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“I wouldn’t say,” Rohit adds, “that there was no pressure.” That is a memorable double negative. And his team have now won ten games in a row. They go through to the final on Sunday (8.30am GMT). Tomorrow (also at 8.30) we have the second semi-final, to see whether it’s South Africa or Australia who get the honour of making up the numbers in the final.
Time for me to clock off. The day belongs to Mohammed Shami, though Rohit, Gill, Kohli, Iyer and Jadeja were not too shabby either. What a team they are. Thanks for your company, correspondence and views on the dew, which, in the end, was the dog that didn’t bark in the night.
One last factoid for you. At this World Cup India have won five games chasing, the narrowest margin being four wickets, against New Zealand in the group stage. And they have won five games batting first, the narrowest margin being 70 runs, against New Zealand today.
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And here’s Rohit Sharma. “I’ve played a lot of cricket here, so I know any score on this ground – you cannot relax. We knew there would be a partnership. You gotta stay calm, we were a bit sloppy, but I’m glad that we could get the job done in the end.
“When the scoring rate is above nine, you’ve got to keep taking your chances. Mitchell and Williamson batted brilliantly. At one point, yes, the crowd went absolutely silent, but that’s the nature of the game… Shami was brilliant.”
“Well played NZ,” says Arul Kanhere. “The only team which has put India under such sustained pressure throughout two games. Whatever they say about bowling attacks winning tournaments … this semifinal was won by the batsmen.” Ha. I take your point, but it was Shami wot won it, wasn’t it?
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Here’s Kane Williamson, measured as ever. “Firstly,” he says, “congratulations to India. They’ve played outstandingly well in this competition and perhaps played their best game today.”
He declines an offer to blame his bowlers. “India didn’t give us a sniff, really. It was tough [batting] out there, the ball swung a lot initially… Credit to India… Unbelievable crowd, great to be a part of it.”
“I have to say,” writes Nasiya, “I am loving Rohit Sharma’s demeanour as captain. Unlike the sphinx-like Dhoni and the over-the-top exuberance of Kohli, Rohit has the grumpy face of someone exasperated by the traffic on his daily commute. Exactly like all of us Indians.” Ha.
“I especially like how he doesn’t hide his frustration at a team mate’s misfield and shakes his head long after a dropped catch.” I hope he did that after dropping one himself.
“This is the best Indian cricket team I have seen,” says Krish, “and I have been watching cricket for 43 years.
“Has anyone,” he wonders, “taken seven wickets in an ODI before?”
They have. It’s only the 14th-best set of figures in a men’s ODI. Chaminda Vaas tops the list with an eight-for, but then that wasn’t in a semi-final.
Shami gives a cheerful interview, as you might in his shoes. He says he just tried to keep it simple.
And the player of the match is ...
Mohammed Shami! His final figures were 9.5-0-57-7, the stuff of magic.
Shami, bloody hell. He is now the leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 23, one more than Adam Zampa of Australia. He had already taken two five-wicket hauls; now he’s added a seven-for. That’s like a batter scoring about 250.
The New Zealanders gave it a good go, but Shami shackled them with those two early wickets … and then returned to take five more. Long ago, in the first half of the day, Virat Kohli made yet another century, his 50th in one-day internationals, beating Sachin Tendulkar’s record. I really hope that isn’t allowed to overshadow Shami’s performance, which was out of this world. Oh, and Shreyas Iyer made a hundred too, much faster than Kohli’s, while Daryl Mitchell made one for NZ, his second against India in this World Cup.
In all, we’ve seen 624 runs in the day. And when there are that many runs to be made, the match is won by the bowlers.
WICKET!! India are in the final, Shami has a seven-for
Ferguson c Rahul b Shami 6 (Boult 2no, NZ 327 all out) Yet another snick, and Mohammed Shami’s triumph is complete. He has 7 for 57, India have won by 70 runs, and Virat Kohli has been thoroughly upstaged.
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@TimdeLisle Imagine what the scores would've been had they used the new wicket!
— Brendan Large (@brendanlarge) November 15, 2023
Wicket! Southee c Rahul b Shami 9 (NZ 321-9)
Another one for Shami! He has six wickets in a World Cup semi-final.
Wicket! Santner c Rohit b Siraj 9 (NZ 319-8)
48th over: New Zealand 320-8 (Southee 9, Boult 1) Rohit dropped a catch a few minutes ago, but it hardly mattered and now he holds one to see off Santner. It was a slow bouncer from Siraj and Santner couldn’t get more than a toe-end on it.
Lockie Ferguson will only bat if required, so Trent Boult gets a rare outing at No 10. NZ need 78 off two overs: India are through.
47th over: New Zealand 313-7 (Santner 8, Southee 4) Bumrah, still baffling the batters, goes for just five off this over and finishes with 10-1-64-1. It’s all over bar the dancing.
Alistair Connor is back in my inbox, quoting himself from earlier. “I expect them to go down to/in the 47th over,” he wrote some time ago, “with less than 20 runs lacking.” Now he adds: “You may choose to quote me in full when it comes true eh?” Ha. Visionary about the overs, sadly not about the runs. NZ still need 85.
46th over: New Zealand 308-7 (Santner 5, Southee 1) Mohammed Shami has five for 50 from nine overs. He has been the Geoff Hurst of this World Cup, going from a spare part to a superstar.
What a moment that was. Mitchell departs for 134, the highest score ever made in a World Cup semi-final. Mohammed Shami, the real player of this match, gets another five-wicket haul, his third of this World Cup. And Ravi Jadeja gets his third boundary catch in a row – Mitchell had flicked Shami high, and not hard enough, to deep square. With apologies to Kohli and Iyer, that this match in a nutshell.
WICKET!! Mitchell c Jadeja b Shami 134 (NZ 306-7)
Jadeja again! Shami again! And Mitchell a-goner!
45th over: New Zealand 306-6 (Mitchell 134, Santner 4) “Mitchell needs to do a Maxwell here,” says Nasser Hussain. The trouble is that India are giving him the single, and he can’t quite bring himself to turn it down. And Bumrah is bowling – yorkers, slower balls, nothing very hittable. Mitch Santner is looking for hard-run twos, which would be a great idea if NZ didn’t require three runs from every ball. They need 92 off five overs.
