AUCKLAND, New Zealand: K.L. Rahul made an unbeaten 57 Sunday to steer India to a seven-wicket win over New Zealand in the second Twenty20 international and to a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
Rahul and Shreyas Iyer put on 86 for the third wicket as India cruised past New Zealand’s total of 132-5 with 2.3 overs to spare. Shivam Dube (13 not out) hit a six from the bowling of Tim Southeein in the 18th over to lift India to 135-3.
Iyer made 58 not out and Rahul 56 as India beat New Zealand by six wickets with an over to spare in the first match of the series.
New Zealand made 203-5 batting first in that match but on Sunday, on the same pitch, it struggled to achieve any real momentum. During the second match the pitch played much slower and India bowled expertly to restrict New Zealand’s total.
Martin Guptill made 33 in a 48-run opening partnership with Colin Munro and Tim Seifert made an unbeaten 33 at the end of the innings but New Zealand wasn’t able to reach a total that could stretch India’s deep batting lineup.
Rohit Sharma (8) and captain Virat Kohli (11) were out relatively cheaply but Rahul and Iyer (44) sped India toward a comprehensive victory.
Dube came to the crease shortly before the end and quickly brought the match to a conclusion.
“I think we backed up the first match with a very good performance today, especially with the ball,” Kohli said. “We demanded that the bowlers stood up and took control of what we wanted to do out there.
“I think our line and length and the way we wanted to bowl on that wicket, sticking to one side of the wicket and being shorter was a very good feature of us as a team and helped us restrict a very good New Zealand team.”
New Zealand’s total was inadequate, even on a slower pitch, and India almost toyed with the home side as it made its way to a comfortable win.
New Zealand named the same team that lost the first match of the series and batted after winning the toss, just as it batted when it was outplayed in the first match of the series.
The match raised further questions about the coaching and captaincy of the New Zealand team after its humiliating test series loss in Australia last month. New Zealand showed again Sunday it hasn’t the talent to compete with the best teams in the world.
“As a batting unit we probably needed another 15 or 20 to make that total more competitive,” said New Zealand captain Kane Williamson. “But credit to the way the India side bowled, they’re a class side in all departments and they put us under pressure throughout that middle period.”
India beats New Zealand in 2nd T20, leads 5-match series 2-0
https://arab.news/z55sj
India beats New Zealand in 2nd T20, leads 5-match series 2-0
- New Zealand struggled to achieve any real momentum
- The match raised further questions about the coaching and captaincy of the New Zealand team
PSG beat Marseille on penalties to win French Champions Trophy
- PSG goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier was the hero of the night, saving two spot-kicks
- This was PSG’s record-extending 14th win in the equivalent of France’s ‘Super Cup’
KUWAIT CITY: Paris Saint-Germain beat Marseille on penalties to win a topsy turvy French Champions Trophy in Kuwait on Thursday.
PSG goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier was the hero of the night, saving two spot-kicks as PSG took the penalty lottery 4-1 after a frenetic end to the match left the two sides locked at 2-2.
Desire Doue converted the decisive spot-kick after Chevalier had saved efforts from Marseille’s Matt O’Riley and Hamed Traore.
PSG had taken an early lead when their Ballon d’Or winning attacker Ousmane Dembele deftly lifted the ball over Marseille ‘keeper Geronimo Rulli.
Only Rulli’s quick thinking prevented Nuno Mendes doubling PSG’s advantage minutes later.
Rulli’s opposite number Chevalier displayed his own goalkeeping prowess when denying Marseille defender Emerson’s goal bound shot after the half hour.
PSG had Chevalier to thank again when the stopper somehow kept out Igor Paixao’s header near the hour mark.
But with a quarter of an hour remaining, an ugly challenge by Chevalier triggered a Marseille penalty and, after confirmation from VAR, former Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood coolly converted the spot-kick.
With the match only three minutes away from penalties, center-back Willian Pacho’s ill-advised clearance flummoxed his ‘keeper as Marseille suddenly seemed set to seal their first silverware since their 2012 French League Cup title.
But in the fifth minute of injury time Goncalo Ramos poked Bradley Barcola’s cross into level and send the game to penalties, and ultimately victory for Luis Enrique’s PSG.
This was PSG’s record-extending 14th win in the equivalent of France’s ‘Super Cup’ in a game virtually shunned by both sides’ fans due to travel costs.
A banner unfurled at Marseille’s Stade Velodrome last Sunday during their 2-0 upset loss to lowly Nantes in Ligue 1 summed up the general mood of dissatisfaction from supporters hanging over the encounter.
It read: “FCT 2026 in Kuwait. And for 2027, on the moon?“
The fixture traditionally between the Ligue 1 champions and French Cup winners has led a nomadic existence over the years as the French Football Federation seeks to promote Ligue 1 beyond its borders.
Previous editions have been staged in Canada, China, Gabon, Israel, Qatar, USA, Morocco and Austria, among other venues.
After this awayday in the Middle East the two teams refocus on domestic matters next week, with French Cup outings before PSG, one point behind Lens in second, host Lille next Friday, and Marseille, seven points adrift of PSG in third, travel to Angers.
And in Europe, PSG will also be keen to wrap up automatic qualification to the Champions League last 16.
The holders are third in the league phase standings with two games remaining while Marseille are 16th and in contention for a play-off spot.
With PSG winning both the league and French Cup last season, Marseille owed their presence in Kuwait to being league runners-up in 2024/25, albeit a yawning 19 points behind their arch rivals.
