Wellington, Nov 2026 : India survived a dramatic batting collapse to secure a four-run victory over New Zealand under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method in a rain-affected second ODI on Saturday. Persistent showers brought the contest to an early end with India struggling at 113/7 in 26 overs while chasing a modest target of 135.
New Zealand's pace attack had put India under considerable pressure after the hosts were bowled out for 134 in 41 overs. However, the visitors were three runs ahead of the DLS par score when rain forced the players off the field for the final time, handing India a narrow victory in a match that had turned into a tense contest.
The game had already been reduced to 47 overs per side following a one-hour delay at the start because of rain. With New Zealand restricted to 134, India appeared to have a manageable chase ahead. But the home side's seamers exploited the conditions brilliantly, with Jacob Duffy and Kyle Jamieson claiming three wickets each to put India on the back foot.
India's innings got off to a disastrous start when captain Shubman Gill was dismissed for a golden duck in the opening over. Duffy generated movement outside the off stump and induced an edge, which Henry Nicholls safely held at second slip.
Virat Kohli briefly raised hopes with a trademark cover drive but could not build on the promising start. Duffy struck again in the fourth over, drawing Kohli into a drive against a delivery that held up on the surface. Will Young completed the catch at cover-point, sending the former India captain back for seven off seven balls.
Rohit Sharma also struggled to settle against Jamieson's disciplined bowling. The opener managed a couple of boundaries and two sixes but never appeared entirely comfortable at the crease. Jamieson eventually ended his innings on 23 off 28 balls, with Nicholls taking another catch at second slip after Rohit went hard at a delivery outside off.
India were reduced to 40/3 after 11 overs, and the pressure continued to mount. Axar Patel, promoted to No. 5 once again, found it difficult to get going and departed for seven. He guided a delivery from Matthew Fisher towards third man, where Duffy completed the catch. India had slumped to 47/4 in the 13th over.
Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul then attempted to stabilise the innings, adding 39 runs for the fifth wicket. Iyer gradually looked more assured and struck four boundaries and a six during his 46-ball 30. However, Jamieson returned with a sharp, in-seaming short delivery that Iyer could only fend towards wicketkeeper Tom Latham.
Rahul, who had taken time to settle, began finding some momentum with a six and two boundaries. Naman Dhir provided brief support, scoring 12 from 16 deliveries, but Duffy ended the partnership by dismissing him with a short ball that was pulled straight to Tim Seifert at deep backward square leg.
Jamieson then removed Anshul Kamboj, who edged an attempted cross-batted shot to Duffy at third man. India were left reeling at 113/7 after 26 overs, with Rahul unbeaten on 26 and Auqib Nabi on one.
Rain returned at that stage, with India marginally ahead of the DLS par score. Despite efforts by ground staff to prepare the field for a possible resumption, the weather did not improve. The downpour intensified, and the match was eventually called off at 23:00 local time, confirming India's four-run win.
Earlier, India's bowlers had delivered an impressive performance to restrict New Zealand to 134. Gurnoor Brar led the attack with a career-best four-wicket haul, while Auqib Nabi and Anshul Kamboj made early inroads to reduce the hosts to 23/3.
Brar then dealt another major blow by dismissing Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips in the same over, leaving New Zealand struggling at 53/5. The hosts faced the prospect of being bowled out for a significantly lower total before Daryl Mitchell and Mitchell Santner offered some resistance.
Mitchell scored 55 off 104 balls, while Santner contributed 31. Their 59-run partnership for the sixth wicket provided New Zealand with some stability and helped the hosts cross the 100-run mark. However, Brar broke the stand by dismissing Santner and later returned to remove Nathan Smith.
Axar Patel picked up two wickets, while Kamboj finished the New Zealand innings by bowling Blair Tickner. The hosts were eventually dismissed for 134 in 41 overs.
India's bowlers had set up the victory, but New Zealand's seamers made the chase far more difficult than expected. The weather ultimately settled the contest, with India escaping after a dramatic collapse.
Brief Scores: New Zealand 134 all out in 41 overs (Daryl Mitchell 55, Mitchell Santner 31; Gurnoor Brar 4/30, Anshul Kamboj 2/25) lost to India 113/7 in 26 overs (Shreyas Iyer 30, KL Rahul 26; Jacob Duffy 3/35, Kyle Jamieson 3/35) by four runs via the DLS method.