44th over: New Zealand 299-6 (Mitchell 132, Santner 0) One brings two, for the third time in this innings. For once, Shami is not involved: instead it’s a right-and-left for Jadeja, expertly positioned by Rohit, taking this catch on the rope at deep square. And it’s a hard-earned wicket for Kuldeep, who finishes with a very handy 10-0-55-1.
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WICKET! Chapman c Jadeja b Kuldeep 2 (NZ 298-6)
Jadeja again!
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43rd over: New Zealand 295-5 (Mitchell 131, Chapman 0) Bumrah returned, bearing yorkers, at full speed for the first three balls. Phillips managed a snick for four, but when the slower ball finally came, he was through the shot too early. Jadeja, on the long-off boundary, never looked like dropping it.
Seven off the over, and a wicket. NZ are doomed, surely, because with Mitchell in pain, Phillips was making most of the running.
WICKET! Phillips c Jadeja b Bumrah 41 (NZ 295-5)
Bumrah comes back and boom! Phillips skies his slower ball.
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42nd over: New Zealand 288-4 (Mitchell 128, Phillips 37) After that big over, the Kiwis need a couple more. Not on my watch, says Kuldeep Yadav. Somehow he produces four dots, and the other two balls are singles. That may well be a match-sealing over.
Here’s Colum Fordham, the EW Swanton of the OBO – always ready with a summary. “Hello from Naples,” he says, “where my students don’t know the difference between cricket and baseball. On reflection, maybe the Kiwi batters better go into baseball mode.
”New Zealand are at least giving India a match of sorts and Mitchell has been sublime. Cramped up, he needs to be the Kiwis’ answer to Glenn Maxwell and Phillips has to go big now he’s played himself in. Although the run rate is almost impossible, NZ do have wickets in hand so they can’t be afraid to take their chances. The problem is that India’s bowlers (led by the sensational Shami) are on another level.”
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41st over: New Zealand 286-4 (Mitchell 127, Phillips 36) An eighth over for Siraj too, still aiming for the empty slip cordon. A wide, then a six for Phillips, with a clever lofted slice. And another! Over long-off – higher, less wide and more handsome. The Indian faces in the crowd are suddenly tense. Another wide. That’s 15 off the over and there are still three balls to go!
Phillips plays a squirt square, for four. Then he nearly chops on, but he can afford that. A graph shows that India have bowled the fewest slower balls of any team in the tournament, only 14pc. Phillips cuts, to backward point again, and gets only one for it as there’s a good save on the boundary from Shubman Gill. Twenty off the over! NZ need 112 off 54 balls. But they’re only six runs behind India at the same stage…
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40th over: New Zealand 266-4 (Mitchell 126, Phillips 19) Shami bowls his eighth over. One, dot, one, dot … something’s got to give. Mitchell plays a ramp off middle stump, for six! Nine off the over, still not enough. The rate required climbs to 13.
Another record goes up in smoke. This is the highest aggregate in a men’s World Cup knockout game, with 663 scored so far from 90 overs. Anyone else old enough to remember when Sunil Gavaskar made 36 not out off 60? Overs, not balls.
“Looking at this matchup from the perspective of an American sports fan,” says Paul Burns, “I thought the best analogue might be the 1991 NCAA men’s basketball semifinal, when upstart Duke derailed the seemingly invincible Nevada - Las Vegas. Alas, it’s turning out more like the 1990 version.” I’ll have to take your word for it.
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39th over: New Zealand 257-4 (Mitchell 118, Phillips 18) Siraj continues, and Rohit continues to micro-manage him even though India are already an over behind on the clock. Phillips, growing into there game, flashes for four. Mitchell deflects for four more – the ball would have been a wide, but he saw that a toe-end and a cute angle would allow him cash in through backward point. Twelve off the over, and that’s a bit less than they need!
He’s the king of the swingers.
Highest wickets per innings in men's World Cup career, 10 innings minimum:
— Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket) November 15, 2023
Shami, 3.00 per inns, 17 inns;
Shaheen Afridi, 2.43, 14;
Starc, 2.27, 26;
Zampa, 2.08, 13;
Brett Lee, 2.06, 17;
Malinga, 2.00, 28;
Waqar, 2.00, 11;
Madal Lal, 2.00, 11.
38th over: New Zealand 245-4 (Mitchell 113, Phillips 11) Ah, Shami was just changing ends. Mitchell has to go big and he does, swinging through the line to hit another of those trademark straight sixes. New Zealand have to go down swinging. Shami goes round the wicket, cat and mouse. Mitchell times a straight drive, back past Shami’s toes, but it’s cruelly cut off by the stumps at the non-striker’s end. NZ need 153 from 72 balls. And they need three big overs now.
37th over: New Zealand 236-4 (Mitchell 106, Phillips 9) Rohit elects to keep four overs of Shami up his sleeve, rather curiously, and brings back Mohammed Siraj. After some lengthy discussions, he dishes up some wide yorkers. Three dots, then a single, a two, a wide, another single. Nothing to bother India there: this partnership is 16 off 26 balls, which is hopeless. NZ need 162 from 78 balls at 12.46 an over.
News from elsewhere, not before time. Babar is a wonderful player and a less than wonderful captain.
Big news in Pakistan - Babar Azam steps down as captain, all formats https://t.co/fpIMi5gE7O
— Ali Martin (@Cricket_Ali) November 15, 2023
36th over: New Zealand 231-4 (Mitchell 105, Phillips 6) Even singles are agony now for Mitchell. There’s a delay, two balls into Jadeja’s last over, while he gets some treatment. Phillips plays his first shot of any authority, a classy late cut for four. Jadeja finishes with 10-0-63-0. He took some punishment from Mitchell (37 balls, 40 runs), but he found some crucial thrift when India needed it, straight after drinks. The rate required is now virtually two runs a ball – 167 from 84. Almost impossible.
“I think the idea behind Latham,” says Arun Kanhere, “was him playing the anchor role like Williamson.” Maybe, but this is no time for anchors. I suspect it’s one of those things that would have been changed if the captain had been in the dressing-room to make the decision.
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35th over: New Zealand 224-4 (Mitchell 103, Phillips 1) Shami continues, as well he may when he still has four overs left after this one. The third of his wickets – the big one, Williamson – was his 50th in World Cups, and he’s done it in only 17 innings.
