finish. Kedar Jadhav (41) was the highest scorer for the hosts and skipper MS Dhoni contributed 39 runs in the team’s chase of 243-run target.

New Zealand scored 242/9 riding on skipper Kane Williamson’s fine century (118). With the win, New Zealand squared the five-match series 1-1. 

Known for their loud cheers and Bhangra whenever the Indian team plays at the Ferozshah Kotla stadium, the Delhi crowd went into a hush when home boy Virat Kohli was unexpectedly dismissed for a rare single-digit score but expressed delight that the second ODI between India and New Zealand turned out to be nailbiting.

Kohli’s failure at the Kotla in the second One Day International dampened the mood of the spectators, who wanted their local hero to score a century during India’s chase, with some even started returning home with his dismissal.

“We were here to watch a (Virat) Kohli innings… but somehow it wasn’t his day… just hope the others will take our team through,” said Ritesh, who along with his friends were on their way back home just after Kohli’s dismissal in the 12th over of India’s innings.

“He top scored in the first match at Dharamsala… and today, it was just an unlucky day… wish it didn’t happen in Delhi… but whoever bats must take India over the line,” another cricket buff said.

The usually vocal Kotla crowd went silent once Kohli was caught behind by Luke Ronchi followed by the quick dismissals of Ajinkya Rahane and Manish Pandey.

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But with Mahendra Singh Dhoni walking into the middle, the Delhi crowd were on their feet again with the hopes that Captain cool — one of the world’s best finishers — will take India over the line.
The Ranchi stumper didn’t disappoint and along with Kedar Jadhav brought up a 66-run fifth wicket stand before the pair parted ways. 

Despite Hardik Pandya lifting the spirits with some late order heroics, the hosts fell short by six runs in the second match. Irrespective of the outcome of the match, some fans were seen dancing to the tunes of various popular Bollywood numbers.

Some even were delighted at the match going down to the wire rather than being a dull one-sided affair. “I am happy that finally New Zealand showed they are capable of winning… this is their first win in the series… they were the better team on the day… we will win the series though,” college student Raman, who came with his friends, said.

The following is the scoreboard of the second One-Day International (ODI) between India and New Zealand at the Ferozeshah Kotla:

Scoreboard

India won the toss and chose to field

New Zealand 242/9

Martin Guptill b Umesh 0
Tom Latham lbw b K Jadhav 46
Kane Williamson c Rahane b Mishra 118
Ross Taylor c Rohit b Mishra 21
Corey Anderson lbw b A Mishra 21
Luke Ronchi c Dhoni b Axar 6
Mitchell Santner not out 9
Anton Devcich c Axar b Bumrah 7
Tim Southee b Bumrah 0
Matt Henry b Bumrah 6
Trent Boult not out 5

Extras 3 (b 0, lb 0, w 3, nb 0, p 0)
Total 242 (9 wickets, 50 overs)

Fall of Wickets: 0-1 (Martin Guptill, 0.2 overs), 120-2 (Tom Latham, 20.3), 158-3 (Ross Taylor, 30.6), 204-4 (Corey Anderson, 40.5), 213-5 (Kane Williamson, 42.4), 216-6 (Luke Ronchi, 43.3), 224-7 (Anton Devcich, 45.1), 225-8 (Tim Southee, 45.5), 237-9 (Matt Henry, 49.2)

Bowlers
Umesh Yadav 9-0-42-1, Hardik Pandya 9-0-45-0, Jasprit Bumrah 10-0-35-3, Axar Patel 10-0-49-1, Amit Mishra 10-0-60-3, Kedar Jadhav 2-0-11-1

India

Rohit Sharma c Ronchi b Boult 15
Ajinkya Rahane c Anderson b Southee 28
Virat Kohli c Ronchi b Santner 9
Manish Pandey run out 19
MS Dhoni c and b Southee 39
Kedar Jadhav c Ronchi b Henry 41
Axar Patel c Santner b Guptill 17
Hardik Pandya c Santner b Boult 36
Amit Mishra c sub (Doug Bracewell) b Guptill 1
Umesh Yadav not out 18
Jasprt Bumrah b Southee 0

Extras (lb 5, w 8) 13
Total (all out; 49.3 overs) 236

Fall of wickets: 1-21 (Sharma, 7.1 overs), 2-40 (Kohli, 11.4), 3-72 (Rahane, 18.4), 4-73 (Pandey, 19.2), 5-139 (Jadhav, 31.1), 6-172 (Dhoni, 39.3), 7-180 (Patel, 40.1), 8-183 (Mishra, 40.5), 9-232 (Pandya, 48.5), 10-236 (49.3)

Bowling

Matt Henry 10-0-51-1, Trent Boult 10-2-25-2, Tim Southee 9-0-49-2, A.P. Devcich 9-0-48-0, Mitchell Santner 10-0-49-1, Martin Guptill 1-0-6-2

Hardik Pandya picking up the man of the match award in his One-Day International (ODI) debut during the first match against New Zealand, India coach Anil Kumble is confident that the all-rounder will bring in much needed balance to the team.

