Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana strangle New Zealand to record low vs India in ODIs

Harshit Rana keeps New Zealand down in powerplay [Source: @HardikP97613658/x]

Indian fast bowlers Mohammed Siraj and Harshit Rana pummelled New Zealand with the new ball in their tall pursuit against the hosts in the second ODI of the three-match series at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot. With New Zealand chasing 285 for a win and to level the series, they reached just 34 for the loss of opening batter Devon Conway by the end of the first 10 overs.

Both Mohammed Siraj and Harshit Rana managed to strangle down New Zealand with some tight bowling, as the required rate creeped up for the visitors beyond six runs an over.

New Zealand record one of lowest powerplay scores vs India

Attacking New Zealand opener Devon Conway unleashed three cracking boundaries at the start of the innings to race to 16* off 19 balls. Conway’s no-holds-barred approach helped New Zealand get off to a 22-run start by the end of the first five overs, even though his opening partner Henry Nicholls (4* off 11) was still finding his feet at the crease at the time.

Despite Devon Conway’s early belligerence, New Zealand managed to accumulate just 12 further runs off the next five overs to reach 34-1 in 10 overs. As it happened, things took turn for the worse for the visitors following the dismissal of Conway at the hands of Harshit Rana in the sixth over of the innings.

Nicholls and newcomer Will Young at number three employed a cautious approach, as both Rana and Mohammed Siraj continued to hit disciplined lengths, thus suffocating the New Zealanders with relentless accuracy that left their batters searching for release.

Moreover, New Zealand’s powerplay score of 34-1 also marked one of the worst 10-over starts against Team India in ODI history. Here is a look at some of New Zealand’s worst powerplay starts against India in ODIs.

Lowest Powerplay Scores for New Zealand vs India in ODIs (10-Overs):

A few overs after the conclusion of the powerplay, New Zealand also lost Henry Nicholls to Prasidh Krishna to slip to 46-2 in 12.4 overs.

Rana, Krishna among the wickets after KL Rahul century

While it were Mohammed Siraj and Harshit Rana who kept New Zealand’s scoring in check at the top, Prasidh Krishna joined the latter in accounting both visiting openers.

Earlier in the day, Team India batted first and listed 284-7 in 50 overs on a challenging surface. Charismatic middle-order KL Rahul top-scored in the innings by shaping his eighth ODI century, compiling 112* runs off 92 balls with 11 fours and a six. Captain and opening batter Shubman Gill also chipped in with a swift 56 before New Zealand bowlers scythed through India’s top four.

Young fast bowler Kristian Clarke unfurled the spell of the high-scoring innings with figures of 3-56, which included the prized scalps of legendary opener Rohit Sharma, middle-order stalwart Shreyas Iyer and in-form run machine Virat Kohli.