India have made a solid start in the second ODI against New Zealand at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Saturday after captain Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to bat first. In the 26th over, India had reached 154 for one wicket.
Rohit Sharma, who fell cheaply in the first match at Napier, was batting on 82 and Kohli was yet to open his account. Shikhar Dhawan fell for 66, his second straight 50 in the series, dismissed by Trent Boult. Sharma has hit three sixes, so far, in his innings; this was the 14th century partnership between Dhawan and Sharma. This was Sharma's 38th half-century, while Dhawan scored his 27th half-century.
India went into the match at Mount Maunganui with an unchanged side, while New Zealand brought in all-rounder Colin de Grondhomme in place of fast bowler Tim Southee, and spinner Ish Sodhi replaced Mitchell Santner.
India won the first match of the five-match series by eight wickets; Dhawan was top-scorer for India at Napier, scoring 75 not out. The third ODI is also at Mount Maunganui on Monday, followed by the fourth ODI at Hamilton on January 31 and the final match at Wellington on February 3. India and New Zealand will also play three T20I matches after the ODI series.