Glenn Phillips, after seven rather agonising dots, finally dabs a single to leg. The problem is that Mitchell is only good for singles too at the moment, on account of his cramp. The four overs since drinks have yielded only 11 runs for two wickets.
“Never underestimate a cornered Kiwi!” Alistair Connor said in an email sent about an hour ago. They’re a bit more cornered now.
34th over: New Zealand 221-4 (Mitchell 101, Phillips 0) Now Jadeja gets through an over for just one run. And Mitchell is flat out with cramp. India, surely, are in the World Cup final.
33rd over: New Zealand 220-4 (Williamson 69, Phillips 0) So Shami has changed the game for the second time this evening. (Third, if you count the catch he dropped.) He now has 4 for 27. I hope he says to Virat Kohli, “Mate, you just missed the Player of the Match award.”
At drinks, Rohit called his team into a huddle and had what looked like some stern words with them. After that he went back to his most reliable bowlers, Jadeja and Shami. One delivered three dots, the other two wickets. They were helped by NZ sending in Latham, a strange pick at No 5 in this situation when he’s so out of form.
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WICKET! Latham LBW b Shami 0 (NZ 220-4)
One brings two!!
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WICKET! Williamson c S Yadav b Shami 69 (NZ 220-3)
Williamson flicks, rather more flamboyantly than usual, and the ball carries to long leg!
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A hundred to Daryl Mitchell!
With a flick off Shami, Mitchell goes to a magnificent hundred – his second against India at this World Cup.
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32nd over: New Zealand 219-2 (Williamson 69, Mitchell 99) Hang on, Mitchell may just be getting an attack of the nervous 98s. He allows Jadeja to bowl three dots in a row. But then he finds a single and Williamson throws in a pull for four.
Drinks: NZ threatening to make it a thriller
31st over: New Zealand 213-2 (Williamson 64, Mitchell 98) Mitchell made 130 against India just the other day – and copped some flak for slowing down as he approached his century. He show he’s learnt from that mistake by lofting Bumrah for six. Williamson adds four with an inside-out drive, there are four singles, and that’s 14 off the over. Magnificent. The rate required tumbles to 9.73.
Here’s Kim Thonger. “Reading about the Rwanda court decision,” he muses, “might it not be sensible for the authorities to assess cricketing ability upon asylum seeker arrival at the Kent coast? Many of them will presumably originate from cricket-playing nations. We’d all feel pretty foolish if we find later we’ve sent talented young players off to Rwanda, strengthening their cricket team for subsequent World Cups. The trials could easily be subcontracted to Kent CCC and fast-track citizenship enabled for promising cases.
“PS I’m joking of course. Jokes are still allowed, right?” They are. In these parts, they’re even encouraged.
30th over: New Zealand 199-2 (Williamson 58, Mitchell 90) Ten runs an over means two fours an over. These two manage it here against Kuldeep – Williamson with a slog-sweep, Mitchell with a reverse. A few minutes ago, Williamson had six runs off the previous five overs, to Mitchell’s 30, but he’s back at the party now.
Ian Smith spots that if you double the score at 30 overs, you get 398. “Take one off and we’’ll have a Super Over.” I’d settle for a close finish of any description.
Williamson dropped!
29th over: New Zealand 188-2 (Williamson 53, Mitchell 84) Rohit decides he needs to do something about this partnership and brings back Jasprit Bumrah. He starts with a slower ball, making Morgan wonder if the Indians have noticed the pitch getting slower. The next ball is the first Mitchell has faced from Bumrah this evening, and he swings it, one-handed, for four! Later in the over, Williamson cloths a pull and Shami drops it at mid-on! Not a hard one. This game is just a series of exclamation marks. NZ need 210 off 21 overs.
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28th over: New Zealand 180-2 (Williamson 51, Mitchell 78) For a change, Mitchell hits a reverse sweep for four off Kuldeep. But it’s still a decent over for India – six off it, and the required rate is as near as dammit to the dreaded double figures. NZ need 218 off 20 overs.
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27th over: New Zealand 174-2 (Williamson 51, Mitchell 72) Another over from Jadeja, another six from Mitchell. And it’s a big one, hitting the stand as if it was the bar in football, then bouncing down. “Longest of the tournament!” says Eoin Morgan. Half of Mitchell’s runs have come off Jadeja, which is no mean feat.
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26th over: New Zealand 165-2 (Williamson 50, Mitchell 62) Mitchell, facing Kuldeep, gets a big hit all wrong – but escapes scot-free as it’s so badly timed that it doesn’t carry to Shubman Gill at deep midwicket. Before that, Williamson eased a single down the ground to reach another fine fifty off 58 balls. In his last six ODI innings, stretching back to January, he has five fifties. Only injuries can stop him – although Kuldeep nearly manages it with a big spinner, jagging sharply back into him.
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25th over: New Zealand 161-2 (Williamson 48, Mitchell 62) “Nearly ten an over?” Mitchell says. “No probs.” He swings Jadeja for another straight six and gets a pat on the back from Eoin Morgan for not going too hard at the ball. Ten off the over! So at the halfway stage NZ need another 237. It’s still a very long shot, maybe a 10pc chance.
24th over: New Zealand 151-2 (Williamson 47, Mitchell 53) Kuldeep, who’s been the weaker links so far, suddenly bowls a better over, finding turn and bite. He has a decent LBW shout against Williamson, then another, more speculative. Rod Tucker greets them both with a firm shake of the head, but it’s a good over, only three from it. The 150 comes up and NZ now need 247 from 26 overs, so the required rate is nine and a half.
23rd over: New Zealand 148-2 (Williamson 46, Mitchell 51) A straight push takes Mitchell to a cool, calm, Kiwi fifty off 48 balls. Jadeja is mostly cool and calm too, but he has a hot flush now and sends a wild throw past the keeper. He’s trying to run Williamson out, but he only succeeds in turning a dot into a four.
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22nd over: New Zealand 141-2 (Williamson 41, Mitchell 49) Williamson cuts Kuldeep for four to bring up the hundred partnership, 102 off 87 balls. It’s been great: now it just needs to be huge.
“OBO readers,” says John Starbuck. “seem to have written off this match already. So, to keep alive the optimistic option, what’s the range of scores/wickets New Zealand need at the halfway point (25 overs) to still be in with a chance?” In theory, they can probably afford to lose one more wicket. In practice, I’d say they need these two to stay together for another 15 overs, and one of them to bat right through.
