Mohammed Shami’s five-wicket haul, Virat Kohli’s 95 put an end to India’s losing streak of 20 years against New Zealand in ICC events. In the end, it turned out to be an easy run chase for India with Kohli anchoring it from one end with his 95-run knock and Ravindra Jadeja ensuring there is no anti-climax in Dharamsala. India won the match by four wickets with 12 balls to spare to continue the unbeaten run in the World Cup 2023.
Rohit won the toss and opted to field first. Jasprit Bumrah started off with a maiden over. Devon Conway did not get off the mark and played a release shot against Mohammed Siraj to lose his wicket as Shreyas Iyer took a brilliant catch. Will Young hit a few boundaries but Shami got the wicket off the first ball he bowled in the tournament. In his next over, Shami almost got the wicket of Rachin Ravindra but Jadeja dropped a rare regulation catch. He was batting on 12 then.
Mitchell and Ravindra took on Kuldeep Yadav in the middle overs. They wanted to capitalise on India playing with just five bowlers. Ravindra brought up his half-century from 56 balls. In the 27th over, Mitchell completed his half-century from 60 balls. Jadeja would have broken the partnership in the 30th over but KL Rahul could not get his glove on the edge. The partnership was broken in the 34th over by Shami. He scored 75 runs from 87 balls including six fours and a six. Kuldeep came back well and would have got Mitchell's prized wicket had Bumrah not dropped his catch. In the 37th over, Kuldeep got the wicket of Kiwi skipper Tom Latham.
Mitchell got to his century from 100 balls. Kuldeep finished his quota of overs with the wicket of Phillips. Bumrah in the 47th over dismissed Mark Chapman with a short ball. In the 48th over, Shami struck twice off consecutive deliveries to dismiss Mitchell Santner and Matt Henry. In the final over, Mitchell hit Shami for a six and a four. Shami completed his fifer off the penultimate ball of the innings. Mitchell scored 130 runs from 127 balls including nine fours and five sixes. On the last ball, Ferguson got run out trying to sneak a quick single via byes. New Zealand got all out for 273.
Rohit shrugged off the ghosts of the 2019 World Cup semi-final and got off the mark with a four against Trent Boult on the second ball. In the next over, Rohit hit Henry for a six followed by a four. In the next over, a half chance was created by Boult but the ball raced towards the boundary. Shubman Gill hit Henry for a boundary as well. Rohit hit Boult for another single. Gill hit more boundaries as India crossed the fifty-run mark in the eighth over. Rohit continued the carnage with fours and sixes. He did not spare Santner either. The partnership was broken by Ferguson in the 12th over. Rohit went after chasing a delivery wide of off stump and dragged it back to the stumps. He scored 46 runs from 40 balls including four fours and as many sixes.
Kohli got off the mark with a boundary. In Ferguson's next over, Gill went for the uppercut and got caught at third man. He scored 26 runs from 31 balls. Shreyas Iyer started off with a flurry of boundaries before fog played spoilsport and stopped play for a while. Kohli hit Ferguson for two more boundaries. In the 22nd over, Boult ended Iyer's cameo. He scored 33 runs from 29 balls including six fours. Rahul and Iyer batted cautiously. Kohli took on Rachin and hit a six dancing down the track. Santner broke the partnership by trapping Rahul in front of the wickets as DRS went New Zealand's way. He scored 27 runs from 35 balls. In the same over, Kohli got to his half-century from 60 balls. On his World Cup debut, Suryakumar Yadav had a forgettable start. He got run out after a huge mix-up with Kohli in the 34th over.
After playing a few dot deliveries, Jadeja hit Ferguson for two fours. He hit Rachin for a massive six as well. In the 47th over, Kohli hit Boult for a six and a four. Once again, he wanted to go for a century to equal Sachin Tendulkar's tally. But Kohli got out in an attempt to hit a six. Kohli scored 95 runs from 104 balls including eight fours and two sixes. After his wicket, Shami took a single and Jadeja finished the run chase with a boundary. India won the match by four wickets with two overs to spare. Jadeja remained unbeaten for 39 off 44 balls.
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