In the Semi-Final 1 of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, India beat New Zealand by 70 runs at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Following this victory, the home side claimed their spot for the grand finale in Ahmedabad, which will be played on November 19.
Indian captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bat first on a batting friendly Wankhede deck, and the Men-in-Blue were right on the money with the blade once again. Both the openers Rohit (47) and Shubman Gill (80*) gave a superb start as usual, and then it was once again Virat Kohli (117) who came to the turf, once again showed his brilliance, and scored his 50th ODI ton, and broke the record of Sachin Tendulkar, who possessed the feat of highest ODI tons. This was his third WC century in this edition, and he is also leading the charts of highest run scorer in the current competition. Along with Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (105) played an illustrious knock, and scored his second consecutive World Cup hundred. KL Rahul (39*), in the end, played a brisk cameo, and helped his side to score a massive 397 runs with the loss of four wickets in their 50 overs quota.
In response to the humungous total, the Kiwis did not get the perfect start as they wished. Both the openers Devon Conway (13) and Rachin Ravindra (13) got out by Mohammad Shami. But the Blackcaps showed a brilliant fightback as the skipper Kane Williamson (69) and Daryl Mitchell (134) built a crucial partnership of 181 runs that helped their side to be in the chase, but it was Shami once again, who broke the partnership, as he dismissed Williamson in the 33rd over, and also took wicket of Tom Latham in the very same over. Daryl, on the other side showed his resistance with a masterclass ton, and along with Glenn Phillips (41) knit 75 runs partnership, and keep the scoreboard ticking, but the required rune rate was soaring high which advanced pressure on the two-time finalists, that crumbled their chasing progress, and got all out on 327 runs in 48.5 overs.
With the ball for India, Shami scalped seven wickets, and claimed best bowling figure by an Indian bowler in the history of World Cups. He also became the highest wicket taker in the ongoing World Cup edition. Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Kuldeep Yadav secured one wicket each.
It was a terrible day in the business for the NZ bowlers, Only Trent Boult and Tim Southee were the wicket takers, but were highly expensive.
For his magnificent performance with the ball, Mohammad Shami was adjudged Player of the Match.
Scorecard:
India: 397/4, Overs 50, Virat Kohli 117, Tim Southee 3-100
New Zealand: 320/10, Overs 48.5, Daryl Mitchell 134, Mohammad Shami 7/57