21st over: New Zealand 133-2 (Williamson 34, Mitchell 48) Jadeja v Mitchell is a good contest. After a few singles, Mitchell decides to go large and gets hold of an on-drive, launching it deep into the stand at long-on. Jadeja has one ball of the over to play with and he coolly turns it past Mitchell’s outside edge.
20th over: New Zealand 124-2 (Williamson 32, Mitchell 41) Mitchell glides Kuldeep away to backward point, where Bumrah is nutmegged! And it goes for four. These two have made 78-0 off the last ten overs, and they still have a mountain to climb: NZ need 274 off 30.
“As a cricket fan watching on from India,” says Mittu Choudhary, “I hope that we have a close game worthy of a World Cup semi-final – I will be happy with a New Zealand win if that’s what it takes for a close game.” Very sporting! “Amidst all the talk of this edition maybe being the last ODI World Cup, I am afraid that if India win it, then the trend of hosts winning the Cup will continue – which is not a good look for ODI cricket. For ODI cricket’s sake, come on Kiwis!” I’m sure you speak for a billion people.
19th over: New Zealand 118-2 (Williamson 31, Mitchell 36) Jadeja replaces Shami – whose second spell lasted only one over – and restores order. Four runs from it, no reviews.
18th over: New Zealand 114-2 (Williamson 30, Mitchell 33) Kuldeep’s second over had a little bit of everything: four byes, four from the bat as Williamson played a pull, and a review for LBW against Williamson that was umpire’s call. KL Rahul called that one before the TV umpire did. He’s wasted as a wicketkeeper.
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CLOSE CALL! Williamson not run out
Williamson was walking off, but after about 100 replays, the third umpire established that the bails had been disturbed by KL Rahul before Shami’s shy hit them.
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17th over: New Zealand 104-2 (Williamson 25, Mitchell 32) It’s a double change as Siraj gives way to Shami. His killer opening spell used up only three overs, so he has seven left including this one. That should be an alarming prospect, but Mitchell decides that now the ball has stopped swinging, the best form of defence is attack. He plays a straight chip for six, then a cover drive on the up for four. That’s 11 off the over and 30 off the last three.
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16th over: New Zealand 93-2 (Williamson 25, Mitchell 21) Rohit wants some more spin, from Kuldeep Yadav, but he replaces the excellent Jadeja, not the errant Siraj. The batters milk him for four singles and a two. NZ just need them to add another 200 or so.
“Over by over, already over,” says Beau Dure. “The unfortunate part of this World Cup has been that we have matches that are scheduled for seven hours but are effectively over within four or five. We’ve seen two heroic run chases – Pakistan over Sri Lanka, and Glenn Maxwell’s colossal showing against Afghanistan. Aside from that, only a handful of these encounters have been in doubt in the last hour, and it becomes a training session for the tail end of the order.
“Perhaps the only way to guarantee some drama in a match is to involve Sri Lanka or an Australian who can barely move.” Ha.
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Drinks: India on top, but ...
15th over: New Zealand 87-2 (Williamson 23, Mitchell 16) The good news for supporters of the underdog is that Kane Williamson, facing Siraj, has just hit a six and a four. The bad news is they both came off the edge – the six a top edge, as Williamson played an uncharacteristically inelegant hook, the four a Harrow drive.
Thirteen off the over. And that’s drinks with India on top as expected, but NZ, in a very tight corner, suggesting that there’s life in the underdog yet.
14th over: New Zealand 74-2 (Williamson 11, Mitchell 16) Mitchell, facing Jadeja, spoons a drive over the head of extra-cover and gets a streaky two. “That’s the first one that has gripped the surface,” says Nasser Hussain. Only two off the over, and now the rate is 9.
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13th over: New Zealand 72-2 (Williamson 11, Mitchell 14) Siraj continues, inconsistent but always looking to make things happen. First, four byes as he nips one back off the seam; then four runs, as Williamson forces him square to make it into double figures off his 24th ball; then a blow to the ribs as Siraj finds some lift.
Off the last two overs, NZ have scored 18, which is exactly what they need – the rate required has crept up to 8.8.
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12th over: New Zealand 62-2 (Williamson 6, Mitchell 14) Rohit makes his third bowling change and brings on his senior spinner, Ravindra Jadeja. He thinks he’s got Mitchell caught at slip off a reverse sweep, but Richard Illingworth spots that it came off the forearm, not the glove. Mitchell leg-glances for four, then finds it was a no-ball, but can only manage a single off the free hit. “A hint of turn in that over,” says Ravi Shastri, another member of the Union of Slow Left-Armers with Quite a Bit of Batting Ability.
11th over: New Zealand 54-2 (Williamson 4, Mitchell 9) Siraj returns to replace Bumrah, who started badly and then recovered well (5-1-23-0). Mitchell, seeing the need to make some runs, lofts him over cover for four and hooks for four more. He has 9 off 11 balls, Williamson 4 off 18.
10th over: New Zealand 46-2 (Williamson 4, Mitchell 1) Before the wickets fell, NZ were getting em in fours and wides. Now it’s both at once – Shami, back on the field, strays down the leg side and concedes five wides. But he also draws another inside edge, from Daryl Mitchell this time, which could easily have brought him a third wicket. And then he’s within about two inches of taking Williamson’s outside edge with the ball that holds its line. Rohit, finally, gets the message about having a second slip.
Shami’s strike rate in this World Cup is under 12. A wicket every two overs!
9th over: New Zealand 40-2 (Williamson 4, Mitchell 0) Keeping Bumrah on is looking wise as well as brave – he’s just bowled a maiden to Williamson, who has made 4 off 15 balls. He just wants to get out of the Powerplay alive.
8th over: New Zealand 40-2 (Williamson 4, Mitchell 0) Where Rohit is less brave is with his field placings. “I’d be having two slips in here,” said Eoin Morgan as Shami began his second over. “Two or three. That ball’s only going to swing for a short period of time.” Ravindra managed an off-drive for four, but then he repeated Conway’s mistake, going with the bat and no feet, and this time the catch was a simple one. No outfielders required.
