Ishant proceeds to slap this one away to the off side for a single, and while that happens the heavens start to open up as the umpires remove the bails to signal the end of the game
New Zealand vs India, 2nd ODI at Hamilton, Jan 22 2014 - Ball by Ball Commentary
And there you have it, New Zealand win this one in the end by 15 runs (D/L method) and go 2-0 up in the series. India, despite losing their ODI top ranking with this result, will not be too dismayed though, as they have shown their ability to compete on level terms with the home side. They will be hopeful they can turn it around come the 25th when they square off for the 3rd ODI in Auckland. Till then, though, this is Rohan Sharma signing off for ESPNcricinfo on behalf of George Binoy, and the scorer, Sanjay Murari. Have a good one, folks!
Kane Williamson, Man of the Match: Yeah its going alright. Just playing the anchoring role in the middle after the big boys get dismissed. It has been quite good and a complete performance from the team. I tried to contribute as much as possible in both of these games. It was great to keep the momentum going for the home team, and we look forward to our next match.
Brendon McCullum, NZ captain: Yeah it was a good performance. It was outstanding to get the total we did, and that too in a reduced game. We needed all those runs against India's packed batting. Prior to the weather I thought the batting was outstanding with Ross and Kane. Then Corey came back in today and showed just how much he has learned at this level to give us that momentum going into the second innings. Against the Indian team you know how dangerous their batting is. The team has really stepped up and performed well over these last two games. At the end of the day, under pressure, the guys did really well. In big moments he is really stepping up (Corey), and the way he came back with the ball showed his ability. Really pleased with the guys' performance, and I know we will get better and better as the series wears on.
MS Dhoni, India captain: The NZ fast bowlers, when they bowled the slower ones, it was hard to get them away. It was quite difficult to hit them away consistently, and in the end we couldn't get close to the 290 we needed. The last game I got out, and this game Virat got out, so it was important to keep continuing to build a partnership as it is hard for the players coming in to play their strokes freely. From the 25th/26th over we should have started to hit out, but it doesn't always go to plan. Yes the fast bowlers did well for us. Bhuvi was good at the death, while Shami has been performing quite consistently. We gave away a few extra runs but that is to be expected with the big hitters they have. It is better for the second team in limited-overs to know the target and what to do.
will be back shortly for quotes from the match presentation
So for all accounts this match is done and dusted, with the final determination on just how many runs still needing to be decided. As it stands, New Zealand are 2-0 ahead in the series, with three matches left to decide the series. India once again came to the party, but I suspect it was the slow start of their openers that may have cost them this victory, along with the untimely nature of the rain today. We have received confirmation that New Zealand have won this encounter by 15 runs (D/L method)
India will not be too displeased that rain has intervened at this time. This match was slipping away further and further, and it seems the rain gods have taken mercy on them by letting them off the hook a little bit earlier than expected. The New Zealand players high-five one another as the Indian batsmen trudge off to the pavilion.
dropped and Shami this time tries his luck with a miscued heave that travels really, really high in the air on the leg side. Ronchi calls this one, as he should, but this one starts to swirl as it reaches back to Earth, with Ronchi unable to hold on to it
and Kumar, in automatic six-hitting mode, ends up top-edging this length ball straight over to deep point, who takes a good catch to remove Bhuvi
And as we enter the final over the equation reads 22 off 6. Not impossible, but not likely either
Vijay: "Another MOM perfomance by Anderson!!!!"
full on middle as Kumar is able to squeeze this away behind square to the fielder at third man
slower ball outside off which Kumar sees early as he waits on it before thrashing this over extra-cover for a much-needed boundary
tests him with a shorter one which Kumar is unable to reach, with the umpire signalling a wide
tries to make room to free his arms and succeeds in sticking out his bat to divert this past the keeper to the third man rope
Mohammad Shami is the new batsman
Ashwin has a high backlift and is already in position to get under this as he swats this fuller one over midwicket, but straight into the hands of deep midwicket, and it is that man, Guptill, who takes the catch. Just can't keep the NZ opener out of the match
clears his front leg before clobbering Southee through long-on for a boundary
manages to dig this one out to the leg side for one
The equation reads 37 off 12. Match in NZ's favour, but it's not over till it's over
Krutik: "Ahh..all those dot balls at the start of the inning!"
steps out to meet this wide delivery outside off, as he gets low to stick his bat out to angle this past Ronchi, but can't get it fine enough as Ronchi is able to collect it from behind
and begins with a single down to long-off
Time for Bhuvneshwar to try his luck
and Jadeja is gone with a swipe to the leg side to this slower ball on off. Is far too early in his shot as the ball goes on to knock down his off peg
Ashwin mistimes this lofted shot through extra-cover
Jadeja pulls this one fiercely in front of square for a single
Ashwin is the new batsman for India
and Dhoni tries his luck one more time, but it ceases to come to fruition as he miscues this lofted shot off Anderson, with the ball travelling behind to backward point, where Williamson was able to get under the steepler, and more importantly, hold onto the chance. Ends a spirited innings from the Indian captain
Ajay Malik: "Can we borrow Faulkner from across the sea for a while?"
slaps this one away off the back foot down to deep midwicket for a single
and Dhoni plays the most elegant of lofted shots, mistiming this its execution, but the shot is able to carry just far enough for it to go over the extra-cover boundary for six. Also brings up his 52nd ODI fifty
yorker on middle which is directed away to long-off by Jadeja
into position quickly to pull away this short one to the man at deep square leg
Dhoni goes for the big swing and a miss off this length ball outside off
low full toss swinging into the pads as Jadeja flicks this away behind square for a single
Southee back into the attack