India reached their fourth ICC World Cup final courtesy of Virat Kohli’s record-breaking 50th ODI ton and Mohammed Shami’s 7-57 who helped the Men In Blue beat New Zealand by 70 runs in the semi-final in Mumbai.
Rohit Sharma’s Men went through the Super 10 phase winning all nine games, but everyone knows that playing in a big semi-final is a much bigger test, especially against the team who knocked the hosts out in the semi-final in 2019, by 18 runs.
It was India who won the toss and chose to bat on a sunny afternoon at the Wankhede Stadium, and the Indian Captain got the hosts off to a rollicking start, by scoring 47 off 29.
Shubman Gill also played sumptuous, shots at the other end.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut their opening stand ended at 71-1, as the Indian Captain held out to his counterpart, Williamson at long off.
Embed from Getty ImagesKohli and Gill continued to pile on the runs for India.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut just as Gill was approaching his 100, he had to leave the field 164-1 courtesy of cramp in his left hamstring.
But Kohli carried on his supreme form, reached his century in 106 balls, and bowed in front of the great Sachin Tendulkar whose record he had surpassed.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhile Shreyas Iyer cashed in at the other end, with back-to-back World Cup hundreds, and his fifth in ODI cricket, in 70 balls.
Embed from Getty ImagesKL Rahul’s cameo of 39 from 20, propelled India’s score to 397-4 from 50 Overs, this was going to be a tough task for the Kiwis to chase down.
And it got even tougher, when Shami removed Devon Conway for 13, at 30-1.
Embed from Getty ImagesRachin Ravindra was Shami’s second scalp, at 39-2.
Embed from Getty ImagesDaryll Mitchell survived a close call for a catch by Sharma off Jadeja, at 55-2.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut the New Zealand Captain looked in fine touch at the other end.
He did, however, survive a close LBW call on review from Kuldeep Yadav.
Embed from Getty ImagesAnd He could have been ran out on 29, had Rahul not broken the stumps before the ball was in his hands.
Embed from Getty ImagesMitchell reached 50 in 49 balls.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhile the New Zealand Skipper reached his fifty in 58 balls, this partnership was pulling New Zealand back into the game, and it was a worrying time for Sharma and the Indians.
Embed from Getty ImagesMitchell was carving India’s bowlers around the park.
And Shami piled more agony on India, by dropping Williamson on 52.
Embed from Getty ImagesMitchell reached his second hundred of the World Cup in 85 balls.
Embed from Getty ImagesBefore Shami got the big wicket of Williamson for 69, at 220-3.
Embed from Getty ImagesAnd he made it back-to-back success by removing Kiwis Keeper Tom Latham, for a second ball duck, New Zealand were teetering at 220-4.
Embed from Getty ImagesGlenn Phillips looked dangerous with his 41 off 33.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut he went for one shot too many against Bumrah and perished to Jadeja, who does not drop many, at 295-5
Embed from Getty ImagesAnd Jadeja helped Kuldeep Yadav get his first wicket of the game, by catching Mark Chapman on 298-6.
Embed from Getty ImagesJadeja took his third catch of the game to help Shami get the crucial wicket of Mitchell for 134 on 306-7.
Embed from Getty ImagesMohammed Siraj took his first wicket of the game, by removing Mitchell Santner for 9 at 319-8.
Embed from Getty ImagesShami claimed Tim Southee as his fifth scalp of the match at 321-9.
Embed from Getty ImagesAnd Shami finished off his match-winning performance, by removing Lockie Ferguson, for his sixth wicket to bowl New Zealand out for 327.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt was a clinical display of fast bowling by the speedster from Bengal, who deserved the Man Of The Match award, despite Kohli’s landmark century.
“I was waiting for my chances. I didn’t play a lot of white-ball cricket. “The last two World Cups, we lost in the semis. Who knows when or if we’ll get a chance, so we wanted to do everything for this, one chance we didn’t want to let go.”
Shami: BBC Sport
Meanwhile, Sharma praised his team for a magnificent performance, especially when they were put under pressure.
“I have played a lot of cricket here so I know with any score on this ground you cannot relax.”We knew there would be pressure on us at some stage. We just had to stay collected. That’s what we did. We were very calm even though we were sloppy in the field. “Daryl Mitchell and Kane Wiliamson batted brilliantly. For us it was important to stay calm. We tried everything and Mohammed Shami was brilliant.”
Sharma: BBC Sport
A dejected Williamson congratulated India for their performance and congratulated India for their performance in this tournament.
“Congratulations to India. They’ve played outstandingly well throughout and perhaps played their best game of the competition here. “It was a proud effort to stay in the fight. It’s disappointing to go out in the knockout stages, but I’m super proud of the effort that has gone into these seven weeks as a side.”
Williamson: BBC Sport
