#CWC23 : Peerless Virat Kohli Smashes 50th ODI Ton, Mohammed Shami Bags 7 Wickets As India Storms Into Final By Beating New Zealand By 70 Runs



Picture : ICC/ X

In ruthless form , India powered their way riding on batting prowess to beat New Zealand by 70 runs in the first semi- final at a packed Wankhede stadium in Mumbai .

Earlier Rohit Sharma won the toss and had no hesitation to bat bat first . And the Indian Skipper set the tone for the batting prowess with his aggressive approach right from the start . And the rest followed superbly . India in- fact batted New Zealand out of the contest.

Rohit Sharma scored 47 ( 29 balls, 4 fours, 4 sixes) , partner Shubman Gill too matched the skipper with a fluent unbeaten 80 ( 66 balls, 8 fours , 3 sixes) , Gill hopped off the field after injury for while but came later on to bat .

Then came the master Virat Kohli . In terrific form Virat was watchful at the start then unleashed his range of shots to reaching a monumental 50th ODI ton beating the record of Sachin Tendulker with 49th ODI tons. A visibly thrilled Wife Anushka Sharma was in the stands and blew flying kisses as he reached his 100. Virat scored a masterly 117 ( 113 balls, 9 fours, 2 sixes). In red- hot form at number four Shreyas Iyer once again displayed his full talent with yet another blazing ton 105 ( 70 balls, 4 fours, 8 sixes). K L Rahul in fine touch too played a lovely unbeaten cameo 39 ( 20 balls , 5 fours 2 sixes). As India powered to an imposing 397/ 4 in their 50 overs.

New Zealand were let down by their three premier frontline bowlers who went for aplenty in the crunch tie . Trent Boult 1/ 86 ( 10 overs), Tim Southee 3/ 100 ( 10 overs), Lockie Ferguson 0/ 65 ( 8 overs). Spinners could do little too against the marauding Indian batting line- up. Mitchell Santner 0/ 51 ( 10 overs), Rachin Ravindra 0/ 60 ( 7 overs), Glenn Phillips 0/ 33 ( 5 overs)

In reply New Zealand were cautious with first wicket falling at 30 . Devon Conway ( 13), Rachin Ravindra ( 13) could not carry on . Skipper Kane Williamson 69 ( 73 balls , 9 fours , 1 six) and in amazing form Daryl Mitchell smashed another sensational ton . Daryl Mitchell cracked 134 ( 119 balls , 9 fours, 7 sixes). Williamson and – Daryl Mitchell kept the Kiwis in the hunt and made India search hard for wickets . Rohit Sharma rotated his bowlers in search of a wicket. And Mohammed Shami gave India the break getting Williamson and it opened the floodgates soon after. Tom Latham ( 0), Glenn Phillips ( 41), Mark Chapman ( 2), Mitchell Santner ( 9), Tim Southee ( 9), Lockie Ferguson ( 6) and Trent Boult not out 2 as Kiwis were bowled out for 327 in 48. 5 overs.

Indian bowling was tested . And the runs given was seen in the figures : Jasprit Bumrah 1/ 64 ( 10 overs), Mohammed Siraj 1/ 78 ( 9 overs), Ravindra Jadeja 0/ 63 ( 10 overs), Kuldeep Yadav 1/ 55 ( 10) . Had not for Mohammed Shami’s sensational spell 7/ 57 ( 9. 5 overs), New Zealand took the fight to India . Barring Shami other bowlers struggled for line length and milked runs.

India winning by 70 runs and will now face in the Final On November 19 the winner of the second semi- final between five time winners Australia and South Africa.

Match: World Cup 2023, 1st Semi-Final
Venue: Mumbai | Date: November 15, 2023