Rahul powers India's 7-wicket win against Kiwis, leads T20 series 2-0

Ravinder Jadeja and KL Rahul played pivotal roles as India produced a disciplined all-round effort to outwit New Zealand by seven wickets in the second T20 and take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series here on Sunday. Indian bowlers, led by Jadeja, made life difficult for the hosts on a slow wicket, restricting them to 132 for five after New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson won the toss and elected to bat.

While left-arm spinner Jadeja picked up two wickets for 18, Jasprit Bumrah (1/21), Shardul Thakur (1/21) and Shivam Dube (1/16) snapped one each at the Eden park. India then returned to overhaul the target with consummate ease, scoring 135 for 3 in 17.3 overs, riding on an unbeaten 50-ball 57 by Rahul and a 33-ball 44 from Shreyas Iyer.

Rahul sent the ball across the fence three times and also smashed two sixes, while Iyer’s innings was studded with one four and three sixes. Earlier, the home batsman struggled a bit on a slow wicket, which was also used in the opening T20 on Friday, but opener Martin Guptill (33) and wicket-keeper batsman Tim Seifert (33) help the side put on board something to fight for. India is leading the five-match series 2-0.

Brief scores
New Zealand 132/5 in 20 ovs (Tim Seifert 33 n.o, Martin Guptill 33; R Jadeja 2/18, S Dube 1/16) lost to India 135/3 in 17.3 ovs (KL Rahul 57, Shreyas Iyer 44; Tim Southee 2/20).