King Virat Kohli’s enterprising and memorable 113-ball 117, Shreyas Iyer’s quick-fire 70-ball 105 and Mohammad Shami's bowling brilliance powered India to final against New Zealand in the first semi-final of the World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday.
NEW ZEALAND'S INNINGS
Chasing a target of 397, New Zealand had shown some resistance. But the resistance was not enough for the visitor to seal the final spot and bundle out for 327, with seven deliveries to spare. This gave India a victory by a good 70-run margin, boosting their confidence further ahead of the final.
After New Zealand lost their openers, Devon Conway (13 off 15) and Rachin Ravindra (13 off 22), Daryl Mitchell found an able ally in skipper Kane Williamson.
Both Mitchell and Williamson racked up 149-ball 181. The stand was broken by Mohammad Shami (7-57), who went on to claim his best bowling figures in the ODI, scooping up seven wickets.
After the departure of Williamson, New Zealand lost the next seven wickets by adding merely 107 runs, courtesy Shami’s brilliance with the bowl.
But the highlight for New Zealand with the bat was Daryl Mitchell. Mitchell scored 119-ball 134, clobbering nine fours and seven sixes.
Kane Williamson whacked eight boundaries and one towering six in his 73-ball 69.
Glenn Philips also looked decent for his 33-ball 41, studding with four boundaries and two sixes, before he was perplexed by Jasprit Bumrah.
Other New Zealand batters Devon Conway (13), Rachin Ravindra (13), Tom Latham (0), Mark Chapman (2), Mitchell Santner (9), Tim Southee (9) and Lockie Ferguson (6) had failed to show any resistance with the bat.
Trent Boult remained unbeaten on 2-ball.
For India, with the exception of Ravindra Jadeja (0-63), every bowler has filled the wickets’ columns, spearheaded by Mohammad Shami (7-57), who bagged seven wickets and went on to claim the player of the match award.
Kuldeep Yadav (1–56), Jasprit Bumrah (1-64) and Mohammed Sirah (1-78)) took a scalp each.
INDIA'S INNINGS
Opting to bat, the Indian batting powerhouse had shown no mercy whatsoever to the Black Caps. Captain Rohit Sharma, who had a great run in this tournament, played a belligerent knock, smashing a 29-ball 47, studded with four boundaries and four sixes, before he was removed by Tim Southee.
India had started off the proceedings with the bat with the clarity of mind to treat the New Zealand bowlers with utter contempt straightaway in the first semi-final.
But his wicket did not bother India, and they continued to play the way they wanted to. Shubman Gill played a terrific knock, scoring 66-ball 80, creaming eight boundaries and three sixes,
King Virat Kohli was there to ensure that he would remain on top in terms of scoring the most runs in the tournament. He racked up his 50th overall ODI century. This was his third century in this World Cup. In his 113-ball, Kohli scored 117, studding with nine boundaries and two sixes. He was removed by Southee.
Kohli had been ably supported by Shreyas Iyer, who followed in the footsteps of Virat Kohli and started off where he left off in his last outing against the Netherlands (racking up unbeaten 128). He compiled blistering 70-ball 105, clobbering four boundaries and eight sixes.
Every Indian batter contributed to racking up a highest total by any team in the World Cup knockouts. Only Suryakumar Yadav was the only batter in this Indian batting force, who could only score 1 off 2 deliveries and went on to be removed by Southee.
At the death overs, Iyer founded an able partner with KL Rahul. Rahul played a smart and unbeaten innings, plundering a 20-ball 39, lacing with five boundaries and two sixes.
There is nothing special to say about New Zealand’s bowling. Tim Southee (1-100), though, grabbed three wickets but gave away 100 runs. His bowling partner, Trent Boult (1-86) picked up a wicket, but he was also too expensive.
Mitchell Santner (0-51), Lockie Ferguson (0-65), Rachin Ravindra (0-60), and Glenn Philips (0-33) remained wicketless.
South Africa and Australia will lock horns tomorrow in the second semi-final of the World Cup at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The Proteas will look to change the perception of getting choked during the knockout stage of the World Cups.
Australia, on the other hand, will be high in confidence, as the way they cemented their place in the semi-final is quite amazing. But it will be all about nerves. The team that will hold their emotions can join India in the final in Ahmedabad on November 19.
