Rohit Sharma-led Indian cricket team stormed into the final of the ODI World Cup 2023 after they defeated New Zealand by 70 runs following a staggering 7-wicket haul from Mohammed Shami.
India had suffered heartbreaking exits in the previous two editions of the ODI World Cups in 2015 and 2019, both campaigns ended in the semifinal but the Men in Blue were finally able to end the final four jinx at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Daryl Mitchell slammed a 134-run knock but New Zealand folded for 327, chasing India’s mammoth target of 398 runs following centuries from Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer.
Follow all the action from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 including the World Cup schedule, World Cup 2023 results, and ICC Cricket World Cup points table. Players are vying to top the World Cup 2023 Most Runs and World Cup 2023 Most Wickets charts.
Earlier, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma had won the toss, and he elected to bat first giving the Men in Blue an explosive start by scoring a 29-ball 47 before Kane Williamson took a wonderful catch to end the Hitman’s stay at the crease. Shubman Gill then took the onus upon himself to carry the Indian innings forward, he scored a brisk fifty and was moving towards a well-deserved century but picked up a hamstring niggle and was advised to retire hurt subsequently.
Virat Kohli then joined hands with Shreyas Iyer as the duo continued to wreak havoc over the New Zealand bowlers. Kohli completed his fifty, followed by Iyer’s half-century.
The former Indian skipper broke multiple records and surpassed the Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 ODI centuries to smash a world record 50th ODI hundred.
Virat tried to accelerate the Indian inning and perished on 117, but Iyer continued to inch closer to his second consecutive hundred. Shreyas, the local boy received massive applause when he hit his second World Cup century, with KL Rahul in company.
IND vs NZ Highlights ICC World Cup 2023 Semi-final
Once Iyer exited after hitting 105, Rahul took the onus on himself, smashing an unbeaten 39-run knock to help India reach a mammoth total of 397/4.
In reply, New Zealand lost Devon Conway early as Shami drew first blood for his side, he would get the dangerman Rachin Ravindra as well to send the Wankhede Stadium into ecstasy. Kane Williamson and Mitchell joined hands to steady the ship, the both smashed their fifties and powered the Black Caps past the 200-run mark.
Williamson’s brilliant knock of 69 runs came to an end with Shami again getting the much-needed breakthrough, and Glenn Phillips also frustrated the Indian bowlers for a fair while but Jasprit Bumrah got rid of the all-rounder on 41. Wickets kept falling while Mitchell kept the Kiwis alive in the chase however the asking rate forced him to take more and more risks and it paid off when Shami forced the middle order batter to hole out to Ravindra Jadeja who was ice-cool under pressure.
Earlier, Shami had missed a catch when Williamson and Mitchell were going bonkers but atoned for his mistake by picking crucial wickets in the middle overs and would go on the Man of the Match award with a performance for the ages.
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