SHAMI AND KOHLI BREAK RECORDS AS INDIA REACH WC FINAL

 

Thursday 7 December 2023

ICC Cricket World Cup 2023

Semi-Final 1, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

India Vs New Zealand.

SHAMI & KOHLI BREAK RECORDS, INDIA IN WC FINAL

Team India sealed their place in the final after winning by 70 runs against New Zealand.

Football icon David Beckham alongside former WC winner Sachin Tendulkar, in Mumbai.

PREVIEW:

Unbeaten hosts India will look to make it 10/10 in this world cup as they face New Zealand who managed to qualify thanks to England’s win against Pakistan and South Africa’s victory over Afghanistan. A promising clash that is a rematch of the 2019 World Cup Semi-Final held at Old Trafford, Manchester. Who will go to Ahmedabad ahead of Sunday’s final and who will face the exit from this crucial knockout game. Two teams, whose players are in supreme form in this world cup.

TOSS & TEAM NEWS: 

Captain Rohit Sharma spins the coin up and called Heads.

Team India won the toss and decided to bat first in Mumbai. Both teams are unchanged ahead of this clash. Let’s look at the Players to watch:

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

1.   Rohit Sharma: Indian Captain, local Mumbai lad. The 37-year-old opener is looking to continue his brilliant form with the bat having scored 53 and 40 in his previous two games. Will he make another fast start for the Indians.

2.   Virat Kohli: Leading run-scorer: The 35-year-old batter is in ominous form. A birthday century at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, followed up with a 50 against the Netherlands in Bengaluru, will today be the day for Kohli to reach 50 ODI centuries?

3.   KL Rahul: Wicketkeeper: The 31-year-old vice-captain is looking to continue his good run of form after scoring a century in his home ground against the Netherlands. Can he get back-to-back centuries in this world cup?

4.   Shreyas Iyer: Another local Mumbai lad. The 28-year-old middle-order batter is in supreme form. Having scored a 50 at Kolkata, followed up with his 2^nd WC ton in Bengaluru, is today the perfect time for Shreyas Iyer to hit a ton in his home ground?

5.   Mohammed Shami: India’s leading wicket-taker: This 33-year-old is in phenomenal form with taking wickets. After 5 wickets against Sri Lanka, he has impressed with his ability to swing the ball in the first 10 overs, followed up with his killer yorker deliveries at the death overs stage. Is he to continue his wicket-taking spree today?

6.     Rachin Ravindra: A future star in the making. The 23-year-old is having the tournament of his life in India, having hit 3 centuries and 2 half-centuries, is he going to help his team into the finals?

7.     Kane Williamson: New Zealand captain. The 33-year-old just returned to action having ruptured his ACL in March during the IPL, made a good 78 against Bangladesh and continued his good run of form throughout the tournament. Can he guide his Blackcaps to their 3^rd ODI WC final?

8.     Daryl Mitchell: A terrific middle-order player: The 32-year-old all-rounder is having a terrific tournament this year, with crucial runs in games against Sri Lanka, India (at Dharamsala) and Australia. Can he score another century and help his team into the final?

INNINGS OVERVIEW: TEAM INDIA

Team India were off to a terrific start to this semi-final, Captain Rohit in particular. He and opening partner Shubman Gill turned on the screw as they posted 71 runs in the first 8 overs. After his rapid start, Rohit Sharma was the first player to be dismissed from the bowling of Tim Southee. He looked to advance down the track from a slower ball, but he could only slice it high and captain Williamson took a terrific catch running back to dismiss his opposite number. India were 71-1 after 2 balls into Southee’s over. The crowd were absolutely lighting up the Wankhede as Virat Kohli entered the ground to play his terrific knock.

Tim Southee and his teammates celebrated the wicket of Rohit Sharma.

