Mitchell's Masterclass Levels ODI Series in Rajkot
Daryl Mitchell produced a batting masterclass on Wednesday, guiding New Zealand to a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over India in the second ODI at Rajkot's Niranjan Shah Stadium. His unbeaten 131 powered the visitors to 286/3 in just 47.3 overs, successfully chasing India's total of 284/7 and squaring the three-match series at 1-1.
Rahul's Rescue Act Overshadowed
Earlier in the day, KL Rahul had staged a remarkable rescue operation for India. Coming to the crease with his team struggling at 118/4 in the 24th over, Rahul crafted an unbeaten 112 from just 92 deliveries. His innings featured 11 boundaries and one six, providing the backbone of India's total.
Rahul forged crucial partnerships with the lower order, adding 73 runs with Ravindra Jadeja (27 off 44 balls) for the fifth wicket and 57 with Nitish Reddy (20 off 21 balls) for the sixth. These collaborations hauled India from a precarious position to what appeared to be a competitive 284/7.
New Zealand's Chase Mastery
New Zealand's chase began cautiously against India's new-ball attack. Mohammed Siraj and Harshit Rana bowled incisive spells, creating pressure from both ends. Devon Conway started brightly with three crisp boundaries before Rana's nip-backer rattled his stumps, sending him back for 16.
Henry Nicholls struggled at the other end, managing just 10 runs before attempting to break free against Prasidh Krishna. His effort resulted in an inside edge that crashed into the stumps, leaving New Zealand at 46/2 in the 12.4 overs.
The Mitchell-Young Partnership
From this challenging position, Daryl Mitchell and Will Young constructed a match-winning partnership. The 34-year-old Mitchell displayed exceptional composure, mixing proactive stroke play with intelligent running between the wickets.
Mitchell particularly targeted India's spinners, employing the reverse sweep against Kuldeep Yadav and the conventional sweep against Ravindra Jadeja. This approach prevented the bowlers from settling into consistent lines and lengths.
Will Young provided solid support at the other end, scoring 87 valuable runs from 98 deliveries. His innings included seven boundaries and helped stabilize the chase during the middle overs.
Statistical Highlights
The victory marked several significant milestones for New Zealand:
- New Zealand recorded their highest successful chase against India in India, surpassing their previous best of 284/4 at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium in 2017
- The win ended an eight-match losing streak against India in Indian conditions
- This marked the first successful chase in ODI history at Rajkot's Niranjan Shah Stadium
- Mitchell's century was his third against India and eighth in ODI cricket overall
Looking Ahead to the Decider
With the series now level at 1-1, both teams will travel to Indore for Sunday's decisive third ODI at Holkar Stadium. The contest promises to be an intriguing battle, with India seeking to reclaim their dominance at home and New Zealand aiming to secure a rare series victory in Indian conditions.
The match also highlighted some concerns for India, particularly regarding their middle-order batting and the effectiveness of their spin attack in the middle overs. Meanwhile, New Zealand will take confidence from their ability to chase down a substantial target under pressure.
Cricket fans can expect another thrilling encounter as these two competitive sides battle for series supremacy in what has become a perfectly poised contest.
