Chasing India’s 397 for four, New Zealand finished with 327 in 48.5 overs. Rohit Sharma’s men will face the winner of the Australia-South Africa semifinal on Sunday.
A Wednesday night of delight retrograded down at the Wankhede Stadium as the Men in Blue, savouring individual excellence and platoon reliability, got past New Zealand in the World Cup semifinal. Virat Kohli’s record- breaking 50th ODI ton, Shreyas Iyer’s century, and Mohammed Shami’s seven for 57, all combined wonderfully as India defeated Kane Williamson’s men by 70 runs.
Chasing India’s 397 for four, New Zealand finished with 327 in48.5 overs. Having lost to the same rival in the 2019 World Cup semifinal at Manchester, Rohit Sharma’s men turned the tables and will now march into Sunday’s final at Ahmedabad, awaiting the victor of the Australia- South Africa semifinal.
New Zealand started brightly through Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra. Conway, still, nibbled at Shami’s first delivery and saw K.L. Rahul effect a diving catch.
Skipper Williamson, tight defence and vigilant eyes, drove a four off Shami, the ultimate in turn beheaded Ravindra, drawing an edge.
Williamson and Daryl Mitchell also sutured a recalcitrant 181- run third- gate cooperation. The ultimate was all swagger while thumping a six off Shami. Williamson had a close slice when Rahul accidentally disturbed the wholes, and there was no conclusive substantiation about whether the alternate bail too was dislodged before the direct gamble disturbed the timber with Williamson’s club being on the line.
Latterly Shami dropped Williamson on 52, but Mitchell was in atrocious form, lashing at Jasprit Bumrah, and soon registered his ton. Kane Williamson (69), however, succumbed to Shami, who also reckoned for Tom Latham. The double blow was too important to bear, and New Zealand wilted despite Mitchell’s noble 134( 119b, 9×4, 7×6).
In the autumn, Rohit won the toss, tagged to club and set a rollicking tempo. Whipping a four off Trent Boult, Rohit drove the coming history mid-off as the first over yielded 10. His mate Shubman Gill also put away into Tim Southee before Rohit unleashed a bouquet of drives and pulls as Boult and Southee felt the heat of the Indian commander’s club.
Spinner Mitchell Santner was hoisted into the daises, and Rohit (47) sounded set for further when he mistimed a stroke against Southee, and Williamson judged the skier to a nicety.
As new man Kohli bided his time, Gill shifted gears, pulling the cleft and dancing down to the baits. still, at 79, he squinched in pain, gripped his shanks and returned to the kiosk.
Kohli kept pocketing his runs while Shreyas played the raider. He launched Rachin Ravindra for six, a template he latterly followed against Southee and Boult.
A pulled four off Lockie Ferguson suggested at a change in approach from Kohli, and soon Boult and Southee too set up the batter at his immaculate stylish.
As Kohli neared his 50th ODI ton, the venue chimed out with the ‘ Kohli, Kohli ’ chants. A two off Ferguson cleared the balconies for a fresh corner. Soon in the death overs, Kohli (117, 113b, 9×4, 2×6), Shreyas( 105, 70b, 4×4, 8×6), after getting to his ton, and Suryakumar Yadav all fell while trying to hustle, and India finished with a score well beyond the rival’s grasp. Know More Latest Cricket News…
