DHARAMSALA: In a battle of unbeaten teams, India emerged victorious by defeating New Zealand by four wickets in a high-stakes encounter of the ICC World Cup at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.
New Zealand, after being invited to bat first, posted a challenging total of 273 runs for India to chase. Daryl Mitchell played a spectacular innings, scoring a sparkling century, and was well-supported by Rachin Ravindra, who contributed 75 runs. The duo’s partnership of 159 runs became the highest for any wicket between the two teams in a World Cup match, surpassing the previous record set in 1987.
India’s bowling, led by the impressive Mohammed Shami, made a significant impact in the final overs. Shami’s exceptional performance, returning figures of 5-54, included crucial wickets that helped India restrict New Zealand’s scoring in the latter part of the innings.
India Chase of New Zealand Target
Chasing a target of 274, India faced early challenges, losing key wickets. However, Virat Kohli showcased his exceptional skill and determination, anchoring the innings with a brilliant knock of 95 runs. Despite promising starts from other batters like Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and KL Rahul, it was Kohli’s masterclass that guided India’s chase.
Kohli’s partnership with Ravindra Jadeja, who played a mature innings of 39 runs, proved to be pivotal. Despite a moment of miscommunication that led to Shreyas Iyer’s run-out, Kohli remained composed, steering India towards victory.
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The match concluded with India reaching the target with 12 balls to spare, securing their fifth consecutive win in the Cricket World Cup. The victory reinforced India’s position at the top of the table, maintaining their unbeaten record in the tournament.
Mohammed Shami was named the player of the match for his exceptional five-wicket haul, making a significant impact on India’s bowling performance.
India Playing XI
Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav.
New Zealand Playing XI
Kane Williamson (c), Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitch Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Will Youn
