MITCHELL LEADS NEW ZEALAND TO 7 WICKET WIN OVER INDIA IN ODI SERIES
In the second one-day international on Wednesday, Daryl Mitchell scored an undefeated 131 to help New Zealand defeat India by seven wickets to tie the series. In Rajkot, Mitchell's eighth ODI century and a 162-run partnership with Will Young (87) for the third wicket enabled New Zealand reach their goal with 15 balls remaining as they chased 285 for victory.
The three-match series was forced into a finale on Sunday in Indore after Mitchell's knock defeated KL Rahul's undefeated 112 in India's 284-7 victory. Together with Young, Mitchell entered the game to bat with New Zealand at 46-2 and helped the Black Caps seize the initiative.
Young was bowled by Kuldeep Yadav in the 38th over, but Mitchell held on to complete his century. In his 117-ball innings, he smashed 11 fours and two sixes and combined with Glenn Phillips, who made 32 not out, to form an undefeated 78-run stand.
Harshit Rana bowled Devon Conway for 16 runs, and fellow fast Prasidh Krishna had Henry Nicholls inside-edge a delivery onto his stumps for 10. However, Mitchell, who was dropped at 80, and Young hit regular boundaries as New Zealand completed their highest-ever ODI chase in India.
Earlier, India captain Shubman Gill scored 56 before a brief collapse and a 73-run fifth-wicket stand between Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja.
Rahul reached his eighth ODI century in 87 balls, with a six against Kyle Jamieson.
India got off to a solid start with Gill and Rohit Sharma, who both scored 24, as the opening duo combined for 70 runs.
Rohit failed to build on his start and fell to Kristian Clarke, before Jamieson sent Gill back. Clarke maintained the pressure with his medium-pace bowling, dismissing Shreyas Iyer for eight and the in-form Virat Kohli for 23. The 37-year-old Kohli, who reclaimed the top spot in the ODI batting rankings on Wednesday, was met with startled silence after playing on as India fell from 99-1 to 118-4. Rahul then took centre stage to rebuild the innings, alongside Jadeja, who scored 27.