Mount Maunganui, Jan 26 (UNI) Riding on Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma’s brilliant fifties, India posted a mammoth total of 324 runs against New Zealand in stipulated 50 overs in the second One Day International (ODI) of the five-match series here on Saturday.
Earlier in the day, visitors won the toss and elected to bat.
India got off to a flying start as Shikhar and Rohit put on 154 runs for the opening stand in 25.2 overs.
The left-handed Dhawan was first to go, as he was dismissed for 66 runs. Tom Latham caught him off Trent Boult.
Soon his opening partner vice-captain Sharma missed on his ton as he departed for 87 runs off 96 balls hitting nine fours and three sixes. Lockie Ferguson claimed Sharma's big wicket as Colin de Grandhomme took an impressive catch at deep backward square leg.
The 30-year-old Kohli and Ambati Rayudu (47) added 64 runs, helping India to get past 200 runs mark. Boult removed India's run machine Kohli for 43 off 45 balls when India's score was 236 runs in the 40th over. Boult pitched a short delivery that took a top edge off the Kohli's bat and Ish Sodhi made no mistake at fine leg.
In the slog overs, former India captain MS Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav chipped in with the bat and took India's tally to 324/4 runs.
Dhoni scored quick 48 runs off just 33 balls, while right-handed Jadhav hit 22 in just 10 balls. Both stitched together a partnership of unbeaten 53 runs off 26 balls for the fifth wicket.
Sharma was the high-scorer from the visiting side with 87 runs, followed by Dhawan's 66 runs knock.
From the host side, Boult and Lockie Ferguson took two wickets each in their 10 overs quota. Ferguson had a bad day in the office with the ball as he conceded 81 runs.
India have retained the same side as in the first ODI at Napier while for New Zealand spinner Ish Sodhi comes in for Santner and all-rounder de Grandhomme replaces Southee.
India is leading the five-match series by 1-0.
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