Kiwis beaten by 4 wickets
In a thrilling World Cup match that left fans on the edge of their seats, India secured a remarkable victory over an undefeated New Zealand side, winning by four wickets at Dharamsala.
This win came as a result of another remarkable performance by Virat Kohli, who steered his team through a fog of uncertainty to chase down New Zealand’s challenging total of 274 runs. Moreover, Mohammed Shami also played a pivotal role in India’s triumph, as he displayed his skills with the ball by claiming five wickets towards the latter part of the first innings.
The contest began with New Zealand looking strong and assertive after being asked to bat by the host nation. However, a late collapse of their lower-order stunted all the hard work put in by their batsmen and caused quite the upset for the Kiwis.
Earlier, Daryl Mitchell and Rachin Ravindra had dictated the terms in the first half of the game with their aggressive batting and the pair gave India quite the scare with their big hitting and 159 run partnership. Still, the Kiwis faltered, losing six wickets for just 54 runs in the final ten overs, significantly dampening their spirits and ending with just 273 runs on the board.
Daryl Mitchell was the standout performer for New Zealand, amassing an impressive 130 runs off 127 balls during his time at the crease. However, his stellar innings came to an end at the hands of Mohammed Shami, who took five wickets thanks to Mitchell’s blunder in the final over.
In their pursuit of 274 runs, India displayed a relentless and aggressive approach much like their opposition. Rohit Sharma took the lead in the early stages, delivering a scintillating knock of 46 runs off 40 balls, which included four towering sixes.
His partnership with Shubman Gill set the tone for India’s innings, and despite facing formidable challenges from New Zealand’s bowlers, managed to weather the storm and avoid losing early wickets.
As the chase progressed, it became evident that the match would be dominated by Virat Kohli. Initially, he played cautiously but gradually asserted his dominance with his breathtaking shot selection. Kohli’s innings of 95 runs off 104 deliveries was a testament to just how focused and poised this man is when it comes to run chases.
Despite a momentary mix-up that led to Suryakumar Yadav’s run-out, Kohli stood firm and composed, steering India to victory in a contest that had briefly appeared challenging due to their lack of depth in the batting lineup. Ravindra Jadeja’s resilient performance at the crease helped alleviate these concerns, ultimately sealing the win for India.
Although Virat Kohli narrowly missed out on a century, falling short of five runs to finally equal the great Tendulkar for the most ODI centuries in history, his daring attempt at a six was courageous and a glimpse of just how far this man would go for ultimate glory.
Nonetheless, India comfortably cruised to victory, with Ravindra Jadeja stepping up to the plate. He remained unbeaten at 39 and secured the win with a crucial boundary off Matt Henry. Jadeja’s presence was felt significantly as he entered the fray at No. 7, with India still requiring 83 runs for victory.
In the end, India’s unbeaten run in the World Cup continues, thanks to Virat Kohli’s brilliance and a collective team effort that overcame the challenges posed by an undefeated New Zealand side.
Chief scores:
New Zealand 272 all out in 50 overs (Daryl Mitchell 130, Rachin Ravindra 75, Mohamed Shami 5 for 54, Kuldeep Yadav 2 for 73)
India 274 for 6 in 48 overs (Virat Kohli 95, Rohit Sharma 46, Ravindra Jadeja 39 not out, Lockie Ferguson 2 for 63)
