Kohli, Shami Star As India Defeats New Zealand To Reach World Cup Final

India has continued its dream run in the 2023 World Cup as it defeated New Zealand in the first semi-final match played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

India defeated New Zealand by 70 runs with Mohammad Shami picking seven wickets.

Shami, who was awarded the Man of The Match Award, achieved a remarkable feat by securing his fourth 5-wicket haul in the World Cup. It is his fourth 5-wicket haul in the tournament.

In 9.5 overs, Shami took seven wickets for 57 runs. It is the best bowling figure for an Indian bowler in the ODI World Cup. The semifinal tilted heavily in India's favour after Rohit Sharma's team put on board a massive 397 for four in 50 overs.

It was Daryl Mitchell's valiant 134 off 119 balls that had the Indian hearts racing as the equation became a gettable 112 from 54-balls with six wickets in hand but Kuldeep Yadav delivered under pressure a price-less two-run 42nd over that released the pressure.

Pacer Mohammed Shami, who had scalped top four Kiwi batters earlier, then sealed the fate of the Kiwis by ending Mitchell's belligerent knock and ended up with a gold-standard seven-wicket haul.

Shami is serving reminders of his class in each and every game since making the playing XI after being left out initially and he only made it bigger at the big stage.

When it was alleged that India tried to take advantage by opting for spin-friendly track, it was a fast bowler that made the ball talk.

New Zealand ended its innings at 327 in 48.5 overs.

Rohit lauded his batters for helping the team post an imposing 397 for 4, that the Mumbaikar felt forced the Kiwis to take some risks during the chase."I have played a lot of cricket here Wankhede Stadium, and you can't relax with any score on this ground. Yeah, they wouldn't have taken those risks had India not posted 397. Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell batted brilliantly. It was important for us to stay calm. We knew that we needed a catch or run out and Shami was brilliant."

On his turn, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson was understandably crestfallen but gave credit to India for playing outstanding cricket throughout this showpiece. "Congrats to India, they played outstandingly well, probably their best game today. Chasing 400 was naturally going to be a tough but proud effort to stay in the fight. Disappointing to go out but super proud of the effort that's gone in for the last seven weeks. But India are top class, have world-class batters who didn't give us a sniff really. They deserve to be where they are, played outstandingly well."

Earlier, Virat Kohli's world record 50th ODI hundred and a scintillating century by Shreyas Iyer propelled India to an imposing 397 for four against New Zealand in the first semifinal of the World Cup here on Wednesday.

Rohit Sharma's (47 off 29 balls) pyrotechnics, tons by Kohli (117 off 113) and Iyer (105 off 70), and a fluent 65-ball 79 by Shubman Gill, who retired hurt due to cramps, powered India after the skipper won a good toss.

Rohit, as is his wont, went after the bowling straightaway, and almost killed the contest in the first hour of play at the Wankhede Stadium, his dazzling array of stokes leaving the Kiwis bruised and battered.

Going for one too many, Rohit fell for a 29-ball 47 but Gill took over from there and continued to torment the Kiwis with his repertoire of strokes.

After Gill was forced to go back, Kohli and Iyer carried on the good work to set New Zealand an improbable target. Gill, though, came back and remained not out on 80 off 66 balls.

During the course of his innings, Kohli also became the first batter in the history of the game to score 50 ODI centuries, going past his idol Sachin Tendulkar.