KL Rahul was the star performer for India once again with the bat as the right-hander slammed a brilliant 57 off 50 deliveries to guide his team to victory against New Zealand in the second T20I encounter in Auckland on Sunday. Chasing a modest target of 133, the wicket-keeper batsman played a mature innings to ensure his team’s victory and he stayed at the crease till the very end. This was the first instance ever in the history of T20Is that a wicket-keeper batsman slammed two consecutive fifties in his first two games in the role. Previously, Rahul scored 56 off 27 balls in the first T20I encounter as India chased down a formidable target of 205.
Thanks to his second half century in two matches, he also joined MS Dhoni in the list of most half-centuries for an Indian wicket-keeper in T20Is.Both of them have two fifties while Rishabh Pant has scored one.
India again outclassed New Zealand as they coasted to a seven-wicket victory in the second T20I. On the Eden Park ground renowned for its short boundaries, New Zealand struggled with the bat and posted a meagre 132 for five, batting first against a disciplined Indian attack.
KL Rahul cracked his second half-century in as many matches to lead India’s reply in which they reeled in the target for the loss of only three wickets and with 15 balls to spare.