India lost their second wicket in the 44th over. Thanks to that inspired bowling change from Rohit, New Zealand have lost theirs five times faster than that. Mohammed Shami has the ridiculous figures of 2-0-9-2. He’s going off the field, possibly feeling that his job is done.
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WICKET!! Ravindra c Rahul b Shami 13 (NZ 39-2)
The vital second wicket! It’s that man Shami again.
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7th over: New Zealand 35-1 (Ravindra 9, Williamson 4) The bowling change was brave as well as instantly effective. Rohit removed the new-ball bowler who had started solidly, Siraj, and kept faith with the one who had been unusually wayward, Bumrah. He is improving and thinks he’s got Williamson caught behind, but it’s a firm shake of the head from the umpire and India, after some deliberation, don’t review. The last ball is a freebie on the pads and Bumrah gets away with it as Williamson clips to midwicket.
6th over: New Zealand 34-1 (Ravindra 8, Williamson 4) So the first bowling change worked like magic and India get an early go at Kane Williamson, New Zealand’s closest thing to Kohli. He makes a lovely late decision to leave a ball that holds its line, prompting oohs from the crowd, who think it’s a play-and-miss. And then he’s away with a square push for four, played with no apparent effort.
It was good from Shami, needing not a single loosener, but it was even better from KL Rahul. As Conway fished at a full ball with leaden feet, Rahul flung himself to his left to take a low catch that was closer to slip than to him. Ian Smith in the commentary box was so excited, he called him “Rahul David”.
WICKET! Conway c Rahul b Shami 13 (NZ 30-1)
Shami strikes with his very first ball!
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5th over: New Zealand 30-0 (Conway 13, Ravindra 8) Bumrah still isn’t quite himself. He bowls another wide, and then another, so far off beam that it runs away for five wides. The other six deliveries are better: when Conway takes the first single of the innings, it’s off the inside edge, and Ravindra, up Bumrah’s end for the first time, is saved by another inside edge as Bumrah finds some wicked late inswing.
4th over: New Zealand 23-0 (Conway 12, Ravindra 8) Ravindra is tied down again by Siraj’s first four balls, but he won’t mind that. These ten overs are all about NZ not losing more than one wicket. The ball is moving off the seam and the openers need to make sure they miss it rather than get a nick. So far, they’re managing that, and Ravindra again collects one four with a sweetly timed pull.
3rd over: New Zealand 19-0 (Conway 12, Ravindra 4) Bumrah beats Conway first ball, then sends a fat wide down the leg side, and another towards the slip. Possibly rattled by facing two left-handers, he goes round the wicket and instantly finds the corridor. Conway defends solidly, then gets an inside edge and almost chops on, but he bounces back with a square drive as Bumrah wobbles again. Yet another wide: NZ are getting ’em in fours and extras.
“Good afternoon Tim,” says Krish. “If you have some social engagement in the evening, do not cancel. This match (!) would be over by over #35.”
A pedant writes: I think perhaps you mean “could”.
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2nd over: New Zealand 12-0 (Conway 8, Ravindra 4) The other new ball goes as usual to Mohammed Siraj. Rachin Ravindra, living up to his first name, makes a measured start – dot, dot, dot, dot, and then a glide for four through that vacant second slip. Then a play-and-miss to finish, and suddenly NZ are behind the rate.
“If NZ chase this,” says Arul Kanhere, “under lights against this India attack, cancel the second semi-final and send NZ home with the cup.”
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1st over: New Zealand 8-0 (Conway 8, Ravindra 0) And the third ball goes for four too! Again, spanked past backward point. Rohit blinks first and moves a slip into that area… I wonder if he’ll regret that. NZ on course to win with two or three balls to spare.
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1st ball: New Zealand 4-0 (Conway 4, Ravindra 0) Bumrah’s opening gambit is too wide and Devon Conway cuts it for four! NZ are ahead of the rate.
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Afternoon everyone and thanks Rob. What a knock from him. I’ll be surprised if anyone writes a better passage about India today than this one by Rob a few minutes ago, bashed out in the middle of the blitz.
“It’s the serenity of their performances that I find increasingly fascinating. It’s like they’ve blended the six-hitting, stump-busting mayhem of the IPL with the equable intelligence of their coach Rahul Dravid. That’s a helluva bit of fusion cooking.”
One last thought before I hand over to Tim. Imagine how many India would have scored on a fresh pitch!
“If you want some more cheesiness,” writes Anul Kanhere, “Kohli made his 50th ODI hundred on 15 November. That’s the same date his hero Sachin Tendulkar made his Test debut in 1989 and played his last innings for India in 2013.”
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Bits and bobs to read between innings
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That’s it from me. Tim de Lisle will join you for what could be the greatest runchase of all time, but almost certainly won’t be.
Thanks for your company and emails, see you tomorrow for the second-place playoff.
“India are like the Brazilian football team of 1958-70,” writes Sujit A. “They have made ODI cricket a beautiful game, dissecting opponents gracefully and with supreme skill.”
It’s the serenity of their performances that I find increasingly fascinating. It’s like they’ve blended the six-hitting, stump-busting mayhem of the IPL with the equable intelligence of their coach Rahul Dravid. That’s a helluva bit of fusion cooking.
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Virat Kohli: 'If I could paint a perfect picture, this would be it'
The great man [Sachin] just congratulated me. Honestly, this all feels like a dream. It’s too good to be true, it feels surreal. I never thought I’d be here, ever, in my career.
I had to play the role I’ve had throughout the tournament, batting long so that the guys around me can express themselves in the knowledge that I’ll be there in the later overs when I can dominate with the bat as well.
The most important thing for me is to make my team win, and I’ll do whatever it takes to achieve that. I’ve been given a role in this tournament and I’m trying to play it to the best of my ability.
[Is briefly lost for words] It’s very difficult for me to explain this. But if I could paint a perfect picture, this would be it. My life partner, the person I love the most, she’s sitting there. My hero, he’s sitting there. And I was able to get to 50 [ODI hundreds] in front of them and all these fans at such an historic venue. It was amazing.
It was a perfect batting performance from us, but just one half of the job is done.
𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗦 𝗔𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗘 ☝️
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) November 15, 2023
Relive the HISTORIC moment Virat Kohli went to a record 50 ODI centuries 👏 pic.twitter.com/qNgvuoWEW3
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India’s total of 397 for three is the highest in a World Cup knockout game. Poor Tim Southee finishes with figures of 10-0-100-3. It’s the two other centuries we’ll be talking about in years to come: Shreyas Iyer’s sixathon and especially Virat Kohli’s record-breaking 50th ODI hundred. Let’s hear from the great man.
