Tilak and Reddy rescue India to take 2–0 lead over New Zealand

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India won the second Twenty20 international against New Zealand by four wickets on Saturday, reaching 181 for six with one ball remaining at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. The result gives the tourists a 2–0 advantage in the five-match series.

Tilak Varma finished unbeaten on 51 from 26 balls and Nitish Kumar Reddy made 26 not out from 13. Their unbroken seventh-wicket partnership of 69 transformed a chase that had appeared to be moving decisively towards the hosts.

Mitchell Santner had put New Zealand in control with four for 21 from his four overs. India were 70 for five when Axar Patel fell, and Naman Dhir’s dismissal for 31 left them 112 for six in the 15th over.

That left the visitors needing 69 from 31 deliveries. Tilak and Reddy protected the remaining wickets while raising the scoring rate against the seamers, leaving 11 required from the final over.

Reddy completed the victory by taking two runs from Jacob Duffy’s fifth legal delivery. Tilak was named player of the match after helping India recover from the middle-order collapse.

Earlier, New Zealand reached 180 for five after India chose to field. Glenn Phillips scored 70 from 43 deliveries and Bevon Jacobs added 58 from 46, providing the innings with substance after three early wickets. Arshdeep Singh took two for 33.

The teams now move to Wellington for the third T20 international on Tuesday, 27 October. India need one more win to secure the series, while New Zealand must win all three remaining matches to overturn the deficit.

Sources

• BCCI: official second T20I result and scores
• Cricbuzz: second T20I commentary and match report
• Cricbuzz: full second T20I scorecard
• Indian Express: confirmed tour schedule