Kohli and Gill turned up the heat on the Kiwi bowlers as they put on a 93-run partnership that took India past 150 in 23 overs. Both players reached 50 and continued to build the momentum towards the half-way mark of the innings. But a small setback for India, Shubman Gill had cramps in his calf muscle. After completing a run, he was immediately down, seeking a physio to help him. Due to this he was retired hurt, and this introduced home-town boy Shreyas Iyer at 164-1 after 23 overs. He and Kohli, put on what was a monstrous stand which saw India pass 300 runs after 42 overs. The most enjoyed moment arrived 4 deliveries into the 42^nd over, Virat Kohli hits Lockie Ferguson for two runs down to fine leg and as soon as runs the second: HE HAS DONE IT! ODI CENTURY NUMBER 50!! HE NOW STANDS ALONE ON TOP OF THIS WONDERFUL MILESTONE!! VIRAT KOHLI, WHAT A PLAYER HE IS! The crowd all stand up to applaud him, what a terrific innings from Kohli and to do that in front of his idol, Sachin Tendulkar, is something even more special for him.

Virat Kohli celebrates his 50^th ODI century in front of the crowd as he enjoys his new milestone that he achieved.

And finally, after all the celebrations, Virat Kohli was finally dismissed from the bowling of Tim Southee on the final ball of the 44^th over as Devon Conway manages to hold on to the catch after Glenn Phillips dropped him 3 deliveries before his dismissal.

Kohli receives a massive applause from the crowd after his dismissal whilst going to the pavilion. He hit 117 runs off 113 deliveries.

KL Rahul came out to the middle, and he quickly settled in after a couple of blows to the Kiwi bowlers from Rahul, Shreyas Iyer hits back-to-back hundreds for the first time in this world cup.

Shreyas Iyer’s celebrates after bringing up his 2^nd WC Ton in his home ground.

With India having breached 350 after 47 overs, a big score looked to be on the cards for them. Iyer fell after scoring a superb century that had 8 maximums and 4 boundaries in his innings, Southee picked up his third wicket of what has been an expensive evening for him. It was a very brief stay at the crease for Suryakumar Yadav as he scored only 1 run from his 2 deliveries, after trying to go large, he holed out to Glenn Phillips in the deep, the 26-year-old Kiwi, finally holding onto the catch.

KL Rahul played a crucial role in helping India go past 375 runs in the semi-final.

With Shubman Gill back to the middle after having treatment for his calf muscle, India continued to muscle their way closer to 400 runs in a WC semi-final. Ultimately, they finished 3 short of 400 in the last over as they finished on 397-4 after their 50 overs. 

INDIA INNINGS SUMMARY:

INDIA 397-4 (50 OVERS) RR: 7.94 (T)	NEW ZEALAND BOWLING
Virat Kohli: 117 (113)	Trent Boult: 1-86 (10)
Shreyas Iyer: 105 (70)	Tim Southee: 3-100 (10)
Shubman Gill: 80*(66)	Mitchell Santer: 0-51 (10)

 

Target for New Zealand is 398 from 50 overs at a rate of 7.96 an over.

INNINGS SUMMARY: NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand wasted absolutely no time in the chase as they got into it straight away, Jasprit Bumrah’s first over went for 8 runs, two boundaries for Devon Conway to get his innings underway. At the other end, young Rachin Ravindra got going as well, but a bit slower than Conway. New Zealand reached 30-0 after 5 overs. And then the first wicket fell, courtesy of Mohammed Shami. Conway nicks the ball and KL Rahul takes a great catch diving to his left as India strike first blood in the second innings.

Shami struck with the first wicket, and it was Devon Conway who had to depart first.

Captain Kane Williamson came next and got off the mark with a 4 to end Shami’s first over. After Bumrah’s tight 4^th over going for 1 run, the Indian pressure paid off as the second wicket fell, and once again it was Shami getting the wicket and it’s another left-hander who must leave. Rachin Ravindra was feeling for the ball outside off-stump and gets an edge where Rahul makes no mistake with the catch. Ravindra departs after 13 runs, with New Zealand at 40-2 after the 8^th over. Daryl Mitchell came right after Ravindra’s wicket, and he faced a couple of good deliveries from both Bumrah and Shami. New Zealand survived the powerplay as they finished the first 10 overs at 46-2. Soon after that, New Zealand turned on the gas as they attacked Siraj, Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav as Williamson and Mitchel put on an important partnership of over 150 runs. Both went past 50 and continued to turn the screw against India. The next 20 overs were all New Zealand as they played patiently and attacked at the right time. After 32 overs, New Zealand reached 219-2 with Mitchell on 99* and Williamson on 69. Rohit then made a crucial bowling change: Enter Shami and Mitchell hits a century for the second time against India. It was a well-worked and calculated knock from the 32-year-old, who looks to carry his team all the way until the end.