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New Zealand need 398 to reach the World Cup final
50th over: India 397-3 (Rahul 35, Gill 80) Shubman Gill, who retired hurt earlier in the innings, returns to the crease. He sensibly gives the strike to KL Rahul, whose eye is in, and he smashes six, four and four to end a dizzying assault. Overall there were 30 fours and 19 sixes.
WICKET! India 382-4 (Suryakumar c Phillips b Southee 1)
Suryakumar slogs his second ball high in the air and is caught by Glenn Phillips. Selfless.
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49th over: India 382-3 (Rahul 25, Suryakumar 1) The marmalisation of Trent Boult is complete. He finishes with figures of 10-0-86-1, the worst of his entire career. He didn’t bowl that badly either.
“I’ve been thinking about this for some time, and wanted to make sure that it wasn’t my bias coming through – ‘England have been rubbish therefore the whole WC has been rubbish’ etc – but, I think it’s becoming hard to escape the fact that this WC has been, overall, a bit, well, rubbish,” says Patrick Brennan. “Very few close games; far too many pulverisations; an India side that is head, shoulders, knees and toes above any other. Today’s exhibition of batting, whilst impressive, does leave me a bit cold.
“It could be the format, but the same format worked well in 1992 and 2019 (the outstanding side in the latter had the decency to very nearly balls up their campaign before pulling it out of the fire, to inject some jeopardy into proceedings).”
It’s been the worst since 2007 for sure, though the last two games might change that. As in 2007 one team looks unbeatable, which takes away a helluva lot of jeopardy. Watching an all-time-great team does provide a different kind orf pleasure. I don’t like the format much – I’m not sure it was that great in 2019 either. As you say, it was only exciting because England flirted with humiliation.
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WICKET! India 381-3 (Shreyas c Mitchell b Boult 105)
In his final over, Boult is clubbed here, there and everywhere by KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer. Eventually Iyer, looking for the fourth boundary of the over, is well caught at long-on by Daryl Mitchell. He is congratulated by all the New Zealand players after an innings of serene savagery: 105 from 70 balls with eight sixes.
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48th over: India 366-2 (Shreyas 101, Rahul 14) Two overs remaining. Tim Southee’s figures (9-0-85-2) are the second most expensive in New Zealand’s World Cup history, and Martin Snedden bowled 12 overs when he was disappeared for 105 runs against England in 1983. Southee hasn’t even bowled that badly.
SHREYAS IYER HITS A 67-BALL CENTURY!
Remember when Shreyas Iyer’s form was a concern for India? Three wickets is a long time in cricket. He savages Southee for six more and then calmly drives a single to reach a spectacular 67-ball hundred.
In the last four innings he has scored 387 runs an average of 193.50, with 21 sixes – in four innings! – and a strike rate of 127.
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47th over: India 354-2 (Shreyas 93, Rahul 10) Rahul cuts Boult for four, then survives an LBW after inside-edging a full toss onto the pad. At least I thought that’s what happened, because it otherwise looked plumb. But Richard Illingworth gave it as a leg-bye. New Zealand wasted both their reviews so they have no right of reply.
Illingworth was right all along: replays show the ball would have dipped past off stump. Three overs to go, assuming India don’t declare.
“All due kudos to Kohli’s remarkable achievement and career,” writes Dean Kinsella. “But the horrid thought has crossed my mind. Has he set up a Bradmanesque moment when he walks out to bat in his home World Cup final? What price a duck?”
It’s a shame the Guardian has banned all gambling advertising, because I was going to invite you to pick your own odds.
46th over: India 347-2 (Shreyas 91, Rahul 6) Even at 341-2, things can always get worse. Conway gets his knee stuck in the turf while trying to stop a boundary, a nasty-looking incident. He’s in pain but hasn’t asked for treatment.
The rest of Southee’s over is excellent, including a slower delivery that grips to hit Rahul painfully in the ribs. At times batting against the old ball looks genuinely tough. India have scored 347 runs in 46 overs.
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There will be plenty of statgasms today. This is a particularly good one.
Kohli has now scored as many ODI 100s in 291 matches (279 innings) as India collectively did in their first 347 ODIs (2922 innings, from 1974 to Jan 1998).
— Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket) November 15, 2023
45th over: India 341-2 (Shreyas 90, Rahul 1) Shreyas beasts Ravindra down the ground for another six, his 22nd of the tournament. Only Rohit Sharma has hit more. Make that 23 after another devastating straight hit. How the hell do you deal with an onslaught like this? There’s no way. There’s no way!
“Talk of jeopardy and old TV shows has me musing again on one of those perennial questions,” says Brian Withington. “Faced with the dire predicament of being comprehensively outmatched by a superior crew on their own turf, just what would Tony Soprano do in Kane Williamson’s shoes?”
Erm, “Trent, cheer me up babe”?
(NB: clip contains adult language/themes.)
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44th over: India 327-2 (Shreyas 77, Rahul 0) Shubman Gill is fit to bat, I think, but it’s KL Rahul who comes in. They must have been tempted to promote Suryakumar Yadav.
WICKET! India 327-2 (Kohli c Conway b Southee 117)
A number of New Zealand players made a point of congratulating Kohli, most notably the genial Tim Southee.
Southeee isn’t smiling when Glenn Phillips drops Kohli at deep midwicket. It was a tough low chance, but Phillips is one of the world’s best fielders and would have taken it under less heightened circumstances.
Kohli goads him by clubbing the next ball over his head for six – but now he has gone, caught brilliantly by Devon Conway at square leg. A beaming Kohli walks off to another standing ovation, waving his bat around the ground. In one of the biggest games of his life he made a record-breaking 117 from 113 balls. We’ll be talking about forever.
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43rd over: India 314-1 (Kohli 107, Shreyas 74) Shreyas, batting without a helmet or cap now, thumps Ravindra down the ground for six. Why wouldn’t you?
New Zealand are being pulverised and I’m struggling to keep up. My head is spinning, so goodness knows how Kane Williamson feels.
