Virat Kohli’s crafty 95 has trumped Daryl Mitchell’s rapid 130 as hosts India beat New Zealand by four wickets in a top-of-the-table clash in the World Cup.
Kohli could not complete the chase but was instrumental again as India reached a victory target of 274 with two overs to spare on Sunday to maintain their unbeaten run in the tournament and end New Zealand’s.
Their fifth successive win put the twice champions at the top of the table followed by 2019 runners-up New Zealand.
Mitchell smashed a rapid hundred but New Zealand did not get the late flourish and were all out for 273 in exactly 50 overs.
Mitchell forged a 159-run partnership with Rachin Ravindra (75) before the Indian bowlers applied the brake.
Mohammed Shami led India’s spirited bowling effort, claiming 5-54 in his first match of the tournament which earned him player-of-the-match award.
Skipper Rohit Sharma (46) led India’s rollicking start but it was Kohli’s fourth 50-plus score in five innings that helped to inflict on New Zealand their first defeat of the tournament.
“Good start to the tournament but our job is half done,” Rohit said of India’s perfect start to the campaign.
“At one stage, New Zealand put up a big partnership there… we have to give credit to the bowlers in the back end.”
Electing to field, India dominated the powerplay segment, reducing New Zealand to 2-34, but subsequently dropped three catches to let their opponents off the hook.
Ravindra’s was an eventful knock as he survived two lbw reviews and even had a caught-behind decision against him overturned.
A genuine reprieve came when Ravindra Jadeja, a safe catcher otherwise, dropped a sitter at backward point.
Mitchell also had his share of good fortune. KL Rahul dropped him behind the stumps when on 59 and later Jasprit Bumrah floored a regulation catch in the deep.
Once Shami had dismissed Ravindra, New Zealand, cruising at 3-205 in the 37th over, collapsed in a heap, managing 54 runs in the last 10 overs and losing six wickets.
Rohit gave India a flying start, smacking four sixes in his effortless knock, as the hosts raced to 71 for no loss in 10 overs.
Lockie Ferguson broke the stand with a wide delivery which Rohit dragged on to his stumps. In his next over, Ferguson cut short Shubman Gill’s promising knock of 26.
India reached 2-100 in the 15th over when heavy fog caused low visibility, forcing the players off the pitch for a while.
After play resumed, Trent Boult bounced out Shreyas Iyer (33) and New Zealand dragged themselves back into the contest with the wickets of KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav.
Kohli and Jadeja, who made 39 not out, then combined in a crucial stand to set up India’s victory.
Sensing a second successive century after his unbeaten ton in Pune against Bangladesh, Kohli refused a single but holed out in the very next ball with India on the verge of victory.
“Towards the back 10 overs, we didn’t quite capitalise on the position we were in but credit for India for how they bowled,” New Zealand captain Tom Latham said.
“We probably left a few out there.”
Sam.T
Roar Rookie
The only benefit NZ will get as you said, they can only improve and importantly it gives India a false sense of security in the latter stages of the tournament about already beaten NZ.
Sam.T
Roar Rookie
at least the BCs gave India a better game than Australia. I still think this Indian team will crack under pressure at the latter stages of the tournament
Ed Flanders
Roar Rookie
Rubbish. If the powers that be were as concerned with the tail as you are - you are making them sound like the bad under 8's team on Saturday - then India stand no chance of winning this world cup.
Brasstax
Roar Rookie
I am an Indian and unlike most Indians who blindly worship star cricketers, am not afraid to call a spade a spade. Yesterday we saw an appalling and unacceptable display of selfishness by Kohli. A lot of roarers poured scorn on the author of a previous article highlighting Kohli’s selfishness in prioritizing his ton over the team’s NRR in the win against Bangladesh. Kohli himself later said it was Rahul who insisted that he score a ton. But Kohli cannot hide behind anyone else for his behavior yesterday. India had 4 number 11s from 8 to 11. He turned down a single and then got out next delivery leaving Shami 2 deliveries to face. What if India had lost 2 wickets in those 2 balls and Jadeja dismissed the first delivery of the 49th over? Given yesterday’s Indian tail, it wasn’t outside the realm of possibility. Where would Kohli have hidden had this happened and India lost the game?
La grandeur d'Athéna
Roar Rookie
Call me a pessimist,but i am yet to be convinced that our boys have delivered complete performance. Yesterday being at 190/5, we could almost sense trouble if there was another early wicket. It looks good on paper that we have won 5 out of 5 matches, but i am having deja vu of 2015, 7 match 70 wickets,remaining unbeaten, then came the day of reckoning. We need to ask ourselves some hard questions-- 1. Has the dependency on our top 3 reduced? It seems we are very dependent on Rohit delivering upfront and Virat taking us through. While Virat's resurgence is a good sign, both Rohit and Virat has a history of failing at biggest occasion. Did our middle order deliver solid performance? I do not think so. Rahul's form is a big plus though. 2. So far we have been lucky to be the chasing team. If yesterday's match was other way around, If New Zealand was the chasing team, would we win? It took us 48 over to chase 274 in relatively easier batting condition. When New Zealand was batting, the slower balls were gripping, it was evident by their batting in last 10 overs.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
I don't think this was a bad result for the Black Caps, Naturally they'll be disappointed to lose, but when they sit down and properly analyse the match, they'll realise they probably played about 80 - 90% as well as they could, whereas India probably only has room to improve in their catching. Latham was right when he said his team left some runs out there, but that was down to some excellent bowling in the last 15 overs from the Indian quicks, coupled with some very good field placings. Teams have to learn how to bat on Indian pitches when the ball gets soft. India also struggles to a degree, but they combat this by going hard early, making it relatively easy to coast home when batting conditions are the toughest. It also helps when you have a bat like Kohli in blazing form. I'll bet the Aussies are wishing Steve Smith can do likewise soon. India's still the team to beat in this tournament, but red hot favourites? Hmmmmm
whymuds
Roar Rookie
First time India has been tested for a prolonged period and we did ok. Some dropped catches, sloppy ground fielding, but did well to claw back in the death overs. Batting was composed after the blitz by the openers. Important to play with so much tension in the lead up to the semis, which is where India do their implosion in ICC events! Last week there was on op ed on The Roar about Kohli and Rahul not rotating the strike so Kohli could score his century against Bangladesh in the dying stages of the game. For many reason, such as the context of that game and the fact there are countless precedents in cricket (Australian cricket included) and other sports where teammates help others reach personal milestones when the result in beyond doubt, I was fully supportive of what Kohli and Rahul did. But I think Kohli did it again last night. India needed 5 to win from 16 balls, Jadeja at the non-strikers end with Shami in next. Against a very good NZ team. For me, this was not the situation to turn down a single. Next ball, Kohli tries to smash a 6 (thankfully he didn't waste any more deliveries) and gets caught. This was not the time / situation to think about getting to 100 and play a big shot. Should have taken the singles and got the W safely.