Mumbai, November 15 (Language) Virat Kohli broke Sachin Tendulkar’s record by completing half-century of centuries in ODIs, while Mohammed Shami again showed amazing bowling skills by taking seven wickets, as India defeated New Zealand by 70 runs here on Wednesday to reach the semi-finals. Breaking the myth of losing, made it to the final of the ODI World Cup for the fourth time.
India had previously failed to progress beyond the semi-finals in 1987, 1996, 2015 and 2019. Four years ago, New Zealand had stopped its winning campaign in Manchester, for which it settled the score at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
India won the toss and batted first and scored 397 runs for four wickets and thus made the record of the highest score in the knockout stage of the World Cup. In response, the New Zealand team was out after scoring 327 runs in 48.5 overs.
India will face the winner of the other semi-final between Australia and South Africa in the final to be held in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Two-time champion India had previously reached the finals in 1983, 2003 and 2011.
For India, Kohli scored 113 runs on 117 balls, while Shreyas Iyer scored 105 runs on 70 balls. Both of them added 163 runs in 128 balls. Earlier, captain Rohit Sharma gave a fast start to India by playing a stormy inning of 47 runs in 29 balls, while Shubman Gill, who was retired hurt in the middle, made a comeback in the last over and played an unbeaten inning of 80 runs in a total of 66 balls. KL Rahul remained unbeaten after scoring 39 runs on 20 balls.
New Zealand’s score at one time was 39 runs for two wickets, after which Daryl Mitchell (134 off 119 balls) and captain Kane Williamson (69 runs off 73 balls) made a partnership of 181 runs for the third wicket. Mitchell hit nine fours and seven sixes in his innings.
Shami gave the best performance of his career and created an Indian record by taking seven wickets for 57 runs. This is the first time that an Indian bowler has taken seven wickets in an ODI match.
By completing his century in 106 balls, Kohli broke Tendulkar’s record of most centuries in ODI cricket. He has become the first batsman to complete half-century of centuries in ODI. During this innings, he also took Tendulkar’s record of scoring most runs in a single World Cup (673 runs in 2003).
New Zealand had taken DRS for LBW against Kohli early on. Apart from this, the Kiwi bowlers could not trouble him at any time. He scored runs with ease and hit nine fours and two sixes in his innings before being caught at deep square leg off Tim Southee.
Iyer, who scored a century in the last match, maintained his same rhythm and entertained the audience a lot by hitting sixes at his home ground Wankhede. After hitting a six on Saudi, he completed his century on 67 balls by taking one run on the next ball. This is the fastest century in the knockout stage of the World Cup.
Iyer then returned to the pavilion after being caught at long off by Trent Boult. Iyer hit four fours and eight sixes in his innings. He has become the Indian batsman to hit most sixes in an innings in the World Cup. India hit 19 sixes in this match, which is its new record in the World Cup.
New Zealand was under pressure for a big score and Shami caught the ball in the sixth over and dismissed Devon Conway (13) on his first ball, whose wicketkeeper Rahul took a brilliant catch by diving. Shami gave a big blow to New Zealand by getting the in-form Rachin Ravindra (13) out behind the wicket in his next over.
But Williamson and Mitchell came on the field with strong intentions. After the openers were out, both of them showed patience in the beginning and later increased the run rate. Mitchell targeted loose balls from Ravindra Jadeja and hit three sixes off the left-arm spinner before completing his century off 85 balls.
When Williamson was on 52 runs, Shami took an easy catch. However, this fast bowler did not allow the Kiwi captain to take advantage of this and got India an important success by getting him caught at deep square leg. One ball later, he sent New Zealand on the back foot again by LBWing the new batsman Tom Latham. Williamson hit eight fours and one six in his innings.
Mitchell made a partnership of 75 runs for the fifth wicket with Glenn Phillips (41 off 33 balls). Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Phillips while Shami ended Mitchell’s innings and took five or more wickets for the third time in the current tournament.
Earlier, Rohit had shown that he will not hesitate in playing big shots by hitting two fours in Boult’s first over. He targeted both Bolt and Saudi.
Williamson had to hand the ball to left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner in the sixth over itself. The Indian captain welcomed him with fours and sixes, but his timing was not right while hitting a high shot on Southee and Williamson ran and converted it into a catch. He hit four fours and as many sixes in his innings and broke the record of Chris Gayle (49) for hitting most sixes in the World Cup.
After Rohit’s fireworks, Gill took the responsibility. He targeted Lockie Ferguson and by hitting a six on this fast bowler, India’s score crossed 100 runs in the 13th over. Gill completed his 13th half-century in ODIs off 41 balls. When he was playing on 79 runs, he had to leave the crease due to cramps in his left leg. He batted fluently and hit eight fours and three sixes in his innings.
But this did not provide any relief to New Zealand because Iyer, in a way, took Gill’s innings forward. Apart from blunting Ravindra, he also sent the ball of Boult and Southee for sixes. Meanwhile, Kohli also hit a six on Saudi. Rahul handled the responsibility well in the death overs by hitting five fours and two sixes.
Saudi was the most expensive but most successful bowler for New Zealand. He took three wickets for 100 runs.
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