Mohammed Shami claimed career best figures of 7/57 in front of 32,801 crowd as The Men in Blue booked their spot in the final of the World Cup by defeating New Zealand by 70 runs in the first semi final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday.
After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill got India off to a brisk start. The pair added 71 runs for the opening wicket before the former fell to a fine running catch by Kane Williamson off Tim Southee for a 29 ball-47.
Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill then featured in a 93 run stand for the second wicket stand before the latter had to retired hurt due to cramps on 79 . Kohli along with Shreyas Iyer laid a solid base by adding 163 runs for the second wicket stand.
The Star batsman Kohli surpassed Tendulkar’s record of 50 ODI hundreds. The 35 year created yet another record of the little master, surpassing his tally of 673 runs at the 2003 World Cup- which is the most in the single edition of the ODI World Cup.
Kohli has now scored 711 runs in 10 innings. The former Indian skipper (117) smashed 9 fours and 2 sixes in his sterling knock before perishing to Tim Southee, while attempting a big hit.
Shreyas Iyer continued his rich vein of form by scoring a magnificent 105. His knock came off 70 balls with 4 fours and 8 sixes.
KL Rahul provided the finishing touches to the innings by scoring a breezy unbeaten 20 ball-39 to take The Men in Blue to a mammoth 397/4 in their 50 overs.
In response, openers Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra got New Zealand off to a steady start. The pair added 30 runs for the opening wicket before Mohammed Shami dismissed both openers.
Daryl Mitchell and skipper Kane Williamson (69 off 73) put on 181 runs for the third wicket. Williamson got a reprieve when Shami dropped a relatively easy catch off Jasprit Bumrah. However the fast bowler made amends by dismissing New Zealand skipper caught at backward square leg boundary for 69. In the same over, he trapped Tom Latham leg before wicket for a duck.
Mitchell and Glenn Phillips then added 75 runs for the fifth wicket stand before the latter was dismissed by Bumrah for 41. Shami then dented the visitors hope by dismissing Mitchell (134) caught at deep midwicket.
The Indian pacer polished off the tail as New Zealand were bowled out for 327, thereby losing the contest by 70 runs.
With this victory, the Men in Blue will meet meet either Australia or South Africa in the final at Ahmedabad on November 19, Sunday.
India 397 for 4 (Kohli 117, Iyer 105, Gill 80*, Southee 3-100) beat New Zealand 327 (Mitchell 134, Williamson 69, Shami 7-57) by 70 runs