RAIPUR: Skipper Rohit Sharmas time out at the toss seems to have been the only time India slowed down in this game! Inspired by their old warhorses Mohammed Shami (3-18 in 6 overs) and Rohit himself (51; 50b, 7x4, 2x6), India crushed a frustrating New Zealand by eight wickets in the second ODI at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, which was staging its first global video game.
India therefore wrapped up the ODI series 2-0 in persuading style, with the final video game on Tuesday in Indore now simply a rule.
This is India's seventh ODI series win in the house in a row overall, and their seventh straight ODI series win against New Zealand on house soil.
It was the sort of sizzling efficiency which augurs well for Rohit and Co.
in an ODI World Cup year.
India completely beat New Zealand on a pacer-friendly pitch.
After India chose to bowl first on a surface which was helping generous lateral motion, their pacers, led by Shami, fired on all cylinders to shoot out a listless New Zealand, who taped their third-lowest ODI rating against India.
The whole Kiwi innings was over by 4:07 pm, and the match was done and cleaned by 6:25 pm, advancing the timing of a post-match laser show! Chasing 109, Rohit and Shubman Gill (40 *, 53b; 6x4), fresh off his double hundred in the very first ODI, rubbed salt into the Kiwi injuries, adding 72 in 84 balls for the very first wicket.
When Gill danced down the track to loft Mitchell Santner over mid-on, India sealed the game with as many as 179 balls to spare.
It was their 3rd most significant win in ODIs in terms of balls to spare.
While Virat Kohli (11) was scalped by Santner once again, Rohits excellent half-century, his 48th in ODIs, will provide India plenty to cheer about.
Apart from a few delightful drives, the 2 6s that he struck, a relentless, hallmark manage Lockie Ferguson and then an outstanding shot over extra cover off Blair Tickner, delighted the 60,000-strong crowd.
It was entertaining to view the Kiwi batters, who were way too tentative.
The game seemed to be done and dusted when India's four-pronged speed attack of Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur and Hardik Pandya ruined the Kiwi leading order.
New Zealand had actually collapsed to 15/5 by the 11th over and were, at one point, in danger of being skittled out for their lowest ODI score of 64.
Somehow, the efforts of Glenn Philips (36; 52b, 5x4), Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell prevented that shame for the Kiwis, taking them past 100, however then they lost their last four wickets for 5 runs in 26 balls.
It was Shami who began India's unrelenting attack with the ball.
Following up 4 consecutive outswingers with a ball that swung in magnificently, he castled Kiwi opener Finn Allen.
Beside go was Henry Nicholls, who edged an away-going delivery by Siraj to Gill at slip.
Things worsened for the Kiwis when Daryll Mitchell spooned a catch back to Shami.