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42nd over: India 303-1 (Kohli 106, Shreyas 66) Kohli whirls Ferguson for another four to end the over. This is part World Cup semi-final, part public worship gathering.
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VIRAT KOHLI SCORES HIS 50th ODI HUNDRED!
41.4 overs: India 297-1 (Kohli 100, Shreyas 66) He’s done it! Of course he’s done it, on today of all days. Kohli flicks Ferguson behind square for two, punches the air in ecstasy and then drops to his knees to take it all in. And because he’s got a bit of cramp.
Sachin Tendulkar, Kohli’s hero, leads the standing ovation. Kohli equalled Tendulkar’s record of 49 ODI hundreds on his 35th birthday; he has broken it in what might be India’s biggest game for 12 years. Oh, and before today his highest score in a World Cup knockout match was 35.
This World Cup has confirmed his status as the greatest ODI batsman of all time - and an extremely cheesy scriptwriter. Magnificent stuff.
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41st over: India 292-1 (Kohli 97, Shreyas 64) Ravindra, on for Santner, also gets the old ball to grip and spin. There’s a review for caught behind when Shreyas tries to cut a ball outside off stump.
It feels like a desperate gamble from an understandably frazzled captain. Replays confirm as much: there’s nothing on UltraEdge so New Zealand are out of reviews.
“Can we count out New Zealand already?” says Max Williams. “They nearly chased down 388 vs Australia earlier in this tournament. Granted they’re huge underdogs but feels slightly premature to start researching record victory margins – especially considering the strength of NZ’s batting.”
Have you seen Bumrah and Shami bowl under lights? You’re right that anything can happen, but I think the likeliest outcome is a huge win for India: 150+ runs. New Zealand’s batters will be cooked physically and mentally. Mind you, I said the same thing when New Zealand posted 400 against Pakistan, so ignore me.
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40th over: India 287-1 (Kohli 95, Shreyas 61) Shreyas – young, free and not cramping – cuffs Ferguson for four more. Kohli steals a single and falls over due to cramp – but only once he’s safely in at the non-striker’s end. On one leg or two, he’s going to bloody do this.
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39th over: India 277-1 (Kohli 93, Shreyas 54) Kohli continues, though he’s struggling a little bit. He edges Santner safely on the off side, then slaps a short ball this far short of Phillips in the covers. The ball is starting to grip for the spinners, which is more abysmal news for New Zealand.
Santner ends with figures of 10-1-51-0. The key number is the last one, for which Kohli in particular deserves great credit.
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From November 2019 to September 2022, Virat Kohli played 130-odd innings across formats without making a century. New goats emerged, Mr and Mrs Lees had some children. Kohli was approaching his 34th birthday, and 99.94 per cent of human beings would have reluctantly accepted an irreversible decline.
Virat Kohli wasn’t having that. He ended the drought and has made nine centuries in the last 13 months; only cramp can stop him making it 10.
The willpower and mental strength it takes to reverse that decline is mind-boggling. In sporting terms, Kohli told the Grim Reaper to bugger off and lived to tell the tale. And what a tale it is going to be if, as seems increasingly likely, this World Cup becomes his crowning glory.
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38th over: India 275-1 (Kohli 92, Shreyas 53) Boult, still bowling round the wicket, has a desperate LBW appeal against Kohli. It was missing leg, and deep down he knew it.
Even Kohli, who might be as fit as any 35-year-old on the planet, is struggling with cramp now.
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Fifty for Shreyas!
37th over: India 270-1 (Kohli 89, Shreyas 51) Shreyas takes a single off Santner to reach another punishing fifty, his fourth in a row, from 35 balls.
36th over: India 265-1 (Kohli 86, Shreyas 49) India make up for that maiden by taking 17 runs from Boult’s next over. He was manhandled for four by Kohli, then six and four by Shreyas, and his figures now read 7-0-59-0.
As dispiriting as it is for those who craved a contest, it’s also quite awesome to watch. Only Australia in 2007 have dominated a World Cup like this.
35th over: India 248-1 (Kohli 80, Shreyas 38) Mitchell Santner bowls an actual, real-life maiden to Shreyas Iyer.
Kohli sets World Cup record!
34th over: India 248-1 (Kohli 80, Shreyas 38) Virat Kohli turns Phillips for a single. It’s his 674th run of the tournament, which breaks Sachin Tendulkar’s World Cup record. India can do whatever they want. Shreyas Iyer pumps Phillips matter-of-factly over long-on for six, his third in the innings and his 19th of the tournament.
33rd over: India 238-1 (Kohli 78, Shreyas 30) Shreyas picks Southee’s slower ball and blooters it into the crowd at cow corner. Conway does extremely well to save two runs on the cover bondary when Kohli drives handsomely, but India score at least one run off every ball. They have every chance of making 400 here.
The biggest margin of victory in a World Cup semi-final, by a team batting first, is a modest 95 runs. That was at Sydney in 2015, when Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami were on the wrong end of Australia’s excellence. The record may not be long for this world.
32nd over: India 226-1 (Kohli 74, Shreyas 22) Look, there’s a repeat of Magnum P.I. on ITV 4 in a minute, and it’ll probably have more jeopardy than this game. Rick agrees to help his boyhood friend Waldo Norris, who claims that he’s trying to recover a priceless stolen china figurine - however, Rick little suspects that the entire story is an elaborate insurance fraud.
Drinks Some heartwarming news from The Hundred: Andrew Flintoff has been appointed as head coach of the Northern Superchargers men’s team.
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31st over: India 221-1 (Kohli 70, Shreyas 21) Kohli late cuts a weary Boult for four more. He was 35 from 42 balls when Gill retired hurt; he’s scored 35 from 32 deliveries since then. Time for drinks.
“It’s such a shame that the BCCI is messing around the edges of the rule book this WC,” writes Mike Jakeman. “I’m thinking of delaying the Pakistan team’s visas, this pitch imbroglio, not to mention only agreeing a tournament format that guarantees India the highest number of matches possible.
“This annoying because this team is genuinely excellent, possibly the best ODI side I’ve ever seen. They don’t need this kind of dubious protection, which only draws attention to the BCCI’s excessive influence over the whole sport.”
I agree with pretty much all of that, especially the second paragraph. I’d be loath to blame India for the format, even if the change was catalysed by their shock elimination in 2007.
