India vs New Zealand Live Score: Live Cricket Score & Scorecard of India vs New Zealand, 2nd ODI, Pune

That brings us to the close of the 2nd ODI. The Men in Blue showed good character and temperament to keep the series alive. On the other hand, New Zealand were not good enough today. They will know that they have the potential to surprise oppositions in the sub-continent and will be eager to learn from their mistakes. Join us for the decider on 29th October in Kanpur at 1330 local time (0800 GMT) to catch all the action. Till then, adios and take care!

Man of the Match, Bhuvneshwar Kumar says that his nature is calm and composed and he sticks to the basics. Mentions that he focuses on swinging the ball but it wasn't happening today. Adds that he bowled in the right areas and it worked out for him. Opines that he is growing in confidence and thanks the team management for backing him. Feels that he is not a muscular guy but he has worked very hard on his fitness.

Victorious India skipper, Virat Kohli says that it was a good game for them. Adds that the wicket played slower in the first half and got better under lights as expected. Praises his bowlers and fielders for their performance. Credits his new ball bowlers for bowling in a disciplined manner. Adds that they got wickets through good deliveries. Mentions that Dhawan is striking the ball well and stitched useful partnerships in the middle. States that they look forward to challenges. He is happy that they have bounced back and will aim to play similar cricket in Kanpur.

Match Report: India beat New Zealand to level series 1-1

New Zealand skipper, Kane Williamson says that on this surface, 230 was not enough. Mentions that you need to play well irrespective of winning or losing the toss. Credits India for pacing their chase well. States the track was not easy to play on but de Grandhomme batted really fluently. Informs that they had put a much better performance in Mumbai. Ends by saying that they will look to bounce back hard in the decider in Kanpur.

Earlier, the home side kept on taking wickets on a consistent basis and didn't let the opposition flourish at all. The Kiwi batsmen got starts but failed to make something substantial out of it. The hosts' bowlers were on the money and it was a collective performance from them. Special mention must go to Kumar and Bumrah who combined to pick up 5 wickets for 83 in their 20 overs. In the end, it was a below par score which the Men in Blue got past with consummate ease.

Dhawan stitched another vital stand with Karthik keeping India ahead. The southpaw missed out on a ton but he did his job for his side. Pandya who was promoted up the order played a breezy knock while Karthik batted sensibly from the other end, going past a half century. New Zealand tried really hard but didn't have enough to play with on a track which got better for batting under lights. Santner was the pick of the bowlers, picked up a wicket and kept the run flow in check but he didn't get enough support.

A brilliant performance from India to level the series 1-1 and this is also their 50th victory over New Zealand in ODI cricket. They paced the chase really well and came out on top with flying colours. Rohit Sharma departed cheaply once again but Dhawan and Kohli played some eye-catching strokes to keep India on course. The Indian skipper failed to get going and threw his wicket away courtesy a loose shot but the home side kept calm.

45.6: Tim Southee to D Karthik, FOUR! Convincing way to seal the game for his country! Fullish delivery outside off, Karthik strides forward and creams it elegantly through covers to find the fence. He is all smiles and so is Dhoni. A clinical show from the Men in Blue to bounce back in style. INDIA WIN BY 6 WICKETS!

45.5: Tim Southee to MS Dhoni, Fuller in length around off, MS Dhoni walks down the track and eases it to mid on for a brisk single.

45.4: Tim Southee to MS Dhoni, Good length ball in the corridor of uncertainty, Dhoni hangs back and flat-bats it to mid off.

45.3: Tim Southee to D Karthik, Leg bye! Angling down towards the hips, Dinesh looks to tuck it across but the ball brushes his pads and rolls towards short fine leg. A single taken.

45.2: Tim Southee to MS Dhoni, Full length ball on middle and leg, MS clips it to deep mid-wicket for an easy single.

45.1: Tim Southee to MS Dhoni, Southee hits the deck hard and bowls it outside off. Dhoni frees his arms and goes for the cut but fails to connect. India only a hit away from a win.

44.6: A Milne to D Karthik, Shortish delivery well outside off, Karthik cuts it hard but the fielder at point dives to stop it.

44.5: A Milne to MS Dhoni, Fractionally overpitched on off, Dhoni leans into it and drives it to mid on for a swift single.