Pandya returned figures of 3/31 in the first match of the five-ODI series in Dharamsala last Sunday as India restricted New Zealand to a total of 190 runs.

Kumble asserted that such an encouraging performance on his ODI debut will give Pandya the confidence to perform well in the second match of the series as well.

“He is someone who obviously gives us the right balance because he can bowl. He can not only bowl, he bowls at a pretty decent pace as well. It was nice that he really bowled well in the first game with the new ball. That was something that Dhoni wants him to try and it was heartening that he got the man of the match in his first game.

“So it was something that I am sure will give him a lot of confidence. All-rounders who can run in and bowl quick and bat are certainly an asset. He is someone who will be closely monitored and we will see how he progresses. He certainly has the potential. He has shown his potential in the limited opportunities that he has got,” Kumble told reporters here on Wednesday.

“As someone who has just started his international career we do not want to put pressure on him by giving him specific plans as to what is expected of him. He is someone who likes the freedom. That is what we have given to someone like Hardik.

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“We tell him to bowl freely and not worry about getting hit. We don’t tell him to bowl in one particular spot. Even with his batting, he has the freedom to go and bat freely whatever be the match situation,” the India coach added.

Kumble, who refused to divulge the Indian playing XI, said the Ferozeshah Kotla ground here will be suitable for batting.

“It should be a good surface for one-day cricket. It should be a good surface for batting. As far as (team) combination goes, we still have time. We will let you know tomorrow,” he said.

Kumble is also pleased with opener Ajinkya Rahane’s form and asserted that the Maharashtra right-hander will continue to open the innings in the near future.

“At the moment Rahane certainly fits in at the top of the order. That is something we will persist with. It does give us an option once Shikhar (Dhawan) and K.L. Rahul are fit,” Kumble said.

“We have a lot of time before the next ODI series against England. In this ODI series, Rahane will open the batting. Looking at the Champions Trophy we will then decide who is our opening combination.”

The former leg-spinner also said that although flexibility in the batting remains a target in limited-overs cricket, Manish Pandey is being looked upon as a potential fixture at the number four slot.

“We have a couple of options at that spot. Manish (Pandey) is someone who has done really well in the recent past. He started off well even in Dharamsala. Manish is someone who has shown promise and the performances to back it as well,” Kumble remarked.

“He comes into the Indian team with a lot of experience in domestic cricket. Its not like he is someone like Hardik Pandya who is new at this level. He is certainly the number four we are looking into,” he added.

“But in ODI’s I don’t think is is necessary that you should have some positions fixed. It all depends on the situation. You could see someone else walking in as well.”

The 46-year-old also asserted that India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni will continue to bat in his present position as he has the required experience to finish off a chase.

“It all depends on match situations. While chasing you need more experience. As far as MS is concerned, he has enough experience. He has shown over the years that he has enough capabilities as a batsman,” Kumble insisted.

“We don’t need to really look close at giving him time to settle in. You will probably see a different batting order depending on different situations.”

IANS

The newly appointed selection committee have recalled Suresh Raina and Hardik Pandya but in a surprise move they’ve left out regulars spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. The squad has been selected for the first three matches of the five-match One Day International series against New Zealand, starting on October 16.

This was the first assignment for the newly-appointed selection committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India headed by M S K Prasad. The 15-member squad led by limited overs skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who last played the ODI and T20 International series in Zimbabwe in June. 

The batting department has been bolstered by the return of Test skipper Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma while Manish Pandey is likely to fill in for injured Lokesh Rahul as opener. Maharashtra stumper Kedar Jadhav and Punjab batsman Mandeep Singh also retained their places in the squad.

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Meanwhile, the pace bowling department will be spearheaded by Umesh Yadav, and will also comprise Jasprit Bumrah and Dhawal Kulkarni. The spin department will be headed by senior leg-spinner Amit Mishra in the company of left-armer Axar Patel and offie Jayant Yadav.

The first match will be played in Dharamsala on October 16 followed by the second at Delhi’s Feroz Shah Kotla on October 20 while the third match will be played at Mohali on October 23.

Squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Manish Pandey, Suresh Raina, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Jayant Yadav, Amit Mishra, Jasprit Bumrah, Dhawal Kulkarni, Umesh Yadav, Mandeep Singh, Kedar Jadhav.

IANS