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New Delhi: Daryll Mitchell stole KL Rahul's thunder to steer New Zealand to a series levelling seven-wicket victory over India in the second ODI in Rajkot on Wednesday.
Rahul's unbeaten 112 off 92 balls which included 11 fours and two sixes, pulled India to 284/7 after being sent into bat at the Niranjan Shah Stadium.
But Mitchell produced an undefeated 131 off 117 balls with 11 boundaries and two sixes to guide the Kiwis to victory in 47.3 overs and square the three match series 1-1.
New Zealand have never won a bilateral ODI series in India, with the series-decidong third match will be held in Indore on Sunday.
Mitchell's third ODI ton against India and eight overall was well complemented by Will Young's 87 off 98 balls (seven boundaries).
Together they produced a 152-run third wicket stand in 162 deliveries that helped them cruise past the finish line to end an eight-match losing streak against India.
India compounded their woes when Prasidh Krishna dropped a catch at long-on off Kuldeep Yadav in the 36th over to give Mitchell a life on 80.
Yadav finally broke the third-wicket partnership when he dismissed Young and Mohammed Siraj trapped Mitchell leg-before soon after, but by then fate of the match had been decided.
Stark contrast of performance of spinners was also one of the highlights of the match.
While NZ's spinners collective rturn was 89 runs for two wickets in 23 overs, with Michael Bracewell taking 1/34 from his 10 overs, ineffective Indian spinners Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja gave away 1/126 from a total of 18 overs.
The Kiwis also batted resolutely in the opening overs when Harshit Rana (1/52) and Mohammed Siraj looked for wickets but couldn't quite make telling impact.
India: 284 for 7 in 50 overs. (KL Rahul 112 not out, S Gill 56; Kristian Clarke 3/56).
New Zealand: 286 for 3 in overs. (D Mitchell 131 not out, W Young 87; P Krishna 1/49).