44.4: A Milne to MS Dhoni, Milne bowls this one at a slower pace around off, MS reads it well and strokes it to the same region. 4 dot balls in a row, the crowd is getting a bit restless.

44.3: A Milne to MS Dhoni, Back of a length delivery in the off stump channel, Dhoni with minimal foot movement punches it on the up to covers.

44.2: A Milne to MS Dhoni, Similar length delivery outside off, MS Dhoni pushes it off the back foot to cover-point.

44.1: A Milne to MS Dhoni, Length delivery on off, Dhoni hangs back and play it with a vertical bat to the mid off fielder.

Adam Milne comes back for a bowl. This might be the last over of the game.

43.6: T Boult to D Karthik, Angling in substantially from around off, Karthik looks to keep it but gets an inside edge onto his pads.

43.5: T Boult to D Karthik, Beaten! Shortish delivery around off, Karthik goes for the cut but misses. That was too close for that shot.

43.4: T Boult to MS Dhoni, Boult comes around the wicket and angles it on a good length from outside off. Dhoni waits for it and runs it down to third man for a run.

43.3: T Boult to MS Dhoni, Fullish ball around off, eased to covers off the front foot.

43.2: T Boult to MS Dhoni, FOUR! This one is much more convincing. Length delivery outside off, Dhoni punches this one on the up through covers and the ball whistles away to the fence. India need 8 more runs for a victory.

43.1: T Boult to MS Dhoni, FOUR! Not off the meat of the bat but Dhoni will be pleased with the result. Fuller in length around off, Dhoni moves across and heaves it off the bottom half of the bat towards wide mid on. The fielder there dives to his right but the ball goes past him and through to the fence.

42.6: M Santner to D Karthik, Good running! Karthik whips this one to wide long on for a run. He calls Dhoni through for the second as the fielder has some ground to cover to his right. Two runs taken safely in the end.

42.5: M Santner to MS Dhoni, Dhoni walks down the track to the tossed up delivery and knocks it down to long on to rotate strike.

42.4: M Santner to D Karthik, Drifting towards the pads, tucked through square leg for an easy run.

42.3: M Santner to D Karthik, Goes back to the shorter delivery and steers it to point.

42.2: M Santner to D Karthik, Floated around off, played with soft hands to short extra cover.

42.1: M Santner to D Karthik, Quicker through the air around off, Karthik leans forward to defend it but gets beaten by the lack of turn. Latham whips off the bails but Dinesh has his back foot planted within the crease.

41.6: T Boult to MS Dhoni, On a length outside off, Dhoni doesn't fiddle with it.

41.5: T Boult to MS Dhoni, FOUR! Poor delivery and duly punished! Full and on the boots, Dhoni moves inside the line and whips it in front of square leg. The timing is spot on and MS gets the desired result.

41.4: T Boult to MS Dhoni, Good length delivery, defended solidly off the back foot.

41.3: T Boult to MS Dhoni, Play and a miss! Shorter in length and width on offer, Dhoni slashes at it but gets beaten.

41.2: T Boult to MS Dhoni, Bit wider outside off this time, Dhoni is not induced into playing it and remains composed in leaving it.

41.1: T Boult to MS Dhoni, In the zone outside off, angling away from Dhoni who lifts his bat skywards and lets it go.

Trent Boult returns for a bowl. Can he do something spectacular here and breathe life back into the contest?

40.6: M Santner to D Karthik, Pushed to the cover region by the batsman.

40.5: M Santner to D Karthik, Tossed up delivery, Dinesh looks to clip it across but gets a soft leading edge towards covers.

40.4: M Santner to D Karthik, Fraction short, Karthik cuts it through point for a brace.

40.3: M Santner to D Karthik, Coming in with the arm, defended beside the pitch on the leg side.

40.2: M Santner to MS Dhoni, Dhoni uses his feet and chips it to long off for a run and gets off the mark.

MS Dhoni walks out to the middle. India need 27 runs from 59 balls.

40.1: M Santner to H Pandya, OUT! Pandya departs! He would be unhappy that he has failed to take his side over the finishing line. Juicy full toss on middle, Pandya looks to paddle sweep it but hits it straight to Milne at backward square leg who pouches it safely. Hardik usually doesn't play the sweep much and he departs attempting it. End of a decent knock from the all-rounder.