Team Blitz India
NEW DELHI: Inspired by Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami, India has overcome a valiant New Zealand fightback to enter the World Cup 2023 final on November 15. India beat New Zealand by 70 runs after setting a target of 398 in the tournament’s first semifinal in Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
The result seemed a formality when India, backed by a partisan home crowd at pegged back New Zealand’s stiff chase by dismissing both their openers for 39 runs in the eighth over.
However, Daryl Mitchell struck a hard-fought blistering century to lead New Zealand’s fightback along with his captain, Kane Williamson, who scored 69 runs in a 181-run partnership.
But India, banking on the cushion of a huge total, opened the gates of the New Zealand batting with the wicket of Glenn Phillips and all but sealed the win with Mitchell’s dismissal in the 46th over.
Pace bowler Shami took seven wickets to make up for dropping Williamson’s catch earlier on. Shami said his team were determined not to let the chance of winning a home World Cup slip out of their hands.
