Images from the second One-Day International between India and New Zealand in Pune on Wednesday.
India produced a professional performance under pressure to crush New Zealand by six wickets in a must-win game and level three-match series 1-1 in Pune on Wednesday.
Pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar led an inspired Indian bowling effort to restrict New Zealand to a modest 230 for nine.
India cruised in the run chase as Shikhar Dhawan (68 off 84 balls) and Dinesh Karthik (64 not out off 92) struck timely half-centuries, enabling the hosts to complete the chase in 46 overs.
The series decider will be played in Kanpur on October 29.
There was a huge controversy ahead of the start of the second ODI after pitch curator Pandurang Salgaoncar was suspended for allegedly agreeing to tampering with the pitch in a TV sting operation, rendering doubts about whether the match would be held. However, the game began on time after ICC match referee Chris Broad inspected the pitch.
India, who had to bounce back following their shock loss in the series opener, proved their mettle with an all-round effort.
The chase was comfortable for India despite losing Rohit Sharma cheaply for the second time in the series.
Dhawan was back to his best and played shots all around the ground enroute to his 22 ODI fifty. His sublime innings comprised five fours and couple of sixes.
The southpaw shared a 57-run stand Virat Kohli (29) before adding 66 runs with Karthik, who too played a valuable knock.
Karthik, given an opportunity to bat at No. 4, grabbed the opportunity with a ninth ODI fifty.
After Dhawan's departure, Karthik and Hardik Pandya (30) forged a 59-run stand to secure the game for their team, before the latter was caught at short fine leg off Mitchell Santner.
Karthik then guided home in the company of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who finished unbeaten on 18.
Bhuvneshwar produced a bowling display to return with impressive figures of three for 45 while his pace colleague Jasprit Bumrah (2/38) and young leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal (2/36) picked up two wickets apiece as Indian bowlers came out determined after being asked to bowl in a must-win game for the hosts.
Left-arm spinner Axar Patel (1/54) too justified the team management's decision to play him in place of Kuldeep Yadav, by removing the well settled Tom Latham.
The Indian bowlers had New Zealand under their mercy from the onset, picking up wickets at regular intervals to reduce the visitors to 58 for four inside 16 overs.
The hosts, who lost the series opener in Mumbai, did not allow the New Zealand batsmen to settle down at the Maharashtra Cricket Association stadium in Pune.
Bhuvneshwar gave India a perfect start by removing the opening duo of Martin Guptill (11) and Colin Munro (10) quickly.
Bumrah then had skipper Kane Williamson leg before wicket for three, leaving the visitors tottering at 27 for three.
The visitors reviewed Williamson's decision but that went in vain.
Munro, who hit a towering six during his brief stay, was the next to depart as Bhuvneshwar went through his defence.
In-form Tom Latham (38) and Ross Taylor (21) too failed to repeat their last match's exploits when they conjured a 200-run stand in a winning cause in Mumbai.
Taylor, who struck two fours and looked in set for a big knock, was dismissed by Hardik Pandya in the 16th over as the right-handed batsman got a glove before he was caught down the leg side by Dhoni while trying to pull a short ball.
Latham stuck just two fours, as he tried to steer his side out of trouble with his trademark sweep and reverse-sweep shots. But the southpaw's stay was cut short when he was bowled by Axar as he looked for a sweep but missed.
Henry Nicholas (42) and Colin De Grandhomme (41) then resurrected the Kiwi innings slightly as they adding 47 runs for the sixth wicket with a few boundaries before the partnership was broken by Bhuvneshwar.
Chahal then took two consecutive wickets in the 44th over by dismissing Grandhomme and Adam Milne (0) to cripple the Kiwis further.
Towards the end, Mitchell Santner's 38-ball 29 and Tim Southee's unbeaten 25 helped New Zealand reach the 230-run mark.
