IND vs NZ, ODI World Cup: Kohli 100, Shami fifer assist India qualify for last

A Wednesday evening of enjoyment ebbed away on the Wankhede Stadium because the Men in Blue, savouring particular person excellence and crew solidity, acquired previous New Zealand within the World Cup semifinal. Virat Kohli’s record-breaking fiftieth ODI ton, Shreyas Iyer’s century, and Mohammed Shami’s seven for 57, all mixed splendidly as India defeated Kane Williamson’s males by 70 runs.

Chasing India’s 397 for 4, New Zealand completed with 327 in 48.5 overs. Having misplaced to the identical rival within the 2019 World Cup semifinal at Manchester, Rohit Sharma’s males turned the tables and can now march into Sunday’s last at Ahmedabad, awaiting the victor of the Australia-South Africa semifinal.

New Zealand began brightly by way of Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra. Conway, nonetheless, nibbled at Shami’s first supply and noticed Ok.L. Rahul impact a diving catch.

AS IT HAPPENED: IND vs NZ Highlights, ICC World Cup 2023 Semifinal

Skipper Williamson, tight defence and watchful eyes, drove a 4 off Shami, the latter in flip scalped Ravindra, drawing an edge.

Williamson and Daryl Mitchell then stitched a defiant 181-run third-wicket partnership. The latter was all swagger whereas thumping a six off Shami. Williamson had a detailed shave when Rahul unintentionally disturbed the stumps, and there was no conclusive proof about whether or not the second bail too was dislodged earlier than the direct throw disturbed the timber with Williamson’s bat being on the road.

Later Shami dropped Williamson on 52, however Mitchell was in terrific kind, lashing at Jasprit Bumrah, and shortly registered his ton. Williamson (69), although, succumbed to Shami, who additionally accounted for Tom Latham. The double blow was an excessive amount of to bear, and New Zealand wilted regardless of Mitchell’s superb 134 (119b, 9×4, 7×6).

In the afternoon, Rohit gained the toss, elected to bat and set a rollicking tempo. Whipping a 4 off Trent Boult, Rohit drove the subsequent previous mid-off as the primary over yielded 10. His companion Shubman Gill then tucked into Tim Southee earlier than Rohit unleashed a bouquet of drives and pulls as Boult and Southee felt the warmth of the Indian skipper’s bat.

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Spinner Mitchell Santner was hoisted into the stands, and Rohit (47) appeared set for extra when he mistimed a stroke towards Southee, and Williamson judged the skier to a nicety.

As new man Kohli bided his time, Gill shifted gears, pulling the seamers and dancing right down to the spinners. However, at 79, he winced in ache, clutched his thighs and returned to the pavilion.

India’s Virat Kohli celebrates after scoring his fiftieth century throughout ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 Semi-Final 1 between India and New Zealand at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit:
EMMANUAL YOGINI/ The Hindu

Kohli stored pocketing his runs whereas Shreyas performed the aggressor. He lofted Rachin Ravindra for six, a template he later adopted towards Southee and Boult.

A pulled 4 off Lockie Ferguson hinted at a change in strategy from Kohli, and shortly Boult and Southee too discovered the batter at his immaculate finest.

As Kohli neared his fiftieth ODI ton, the venue rang out with the ‘Kohli, Kohli’ chants. A two off Ferguson cleared the decks for a recent milestone. Soon within the dying overs, Kohli (117, 113b, 9×4, 2×6), Shreyas (105, 70b, 4×4, 8×6), after attending to his ton, and Suryakumar Yadav all fell whereas attempting to hustle, and India completed with a rating properly past the rival’s grasp.