It was a case of so near yet so far, for New Zealand as they went down fighting in Wellington. On a day when the ball totally dominated the bat, New Zealand failed with the bat but came back fantastically with the ball in hand to push India to the brink. Ultimately, India played the situation a tad better and read it well, with the rain curtailing the chase and ending it. The visitors won by 4 runs under the DLS method, and New Zealand were left wondering what might have been.
Despite their spirited effort with the ball and in the field, the batting has let the hosts down in both games. Yes, it was a challenging surface for all, but 134 all out in 41 overs in a 47-over game is not up to the mark. The bowlers almost did a miracle for them, and a big shout out to them for the fight. We will try to ascertain why the Kiwis lost this match and its key moments.
Losing 3/29 in the first 10 overs of the powerplay set New Zealand back
New Zealand unfortunately lost the toss again and were forced to bat under overcast, gloomy conditions and on a pitch that was under cover for a day, with green grass on it as well. India bowled the right lines and lengths as the Kiwis found it difficult to time the ball as such was the nature of the pitch. They just could not get runs and managed to lose their top 3 inside the power play without adding much to the score.
The opening pair of Will Young and Tim Seifert played 10 dot balls before, on the 11th ball, Seifert fell to Auqib Nabi, his debut ODI wicket. Thereafter, Will Young and Henry Nicholls took the score to 11 before Young fell to Nabi yet again, caught behind. Henry Nicholls hit a boundary but then chopped the ball back onto the stumps of Anshul Kamboj. New Zealand were 23/3 in 8.4 overs, and after 10, they were 29/3, with loads of hard work ahead of them.
Yes, India too lost 3 wickets in the powerplay in the chase, but their score was 40 runs, which is crucial in any close game. India plus knew what they were chasing. But while setting a total, losing three wickets and scoring less than 3 runs an over is not ideal. India bowled well, but the Kiwis need to find a way to get better starts. The pitch was extreme, but these are their home conditions, and they are expected to do better than this. It was their batting approach that let them down.
With 0-2 down in the series, the Kiwis will be hoping first to win the toss and try to chase in Hamilton. If the toss is not won, then find and navigate other ways to combat the disciplined Indian bowling who have been sensational under helpful conditions and have given nothing away at this stage. The top 3 need to fire for New Zealand to do well and ease the pressure from the middle and lower middle order.
Losing wickets at regular intervals, including 5/22 in the back 6 overs, did not help the hosts’ cause at all
The problem on this Wellington wicket was that if you lose one, you can lose wickets in clusters. India faced it in the chase, but the Kiwis faced it batting first, which really derailed the momentum for them. They lost 3 wickets in the powerplay of 10 overs, which was a bad start without a shadow of a doubt. Thereafter, there was a little partnership between Mitchell and Latham after Mitchell was let off by Gill off Kamboj when batting on 21* as Mitchell added valuable runs later.
Gurnoor Brar got two wickets in one over, i.e., the 20th over, when Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips were dismissed. The Kiwis were in dire straits at 53/5 in 20 overs. Thereafter, Daryl Mitchell forged a long battle and got able support from Mitchell Santner as the duo kept India at bay for a majority of the middle overs, putting on 59 hard-working runs for the 6th wicket to take the score past 100 and bring the hosts back on track.
At 112/5 in the 35th over, New Zealand were back on track, or so it seemed, to get 200 in 47 overs. But then India hit back as Mitchell was dismissed by Axar Patel for 55, and the collapse started after that. Santner, the other set batter fell at 119 to Brar. Kyle Jamieson was cleaned up by Axar. Nathan Smith fell to Brar, while Blair Tickner fell to Anshul Kamboj after being hit on the head and was replaced later on in the match. New Zealand were dismissed for 134 in 41 overs.
To lose 5/22 in about 6 overs is a collapse that needs to be avoided. The Kiwis lost 3 at the start, then 2 in one over, and later, after a good partnership, 5 in 6 overs. It shows that you are never in on the surface, and it is difficult to start. It also shows a lack of application from New Zealand and game awareness. 3 ODIs remain, and all are must-win. If New Zealand are to make a comeback in Hamilton, they have to improve their batting and avoid collapses of this nature as much as possible, in any condition.
Form of Will Young is a cause for concern for the Kiwis
One cannot fault New Zealand’s bowlers and fielders, as they gave it their all last night in Wellington. So, we cannot fault them; plus, the tactics from Santner were much better, and the fact that he did not bowl was a good move, tactically, based on conditions out there. What New Zealand will be worried about is the performance of the top order, apart from collective batting. The top 3 haven’t got going in the opening two games, and in Wellington they were sent back within the first 10 overs without adding much.
We will talk about Will Young, because let’s face the facts: Tim Seifert and Henry Nicholls are filling in for injured Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra if we are being brutally honest about it. So, that leaves Young, who has a good record in ODIs and forms a good combination with Conway at the top. But with Conway out due to a concussion, and Ravindra out as well, the onus was on Young to give the team a start and lay the foundation for the strong middle order.
While Seifert got a 30-odd in Auckland, and Nicholls got into double digits in this game, Young has failed to cross 10 in either innings. Young, overall, has a good record against India, but he has failed to replicate that in this series. This is a cause for concern as Young was expected to give the team starts and make it easier for the likes of Mitchell, Latham, and Phillips. But what’s happening is the middle order getting exposed to the new ball, moving and making it difficult for the middle order, barring Mitchell, who is fighting it out.
It’s imperative that the top order gives the team some start for the middle order to cash in. Young is the key and can anchor the innings. If he gets out early, then suddenly there is no anchor for the batters to follow. So come Hamilton, Young will be hoping to first bat in better batting conditions, but more importantly, apply pressure and get a score to give the team a start. That is what New Zealand needs to save the series. Indian bowlers have been phenomenal, and Young needs to find different ways to combat it now.
What Lies Ahead
So, India are up 2-0 in the 5-match ODI series and will look to seal the deal when the two teams meet in Hamilton on Tuesday, 10th November, 2026 from 7:30 AM IST onwards. Seddon Park will be ready to welcome the players of both sides. It will be the final game for Shubman Gill and KL Rahul as they leave the side after this game for the Test series preparation. So, Gill will be determined to seal the deal on Tuesday, while New Zealand will give it their all to keep the series alive.
Will rain play spoil sport again, or will we get a clear day in Hamilton? Only time will tell as we get ready for an important 3rd game of this 5-match series with both teams desperate for a win for different reasons. One needs it more than the other. We shall see how things pan out.
Also Read: NZ VS IND: Gurnoor Brar’s 4-Wicket Haul Destroyed New Zealand.