2nd ODI Pune: Kiwis To Challenge Indian Batting; With Small Total Of 231

Send ODI between India and New Zealand is underway in Indian City of Pune right now and the visitors have just finished their first innings; that certainly didn’t go their way, especially after winning the toss and electing to bat first.

<a data-snax-placeholder="Source" class="snax-figure-source" href="http://www.firstpost.com/firstcricket/sports-news/champions-trophy-2017-evolved-bhuvneshwar-kumar-is-the-perfect-man-to-spearhead-indias-pace-attack-3488705.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">http://www.firstpost.com/firstcricket/sports-news/champions-trophy-2017-evolved-bhuvneshwar-kumar-is-the-perfect-man-to-spearhead-indias-pace-attack-3488705.html</a>

The Indian bowlers never allowed New Zealand batsmen to play freely today and as a result, the top order failed to make an impact at all which was evident from the score card; with half the side back in the pavilion for 118 only, in 29th over. None of the previous match’s successful batsmen could contribute in today’s match i.e. Martin Guptil or Ross Taylor and although T.M. Latham added valuable 38 runs to the total; it didn’t prove enough in the end.

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Highest contributions came from the bats of HM Nicholas and C de Grandholm, who scored 42 and 41 runs, respectively. Towards the close of New Zealand’s innings however,  JM Santner andTim Southee fought back well and gave Indian bowlers some rough treatment and respectively, scored 29 and 25 ‘quick’ runs for their side.

Apparently, 231 does not look a safe target against a team such as India, who’re in fact a “Powerhouse Of Batting” therefore; the Kiwi bowlers certainly have a challenge at their hands and should they wish to win; everyone in the Williamson Eleven will have to perform “Extraordinarily Well.”