Hamilton, New Zealand– A brutal batting display by Corey Anderson lifted New Zealand to 271-7 in a rain-shortened second one-day international against India in Hamilton on Wednesday.
Anderson belted 44 off 17 deliveries in a whirlwind attack after the match was reduced to 42 overs.
Three weeks after he smashed the fastest ODI century in 36 balls, Anderson had the fastest 50 in his sights when he was dismissed.
He needed a six off the 17th ball he faced to tie the record set by Sri Lankan Sanath Jayasuriya in 1996, but was caught by Shikhar Dhawan on the boundary at long on off Ishant Sharma.
When rain stopped play New Zealand were 170-2 with Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson starting to pick up the pace with just under 17 overs remaining.
When play resumed, Williamson went on the second ball he faced to bring Anderson to the crease.
The big hitter in partnership with Taylor put on 74 off just 28 deliveries for the fourth wicket, with Anderson contributing five sixes and two fours.
After New Zealand were sent into bat, Jesse Ryder was back in the pavilion following a quick 20 off 10 deliveries, caught behind trying to clip a Mohammed Shami delivery over the slips cordon.
Martin Guptill, who has been struggling for form all season, offered Bhuvneshwar Kumar a difficult caught and bowled chance off his first ball before slowly working his way to 44 when he was removed by part-timer Suresh Raina.
At 114-2 in the 21st over, it was left to Williamson and Taylor to continue laying the platform for the big hitters at the tail.
Williamson, who was stumped by MS Dhoni off Ravi Jadeja, top-scored for New Zealand with 77.
Taylor, who narrowly survived a stumping appeal from Dhoni when on 13, posted his 26th half century on his way to 57.
He and Brendon McCullum both fell in the same over by Shami, who put the brakes on the New Zealand charge and finished with the figures of three for 55. – AFP