India survive New Zealand scare to win rain-hit second ODI

India overcame New Zealand's early scare to claim a rain-affected second One Day International win, securing a 2-0 series lead in their series in Wellington. The match, played under challenging wet conditions, saw India's seam bowlers shine, reducing New Zealand's total of 134 to a par score of 109. KL Rahul and Auqib Nabi's resilient knock, combined with crucial contributions from the rest of the Indian team, saw them reach 113-7 off 26 overs.

New Zealand, despite a strong start with Daryl Mitchell and Mitchell Santner, collapsed to 109 all out in 41 overs. KL Rahul and Auqib Nabi's performance ensured India needed just one more win to clinch the series, heading into the third match in Hamilton. India's bowler Gurnoor Brar played a pivotal role, taking a career-best 4-30 in the opener and earning player of the match honors.

Brar attributed his success to the favorable conditions in New Zealand, stating that the bounce and pace of the pitch made it easier for him to exploit the opposition's weaknesses. India faced some early setbacks, losing Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli cheaply, but they managed to stabilize their innings despite the unpredictable bounce and tight bowling from New Zealand's attack.

New Zealand's efforts were commendable, led by Daryl Mitchell's impressive score of 55 and Mitchell Santner's 31, but they were unable to defend their total, marking the end of their series win streak.