India edged New Zealand by four runs on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method in a rain-hit second ODI at the Hnry Stadium in Wellington on Saturday, 7 November, to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

Chasing 135 in a match reduced to 47 overs a side, India were 113 for 7 after 26 overs when rain stopped play for the final time. They were four runs ahead of the DLS par score of 109, and with no resumption possible before the 11pm local cut-off, the win was India's.

Brar's four wickets set it up

India won the toss and chose to bowl, and their seamers made the most of a cold, windy day and a pitch offering bounce and seam movement. Gurnoor Brar, the Player of the Match, took 4 for 30 from his 10 overs, while Anshul Kamboj (2 for 25), Auqib Nabi (2 for 31) and Axar Patel (2 for 28) shared the rest as New Zealand were bowled out for 134 in 41 overs.

Daryl Mitchell held the innings together with 55 off 104 balls, and captain Mitchell Santner added 31, but no other New Zealand batter passed 11. Brar's double strike in the 20th over, removing Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips, left the hosts at 53 for 5. India could have had even fewer to chase — Shubman Gill dropped Mitchell on 21 when New Zealand were 45 for 3.

India's chase wobbles

The chase was anything but straightforward. Gill fell for a golden duck to Jacob Duffy, Virat Kohli made 7 and Rohit Sharma 23 as India slipped to 39 for 3 in the ninth over. Shreyas Iyer (30) and KL Rahul added 39 for the fifth wicket before Kyle Jamieson removed Iyer with a sharp bouncer.

Rahul, unbeaten on 26 off 38 balls, held one end, but Naman Dhir (12) and Kamboj (1) fell in quick succession to leave India on 111 for 7. Duffy and Jamieson finished with three wickets each — 3 for 35 apiece — while Mathew Fisher took 1 for 23.

Rain has the final word

The match had already been reduced to 47 overs a side after a delayed start because of showers, and the target was later revised to 133 in 37 overs as the rain kept eating into the game. When the players came off, India were 113 for 7, and the rain only got heavier. The umpires waited until the 11pm cut-off before calling the game off.

What the captains said

"As long as we get the win. It wasn't easy batting. Getting them out at 134, I thought it'll be an easy target, but it wasn't. Happy we got there in the end." — Shubman Gill, India captain

"Really enjoyed bowling here in NZ, the bounce and pace… I enjoyed it. In India, the pitches are flat and you have to bowl the hard length. Here there's more bounce." — Gurnoor Brar, Player of the Match

Series heads to Hamilton

India need one more win to wrap up the five-match series. The third ODI is in Hamilton on Tuesday, 10 November — though the forecast there is not promising either.

Source: ESPNcricinfo — https://www.cricinfo.com/series/india-in-new-zealand-2026-27-1539421/new-zealand-vs-india-2nd-odi-1539438/live-cricket-score