Gambhir’s Century as India beats New Zealand in 2nd ODI
Gautam Gambhir hit a swashbuckling century as India cruised to a eight-wicket victory over New Zealand in the second ODI in Jaipur. The stand-in India captain made 138 not out and Virat Kohli added 64 in a second-wicket stand worth 116 that helped overhaul the New Zealand score of 258. The home team lead the five-match series 2-0 having won the first game in Guwahati on Sunday by 40 runs .
Shanthakumaran Sreesanth (four for 34) shone with the ball for India as his efforts restricted New Zealand to a moderate total, which was propelled mainly by half-centuries from Martin Guptill and Scott Styris. Batting first after losing the toss Guptill and Kane Williamson gave the tourists a quiet start despite the early loss of Jamie How (five), who was caught behind off Sreesanth. But Munaf Patel halted Williamson on 29, and the new batsman Ross Taylor (15) also fell cheaply leaving New Zealand at 96 for three after 24 overs.
However, Guptill along with Styris steadied the ship and denied further success to India’s bowlers. Guptill reached his eighth fifty with a single off Yuvraj and took the team past 150 in 35 overs. When it appeared as if the momentum had shifted in favour of the batting side Ravi Ashwin snared Guptill, who was ruled out caught-behind by umpire Sanjay Hazare even as the square-leg umpire Nigel Llong went to the third umpire to adjudicate the possible stumping off the same ball. Guptill added 65 runs in 12.3 overs for the fourth wicket with Styris and Vettori going well.
The experienced Kiwi pair added 58 runs in just 51 balls, but two wickets in a row by Sreesanth put the brakes on New Zealand. After Styris (56-ball 59) and Vettori (31 off 32 balls) Nathan McCullum and Kyle Mills added quick late runs and helped the Black Caps’ end their innings on 258 for eight. In reply India made an assured start by scoring at a brisk pace, Gambhir playing the aggressor. The India captain completed his half-century in just 44 balls but Murali Vijay fell for 33 soon after as he failed to read Vettori’s spin. The duo however added 87 for the first wicket and Vijay’s exit brought Kohli to the crease.
India moved past 150 in 29 overs thanks to back-to-back boundaries from Kohli off Tim Southee. Barring off-spinner Nathan McCullum, who was handed the new ball, and captain Vettori, the Kiwi bowlers failed to make most of the slow surface. Kohli brought up his ninth half-century by pulling a Kyle Mills delivery to deep square-leg boundary. Gambhir reached the three-figure mark soon after striking a boundary off Andy McKay and the left-hander had only taken 89 balls to reach his eighth century.
Kohli tried to press the accelerator from there on, hitting two boundaries off the same bowler, but the paceman had the last laugh when Ross Taylor took a stunner at shot mid-wicket in the next ball. With 56 runs to get from 85 balls, Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh (16no) switched gears and McKay had to bear the brunt of the left-hander’s aggression as 17 runs were scored off his seventh over which included a trio of boundaries.
Both batsmen provided some firework towards the end and took India home with seven overs remaining.
