IND vs NZ | Twitter reacts as India romp to final with 70-run victory on back of Kohli-Iyer-Shami heroics

IND vs NZ | Twitter reacts as India romp to final with 70-run victory on back of Kohli-Iyer-Shami heroics

SportsCafe Desk

By SportsCafe Desk, SportsCafe Editor

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India continued to be at their unassailable best in the semi-final at Wankhede on Wednesday as they overwhelmed New Zealand by 70 runs. Centuries from Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer helped the hosts post 397 on the board before Mohammed Shami singlehandedly decapitated the Kiwis with seven scalps.

After opting to bat first, skipper Rohit Sharma got India off to a flier as he has done throughout the tournament. The opener smashed four sixes and as many boundaries in his 29-ball 47 to help the Men in Blue accumulate 84 runs in the powerplay. His fellow opener Shubman Gill took on the mantle for scoring quickly thereon, reaching 50 in just 41 balls while Virat Kohli kept the scorecard ticking at the other end. The two dominated the Kiwi attack in their 93-run partnership before Gill fell foul to cramps and had to retire hurt for 79 in the 23rd over with the scoreboard reading 164/1. Nevertheless, there was no respite for the Black Caps as Shreyas Iyer picked up from exactly where Gill had left off with an exceptional display of six-hitting. His partnership with Kohli was worth 100 runs in just 79 deliveries before the latter registered a record-breaking 50th ODI ton. The veteran finally departed in the 44th over for 117 to end the 164-run stand that had come at a strike rate of 127.34 but the stage was set at 327/2. Shortly after, Iyer got to his century off just 67 balls, a knock laced with eight sixes, while KL Rahul's quick unbeaten cameo of 39 in just 29 balls helped India accumulate 110 runs off the last 10 overs and post a daunting target of 398.

In response, Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra attempted to battle against the white rocking moving significantly under lights but failed to survive the powerplay, succumbing to Mohammed Shami in successive overs. However, the Men in Blue failed to capitalize on their excellent start as Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell ran the bowlers ragged. The former kept scoring at run-a-ball while the latter cleared the boundary regularly in an indomitable third-wicket stand of 181. As long as the two were on the crease, the initially climbing required run rate was kept in check but Mohammed Shami turned things around once again with two wickets in three balls, including that of the skipper for 69. The Black Caps still required 178 runs in under 18 overs and once Mitchell succumbed in the 46th over for 134, matters were practically sealed. Shami dismissed the last remaining batter in the 49th over to end with brilliant figures of 7/57, rising to the top of wicket-taking charts and securing India a berth in the final.

Never a dull moment!

Thirsty for both

Into the final

The game changer

Good catch

Power of super star

Looking like a wow

Lol

Don't underestimate Shami

Vivian Richards congratulating

At the very right time

Legend congratulating legend

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