Shikhar Dhawan cruises to 22nd fifty in India vs New Zealand 2nd ODI

Shikhar Dhawan, with five fours and two sixes, scored 68 for India against New Zealand in the second ODI in Pune

Shikhar Dhawan brought up his 22nd ODI fifty in fine style on Wednesday as India chased New Zealand’s below-par total of 230, here at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. (India vs New Zealand, 2nd ODI - HIGHLIGHTS)

Shikhar Dhawan celebrates his half century during the second India vs New Zealand ODI cricket match in Pune. (PTI)

It was a classic knock from Dhawan, who started in a typical flamboyant manner before holding back his shots once his skipper departed with 79 on the scoreboard. New Zealand had started the proceedings with a maiden over from Tim Southee; with Rohit Sharma seeing it off without taking unnecessary risks. (India vs New Zealand, 2nd ODI - SCORECARD)

However, Dhawan had no such plans. The first ball was slapped over the slip cordon for a boundary while two overs later, another flew to the square leg boundary off a simple flick. The singles and twos were always there but both Kohli and Dhawan looked to go with the intention to finish things off as soon as possible. Kohli, also in fine nick, had a few glorious on-drives and a towering six over square-leg to add on to the trouble.

When Sharma departed, Dhawan was batting on 15 off eight deliveries and he continued the carnage with his captain, including a six that looked right off a cricket manual. He didn’t lean back for the pull, but slapped it off his front foot as a distraught Tim Southee walked back to his run-up.

But he took his foot off the pedal once Kohli was dismissed, scoring 13 off 28 deliveries to reach his half-century. He was let off once though, after the umpire had adjudged him caught behind off the bowling of Colin Munro only for the southpaw to review it and overturn the decision.

Dhawan ultimately got out for 68 in the off 84 balls. He got dismissed by Adam Milne.