Wellington, November 8, 2026: India secured a thrilling four-run victory over New Zealand through the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method in the second One-Day International at Wellington on Saturday, November 7, taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match ODI series.
Fast bowler Gurnoor Brar claimed four wickets for 30 runs, while KL Rahul’s unbeaten 26 helped India stay ahead of the required DLS score when rain interrupted the match.
The victory came after India’s bowlers dismissed New Zealand for just 134 runs in 41 overs. India reached 113/7 in 26 overs before persistent rain ended the contest.
India Beat New Zealand by Four Runs
The second ODI was played at Hnry Stadium in Wellington, where rain initially delayed proceedings and reduced the match to 47 overs per side.
India captain Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bowl first, taking advantage of the overcast conditions.
India’s pace attack delivered an impressive performance, restricting the hosts to a modest total.
However, New Zealand’s bowlers responded strongly, making India’s run chase unexpectedly difficult.
The match was eventually decided through the DLS method after rain prevented further play.
India vs New Zealand 2nd ODI Scorecard
| Team | Score |
|---|---|
| New Zealand | 134 all out (41 overs) |
| India | 113/7 (26 overs) |
| DLS Par Score | 109 after 26 overs |
| Result | India won by 4 runs (DLS) |
| Player of the Match | Gurnoor Brar (4/30) |
India was four runs ahead of the DLS par score when rain stopped play.
Gurnoor Brar Takes Career-Best Four Wickets
Young Indian fast bowler Gurnoor Brar produced the standout performance of the match.
He finished with career-best figures of 4/30, helping dismantle New Zealand’s batting lineup.
Brar took important wickets during the middle overs, including the dismissal of Glenn Phillips.
His disciplined bowling made it difficult for New Zealand to build partnerships.
The performance earned him the Player of the Match award.
New Zealand Struggles Against Indian Pace Attack
New Zealand’s batting lineup struggled from the beginning.
Indian pacers Auqib Nabi and Anshul Kamboj provided early breakthroughs, reducing the hosts to a difficult position.
At one stage, New Zealand had slipped to 53/5.
Brar continued the pressure with his four-wicket performance.
Nabi, Kamboj and Axar Patel finished with two wickets each.
The collective effort helped India dismiss the hosts for 134.
Daryl Mitchell Scores Fighting Half-Century
New Zealand batter Daryl Mitchell provided resistance with a patient innings of 55 runs from 104 balls.
His innings helped the hosts recover from their early collapse.
Captain Mitchell Santner contributed 31 runs, and the pair added 59 for the sixth wicket.
Their partnership prevented New Zealand from being dismissed for an even lower total.
However, India’s bowlers regained control and wrapped up the innings in 41 overs.
India’s Chase Begins With Early Wickets
Chasing 135, India suffered a disastrous start.
Captain Shubman Gill was dismissed for a golden duck, while Virat Kohli managed only seven runs.
Rohit Sharma showed positive intent but was dismissed for 23.
New Zealand’s fast bowlers exploited the conditions effectively, reducing India to 47/4.
The early collapse put the visitors under pressure despite the relatively small target.
Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul Lead Recovery
With India struggling, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul attempted to rebuild the innings.
Iyer scored an important 30 runs, providing stability after the loss of early wickets.
Rahul played a controlled innings, focusing on maintaining the required scoring rate while protecting his wicket.
The partnership helped India recover from the difficult start.
However, Kyle Jamieson dismissed Iyer, allowing New Zealand to regain momentum.
KL Rahul Remains Unbeaten on 26
KL Rahul’s unbeaten 26 proved crucial to India’s victory.
With wickets falling regularly, Rahul remained at the crease and ensured India stayed close to the target.
He was batting alongside Auqib Nabi when rain interrupted the match.
At that stage, India had reached 113/7 after 26 overs, four runs ahead of the DLS par score.
Rahul’s innings ultimately helped India secure victory without completing the full run chase.
New Zealand Bowlers Fight Back Strongly
New Zealand’s bowlers made the contest competitive despite defending only 134 runs.
Kyle Jamieson claimed three wickets for 33 runs, while Jacob Duffy also took three wickets.
Their bowling prevented India from building substantial partnerships.
The visitors lost seven wickets before reaching 114 runs.
However, New Zealand could not push India’s score below the required DLS level before rain ended the match.
Rain Decides Closely Contested ODI
Rain played a decisive role in the outcome.
The match had already been reduced to 47 overs per side before the first innings began.
During India’s chase, another spell of rain forced the players off the field after 26 overs.
With conditions preventing a restart, officials applied the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.
India’s score of 113 was four runs higher than the required par score of 109.
The result gave India a narrow victory in a closely contested match.
India Extends Series Lead to 2-0
The victory follows India’s five-wicket win in the opening ODI at Auckland on November 4.
India now leads the five-match series 2-0, putting New Zealand under pressure ahead of the remaining fixtures.
The hosts must win the third ODI to keep their chances of winning the series alive.
For India, the result highlights the importance of its emerging fast bowlers and experienced middle-order batters.
Third ODI Scheduled for November 10
The third ODI between India and New Zealand will take place in Hamilton on November 10, 2026.
A victory would give India an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
New Zealand will look to improve its batting performance after being dismissed for modest totals in the first two matches.
India, meanwhile, will aim to address its top-order batting concerns despite securing consecutive victories.
India Celebrates Important Away Victory
India’s four-run DLS victory in Wellington showcased the team’s bowling strength and ability to remain competitive under challenging conditions.
Gurnoor Brar’s four-wicket haul and KL Rahul’s unbeaten innings were central to the result.
Although India’s batting lineup struggled, the visitors managed to stay ahead when rain forced an early conclusion.
With a 2-0 series lead, India enters the third ODI in Hamilton with a strong advantage and an opportunity to secure the series.
Source: Reuters, November 7, 2026; ICC; BCCI; AFP
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