India crush New Zealand by 8 wickets, take unassailable 2-0 lead

 

Raipur:  India outplayed New Zealand by eight wickets in the second ODI to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series here on Saturday.

Opting to field, Indian pacers were on the mark as the hosts bowled out New Zealand for a paltry 108 in 34.3 overs.

Mohammed Shami (3/18) was the pick of the bowlers for India as the veteran pacer snared three wickets while Hardik Pandya (2/26) and Washington Sundar (2/7) accounted for two batters each.

India’s relentless pace attack ran through a fragile New Zealand batting line-up as the hosts cantered to an eight-wicket win in the second ODI to seal the three-match series here on Saturday.

The Mohammed Shami-led attack produced an incisive effort to bowl out New Zealand for a meagre 108 before India knocked off the runs in 20.1 overs. Rohit Sharma hit a sublime 50 off 51 balls while Shubman Gill remained unbeaten on 40 off 53 deliveries.

It was an emphatic win but the sea of fans that had flocked the remotely located Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium for Raipur’s first international game was left wanting for more due to the early finish.