India Secures Narrow Victory Over New Zealand in Rain-Affected Second ODI

India's seam bowlers capitalized on favorable conditions to secure a four-run victory over New Zealand in the second one-day international on Saturday, extending their series lead to 2-0. The match, reduced to a maximum of 47 overs per side due to rain in Wellington, saw New Zealand unable to defend their total of 134.

India reached 113-7 off 26 overs when rain halted play, placing them four runs above the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern par score of 109. KL Rahul was unbeaten on 26, accompanied by Auqib Nabi on one, with their partnership proving sufficient to put the tourists in front. India now needs one more win to clinch the five-match series, with the third game scheduled for Hamilton on Tuesday.

In the rain-hit opener in Auckland on Wednesday, India had won by five wickets after bowling out the home side for 185. Their chase in Wellington was hampered early on, with New Zealand seamer Jacob Duffy taking the wickets of Indian captain Shubman Gill for a golden duck and Virat Kohli for seven. Paceman Kyle Jamieson also contributed with a key breakthrough, dismissing top-scorer Shreyas Iyer for 30, leaving India at 86-5.

New Zealand's innings concluded in 41 overs, with Daryl Mitchell top-scoring with a watchful 55 and captain Mitchell Santner adding 31. No other New Zealand batsman managed to score more than 11, with many falling victim to unpredictable bounce and disciplined Indian seam bowling.

Gurnoor Brar was instrumental for India, recording his best ODI figures of 4-30. He took a crucial double-strike in the 20th over, removing Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips to reduce New Zealand to 53-5. Earlier, Auqib Nabi claimed his first two international wickets, dismissing openers Will Young and Tim Seifert, to finish with figures of 2-31.