Pune: The three-match ODI series is alive and kicking after Dinesh Karthik’s unbeaten knock of 64 runs from 92 balls and Shikhar Dhawan’s 68 (84b) powered India to a clinical six-wicket victory over New Zealand in the second ODI here on Wednesday. A combined effort of the batting and bowling departments helped the home team chase down 231 without much ado.

After Rohit Sharma 7 (19b) casually gave his wicket away to Tim Southee in early stages, Kohli and Dhawan did not sit back. Just when it appeared Kohli could pull another marvel out of his bag, Colin de Grandhomme had the prized wicket of the India skipper. Kohli’s cover drive took a thin edge before it sailed into the hands of the wicket-keeper Tom Latham. Karthik joined Dhawan earnestly as India calmly rebuilt the chase.

The pair relied mainly on singles and twos in their partnership of 66 off 93 balls as the target was not daunting. The Kiwis got a break in the 30th over when Dhawan played a poor shot directly into the hands of Ross Taylor at extra cover making way for the hard-hitting Hardik Pandya.

Playing together for the first time, Karthik and Pandya piled 56 runs in 65 balls. The latter’s dismissal didn’t make much difference to the result as M.S. Dhoni 18 (21b) ensured the target was overhauled without further hiccup.

India did not allow New Zealand strike a rhythm in the early stages of the game as the pacers struck early.

Bhuvaneshwar Kumar dismissed the openers Marin Guptill (11) and Colin Munroe (10) in his first spell and Jasprit Bumrah sent Kane Williamsom (3) back to leave the Kiwis reeling.

The visitors were 27/3 when Ross Taylor 21 (33) and Tom Latham 38 (62) joined hands once again under tremendous pressure.  When the duo were at work, it appeared as though they were on their way to yet another big partnership. But Pandya prevented Mumbai Part II when he bowled Latham while the Kiwi tried to play a sweep.

After his wicket, the visitors were unsuccessful in finding any momentum.

SCORECARD

New Zealand: M. Guptill c Dhoni b Kumar 11, C. Munro b Kumar 10, K. Williamson lbw b Bumrah 3, R. Taylor c Dhoni b Pandya 21, T. Latham b Patel 38, H. Nicholls b Kumar 42, C. de Grandhomme c Bumrah b Chahal 41, M. Santner c Kohli b Bumrah 29, A. Milne lbw Chahal 0, T. Southee (not out) 25, T. Boult (not out) 2. Extras: (lb3, w5) 8. Total: (for 9 wkts, in 50 overs) 230.
FoW: 1-20, 2-25, 3-27, 4-58, 5-118, 6-165, 7-188, 8-188, 9-220.
Bowling: Kumar 10-0-45-3 (1w), Bumrah 10-2-38-2, Jadhav 8-0-31-0 (1w), Pandya 4-0-23-1 (2w), Patel 10-1-54-1 (1w), Chahal 8-1-36-2.

India: R. Sharma c Munro b Southee 7, S. Dhawan c Taylor b Milne 68, V. Kohli c Latham b de Grandhomme 29, D. Karthik (not out) 64, H. Pandya c Milne b Santner 30, M.S. Dhoni (not out) 18. Extras: (lb7, w9) 16. Total: (for 4 wkts, in 46 overs) 232
FoW: 1-22, 2-79, 3-145, 4-204
Bowling: Southee 9-1-60-1, Boult 10-0-54-0 (3w), Milne 8-1-21-1 (1w), Santner 10-0-38-1, Grandhomme 7-0-40-1 (1w), Munro 2-0-12-0 (2w).