Daryl Mitchell celebrates as he brought up his 2^nd WC Ton against the hosts.

But then the 3^rd wicket fell. Williamson thought he was able to clear deep mid-wicket, only for him to hole out to Suryakumar Yadav and the home crowd has found its voice again. Shami’s third wicket of the night and a much needed one for the hosts after a 173-run partnership between captain Kane Williamson and Mitchell. 

Picture Courtesy of: espncricinfo.com/series/icc-cricket-world-cup-2023-24.

Williamson falls after making 69 runs in a 173-run stand with Mitchell.

Wicketkeeper Tom Latham arrived next, and he didn’t last long. After a block, he fell the very next delivery after trying to work the ball towards the leg-side, but Shami caught him in front as the umpire raised his finger after appeals for LBW from the Indians. Latham falls as New Zealand slip up to 220-4 after 33 overs.

Shami celebrates Tom Latham’s wicket after the umpire raised his finger for the 4^th wicket.

Glenn Phillips came, and he struck a couple of blows. Another 50+ run partnership for New Zealand took them past 250 as the game headed into the final 10 overs of the innings. With Bumrah asked to bowl the 43^rd over, he managed to get the 5^th wicket of the New Zealand innings, as Phillips holed out to Ravindra Jadeja from a Jasprit Bumrah slower ball. He made no mistake as half the side are out. 

Bumrah celebrates his 1^st wicket of the game as New Zealand are 5 down.

After a 75-run stand between Phillips and Mitchell, New Zealand are at 295-5 after 43 overs. Mark Chapman was the next to depart, after he tried to sweep towards the short side of the ground as once again, Ravindra Jadeja took the catch again, this time off Kuldeep Yadav’s bowling. New Zealand lost their 6^th wicket as they are now 299-6 after 44 overs.

Kuldeep Yadav and Rohit Sharma celebrate the wicket of Mark Chapman.

And then all Kiwi’s hopes would fade away as finally Daryl Mitchell holes out to Ravindra Jadeja in the deep. After what was an extraordinary innings from him, Shami gets another 5-for in the WC and it’s his 4^th 5-for in WCs, 2^nd against New Zealand. Daryl Mitchell departs after a terrific 134 to his name as New Zealand are now 306-7 after that wicket. 

Shami roars after getting his 3^rd 5-for of this WC.

Soon after that, the last 3 wickets, fell quickly, Siraj picked up Santner’s wicket after a good catch from Rohit Sharma running back for the 8^th wicket. After 48 overs, New Zealand were well out of reach of the target at 320-8. Shami came storming in and picked off the final two wickets to take his tally to 7 for the night. First was Tim Southee as he nicked off to KL Rahul to give Shami his 6^th. 

Southee departs after getting caught behind for 9 runs.

After a six from Lockie Ferguson, Shami sealed the deal for India as New Zealand finished 327 all out after 48.5 overs. A terrific all-round performance from the hosts saw them reach the finals of the WC.

Rohit Sharma and Kane Williamson shook hands after match was wrapped up.

NEW ZEALAND INNINGS SUMMARY:

NEW ZEALAND 327 (48.5) RR: 6.69	INDIA BOWLING
Daryl Mitchell: 134 (119)	Mohammed Shami: 7-57 (9.5)
Kane Williamson: 69 (73)	Jasprit Bumrah: 1-64 (10)
Glenn Phillips: 41 (33)	Kuldeep Yadav: 1-56 (10)
Devon Conway: 13 (15)	Mohammed Siraj: 1-78 (9)

MATCH SUMMARY:

INDIA (TOSS WON)	NEW ZEALAND
397-4	327
Virat Kohli: 117 (113)	Daryl Mitchell: 134 (119)
Shreyas Iyer: 105 (70)	Kane Williamson: 69 (73)
Shubman Gill: 80 (66)	Glenn Phillips: 41 (33)
Rohit Sharma: 47 (29)	Devon Conway: 13 (15)
50 OVERS	48.5 OVERS
Tim Southee: 3-100 (10)	Mohammed Shami: 7-57(9.5)
Trent Boult: 1-86 (10) Mitchell Santner: 0-51 (10)	Kuldeep Yadav: 1-56 (10) Jasprit Bumrah: 1-64 (10)