India beat New Zealand by four runs via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method in a rain-hit second ODI at the Hnry Stadium in Wellington on Saturday, taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
New Zealand were bowled out for 134 in 41 overs, with Gurnoor Brar taking a career-best 4 for 30, before rain ended the match with India on 113 for 7 after 26 overs — four runs ahead of the DLS par score of 109, according to ESPNcricinfo and the ICC.
It was the second straight rain-affected win for India in the series, and the second time they have won a match despite scoring fewer runs than New Zealand.
Brar stars as New Zealand collapse
India won the toss and bowled first, and their seamers thrived in helpful conditions. Brar, who took 4 for 30 from his 10 overs, produced a double-wicket maiden in the 20th over that removed Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips and left New Zealand 53 for 5.
Daryl Mitchell provided the only real resistance for the hosts, anchoring the innings with a patient 55 off 104 balls, while captain Mitchell Santner made 31. Axar Patel and Auqib Nabi took two wickets apiece, and Anshul Kamboj claimed 2 for 25, as New Zealand were bowled out for 134.
Brar was named Player of the Match for his outstanding bowling performance.
A chase that went to the wire
Chasing 135 from a match reduced to 47 overs a side, India made a nervous start. Shubman Gill fell for 4 in just 1.1 overs, and the tourists kept losing wickets to New Zealand’s pace attack — Kyle Jamieson and Jacob Duffy took three wickets each.
Shreyas Iyer made 30 and Rohit Sharma 23, but when the seventh wicket fell with India on 111 for 7, the game was in the balance. KL Rahul, unbeaten on 26, and Nabi, on one, had just done enough to put India four runs ahead of par when heavy rain arrived and the match was abandoned at the cut-off time.
What comes next
India need one more win to wrap up the five-match series, with the third ODI in Hamilton on Tuesday, November 10. New Zealand, who were also without concussed opener Devon Conway, will need to find answers with the bat after being bowled out for 185 in the opener and 134 in Wellington.
Related reading: India Eye 2-0 Lead in Wellington ODI Against New Zealand
Devon Conway Ruled Out of ODI Series After Concussion
Sources: ESPNcricinfo match report (Nov 7, 2026); ICC (Nov 7, 2026); AFP (Nov 7, 2026).
