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KL Rahul's unbeaten 112 powers India to 284/7 against New Zealand in 2nd ODI

KL Rahul played a match-defining innings, scoring an unbeaten 112 to guide India to a competitive total of 284 for 7. India's innings was built on a solid start from Shubman Gill, but they suffered a middle-order collapse, slipping from 99 for 1 to 118 for 4. Rahul, alongside Ravindra Jadeja, carefully rebuilt the innings before accelerating brilliantly in the death overs. New Zealand's bowlers, led by Kyle Jamieson and Kristian Clarke, made regular breakthroughs but could not stop Rahul's late assault.

Key Points: KL Rahul 112* leads India to 284/7 vs NZ in 2nd ODI

  • KL Rahul scores 112* off 92 balls
  • India recovers from 118/4 to post 284/7
  • Shubman Gill scores a fluent 56
  • New Zealand's Kyle Jamieson impresses with new ball
  • India sets a stiff chase under lights in Rajkot
3 min read

2nd ODI: KL Rahul's magnificent 112 not out carries India to 284/7 against NZ

KL Rahul's brilliant unbeaten 112 rescues India after a middle-order collapse, setting New Zealand a target of 285 to chase in Rajkot.

2nd ODI: KL Rahul's magnificent 112 not out carries India to 284/7 against NZ
"His heroics ensured India posted a competitive total at a venue where all four previous ODIs have been won by sides batting first."

Rajkot, Jan 14

Wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul struck a magnificent unbeaten 112 off 92 balls as India posted 284/7 in the second ODI against New Zealand at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on Wednesday.

As to bat first by New Zealand skipper Michael Bracewell, India's openers overcame a testing new-ball spell from Kyle Jamieson to reach 57 for no loss at the end of the first Power-play. While Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli couldn't do much, Shubman Gill kept the scoreboard moving by raising a 47-ball half-century.

But Jamieson's dismissal of Gill led to India slipping from 99/1 to 118/4 on a two-paced pitch. Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja rebuilt via a cautious 73-run stand for the fifth wicket before the former shifted gears to up the tempo and register his eighth ODI hundred, laced with 11 fours and a six. His heroics ensured India posted a competitive total at a venue where all four previous ODIs have been won by sides batting first.

New Zealand's decision to bowl first paid early dividends as Jamieson swung the new ball well to deliver consecutive maidens before Gill and Rohit hit 11 boundaries between themselves in the first 12 overs. But Rohit fell for 24 when he sliced a cross-seam delivery from Kristian Clarke to deep cover.

Gill looked more fluent than his opening game knock in Vadodara and reached his 18th ODI fifty in 47 balls. But Jamieson returned to remove him, as Gill was unable to keep the pull down and was caught by mid-on for 56. It sparked a collapse that saw India lose Shreyas Iyer (chipped to mid-off) and Kohli (chopped on to his stumps) off Clarke.

Rahul then steadied the innings with his beautiful drives, slices, and pulls, though he lost out on support from Ravindra Jadeja when Michael Bracewell's sharp caught-and-bowled ended his stay at 27.

With the pitch slowing down and boundaries hard to come by, Rahul farmed the strike and accelerated after the second drinks break - reaching his fifty through a lucky edge off Jamieson for four and even reverse-swept Bracewell for another boundary.

Nitish Kumar Reddy added 20 before pulling to mid-wicket off Zak Foulkes, while debutant spinner Jayden Lennox claimed his first international wicket by having Harshit Rana hole out to long-on.

But Rahul continued to hit boundaries at will and got his century by thumping a full toss from Jamieson over long-on for six, before collecting two boundaries from Foulkes lifted India past 280, leaving New Zealand with a stiff chase under lights.

Brief scores:

India 284/7 in 50 overs (KL Rahul 112 not out, Shubman Gill 56; Kristian Clarke 3-56, Michael Bracewell 1-34) against New Zealand

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Great knock, but again the middle order wobble is a concern. From 99/1 to 118/4 is not acceptable against a second-string NZ attack. Iyer and Kohli getting out cheaply is worrying. Rahul bailed us out, but we can't rely on one player every time.
P
Priya S
Shubman Gill is in sublime form! Another fifty, and he looks so elegant. The future is bright with him at the top. Hope he converts these starts into big hundreds soon. Rahul's century was the perfect finish. 284 is a very good total on that Rajkot pitch.
R
Rohit P
Respectful criticism: While Rahul was brilliant, I feel the team management needs to be clearer about his batting position. He's too good to be shuffled around. Let him own the number 5 spot. Also, where was the intent from others after the powerplay? Too many dot balls.
V
Vikram M
That reverse sweep for four was pure class! Rahul showed his full range today. He paced his innings perfectly - consolidation first, attack later. This is why he's so valuable in ODIs. Hope the bowlers can defend this. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
M
Michael C
From a neutral perspective, that was a fantastic ODI innings under pressure. The pitch seemed tricky, and New Zealand bowled well in patches. KL Rahul's knock might be the difference. Great contest so far.

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