PUNE, India (AP) Half-centuries from Shikhar Dhawan and Dinesh Karthik helped India to a comfortable six-wicket victory over New Zealand in their second one-day international on Wednesday, leveling the three-match series at 1-1.
After India's bowlers had restricted New Zealand to a modest 230-9 in the tourists' 50 overs, the hosts needed only 46 overs to reach 232-4 in reply after a top-scoring 68 from Dhawan and an unbeaten 64 from Karthik.
While Rohit Sharma (7) fell cheaply when he was caught at midwicket off Tim Southee, Dhawan put on 57 runs with Virat Kohli (29) for the second wicket.
Kohli fell against the run of play, caught behind off Colin de Grandhomme. Karthik came to the crease and added 66 runs with Dhawan for the third wicket.
Dhawan survived a caught behind appeal off Mitchell Santner in the 20th over via DRS and went on to score his 22nd ODI half-century off 63 balls, before chipping straight to extra cover off Adam Milne.
Karthik scored his ninth ODI half-century off 76 balls. It was an important milestone, not just for Karthik but also for India's selectors as they search for a permanent No.4 batsman.
''Maybe I took a little more time, but with confidence the runs will flow,'' Karthik said. ''The comeback has been good so far. I have had a lot of demons to fight and these things happen inside you. I have got a good score and need to take confidence from this match to win more matches.''
Hardik Pandya (30) added 59 runs with Karthik before being caught sweeping off Santner, just after India crossed 200 in the 40th over.
Karthik ended the chase with MS Dhoni (18) at the other end, as India won its 100th ODI against the Black Caps.
Despite the solid batting performance, much of the damage had already been done by Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3-45) and Jasprit Bumrah (2-38).
''Our bowlers were really clinical today,'' Kohli said. ''Both our pacers are coming along nicely. They know they're going to start more often than not.''
Opting to bat first, New Zealand made a poor start and was reduced to 27-3 in the seventh over. Kumar had Martin Guptill (11) caught behind, while Colin Munro (10) played on.
The big moment came when Kane Williamson (3) was given out lbw off Bumrah. It seemed a marginal call originally, and despite a review from the batsman, he didn't survive.
New Zealand crossed 50 in the 14th over, but then lost Ross Taylor (21) soon after - caught behind off Hardik Pandya.
It broke the in-form partnership between Taylor and Tom Latham (38), with the latter putting on 60 runs with Henry Nicholls (42) and pushing the score past 100 in the 26th over.
Latham was bowled off Axar Patel as he attempted to sweep a straight delivery on the middle stump. Nicholls and De Grandhomme (41) then added 47 runs for the sixth wicket.
They looked to have rescued New Zealand from a precarious position, but fell in quick succession toward the end. Kumar returned in the late overs to bowl Nicholls.
Yuzvendra Chahal (2-36) removed De Grandhomme and Adam Milne (0) off successive deliveries, but was denied a hat trick by Tim Southee (25 not out).
India, which had lost the first ODI in Mumbai by six wickets, will face the Black Caps again in Sunday's decider in Kanpur.