30th over: India 214-1 (Kohli 65, Shreyas 19) My word. Kohli, who has gone up a gear since Gill retired hurt, charges the new bowler Southee and waves him wristily over midwicket for six. That might be the shot of the day, and there have been plenty of contenders.
The usual singles bring up the fifty partnership from 44 balls. This is a rout.
29th over: India 203-1 (Kohli 57, Shreyas 16) A thrilling statement of intent from Kohli, who charges the first ball of Trent Boult’s second spell and spanks it over mid-off for four. The other advantage of taking it deep is that it’s a ferociously hot afternoon, so New Zealand’s seamers could wilt at the death.
This game is done, isn’t it.
28th over: India 197-1 (Kohli 52, Shreyas 15) Ferguson has bowled much better in this second spell. Trouble is he can’t get much of a look at Shreyas Iyer, who can be susceptible to the short ball. Kohli has taken 14 of the 18 deliveries bowled by Ferguson since his return to the attack, a smart and selfless bit of batting.
“I guess if NZ do get a semifinal shellacking here it won’t live too long or painfully in the old memory bank,” says Niall Mullen. “Unlike, say, the non-striker dropping his bat and forgetting how to move his legs for the winning run against your fierce rivals resulting in you getting knocked out on a technicality.”
A vile technicality, please.
Another fifty for Kohli!
27th over: India 194-1 (Kohli 50, Shreyas 14) Blimey. After a gentle start to his innings, Shreyas Iyer suddenly drives Ravindra down the ground for six. “Wow,” says Ian Smith on commentary. “Not much else to add really.”
He had a lot more to add when Shreyas, beaten in the flight, sliced the next ball towards short third man. The ball teased the fielder Southee before bouncing just wide of him and away for four.
An eventful over concludes with Kohli cracking a single down the ground to reach a watertight 59-ball half-century – his first in a World Cup knockout game. He equalled one of Sachin Tendulkar’s records by making his 49th ODI hundred earlier in the tournament. He needs 30 more runs to break another – the most runs scored at a single World Cup. Tendulkar made 673 in 2003.
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26th over: India 181-1 (Kohli 48, Shreyas 4) Kohli turns Ferguson to deep square leg and steals a second run. It’s brilliant running, especially for a 35-year-old in this heat. And it also means Ferguson can’t get another crack at Shreyas Iyer. Kohli takes all six deliveries and keeps the strike with a single off the last ball.
25th over: India 178-1 (Kohli 45, Shreyas 4) Ravindra replaces Santner. There has been a bit of turn for New Zealand, nothing alarming though. Williamson curses when a throw is fumbled by Latham, thus allowing Kohli an extra run. This is probably Williamson’s last chance to win a World Cup, and it’s slipping away.
24th over: India 173-1 (Kohli 41, Shreyas 3) Lockie Ferguson replaces Phillips (3-0-18-0), an attacking move from Kane Williamson. New Zealand’s only hope is to think in wickets – and they almost get one when Shreyas pulls a short ball not far short of long leg. He didn’t look comfortable there.
Kohli gloves a pull for four later in the over and then steals the usual single to mid-off. He has 41 from 46 balls and needs another 59 to become the first man to score 50 ODI centuries.
“Already thinking about the mouthwatering semi-final tomorrow,” writes Krishnamoorthy V. “While the head and all cricketing logic say Australia, the heart, that blasted part that never gives up on HOPE, says South Africa. There will be poetic justice and corrections to an unfair historical record of such a talented team. For sheer entertainment, though, it will be great fun if the match goes to a Super Over after a last-ball run out resulting in a tie.”
My concern is that it could be decided by the toss, more because of the psychology of both sides than the pitch, but that’s probably an oversimplification. It could be a cracker.
23th over: India 165-1 (Kohli 35, Shreyas 1) “We all want this to be close Rob,” weeps Guy Hornsby, “but bar the Black Caps getting a rattle of wickets pretty quickly or Conway and Ravindra going bananas, this feels like Everest already for this incredibly likeable team. There’s no shame in getting beaten by this side at home, it’s not like anyone’s got that close, even them. India look utterly unstoppable right now, with superstars in every position. I really rate Santner but they can just run singles off him and attack Phillips and Ravindra. Anything over 330 will be a mountain. Who can wrestle this game back for NZ? Do you get Boult back on for a couple?”
That’s what Eoin Morgan would do. With the change of batsman, I’d also be tempted to bring on Ferguson to test Shreyas Iyer with the short ball.
Shubman Gill retires hurt!
Maybe it’s something more serious than cramp: Gill is limping from the field, though he could return later in the innings. He played beautifully to make 79 from 65 balls.
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22.4 overs: India 164-1 (Gill 79, Kohli 35) This is a great spot from Tim de Lisle, who will be here for the second innings. Not only has Kohli faced over 700 balls in the tournament now, he is a long way clear of everyone else.
A short ball from Santner is whip-pulled to cow corner for four by Kohli, who has reached 35 from 42 balls without breaking sweat. Gill, on 79 from 65, is struggling with cramp so there’s a break in play while he receives treatment.
22nd over: India 157-1 (Gill 78, Kohli 28) The dullish middle overs continue with a few singles down the ground off Phillips. Eoin Morgan, commentating on Sky, says if he was captain he would “go to the top of the page” and bring on the bowler most likely to take a wicket. Please let him write a book on captaincy one day.
Rohit Sharma sent a message onto the field between overs. “With this scoreline,” says Ian Smith on Sky, “what can he be unhappy with?!”
Rohit is the first to be out in the 40s four times in a single men's WC.
— Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket) November 15, 2023
All four of Rohit's 40s have been high-impact innings; alongside Hayden 2007 & Shakib al Hasan 2019, he is the 3rd player with 8x40+ in a single WC.#FiftiesAreOverrated
21st over: India 153-1 (Gill 76, Kohli 27) This is a nightmare for New Zealand. Not only are they well behind the game, but their potential trump card Santner has only four overs remaining. India are milking him at their leisure: 6-0-36-0.
Meanwhile, here’s the ICC’s response to speculation about why the semi-final pitch was changed. Glad that’s all sorted.
The ICC have released a statement on the first semi-final being played on used pitch at the Wankhede Stadium.#CWC23 pic.twitter.com/1R4xiAeiJI
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) November 15, 2023
20th over: India 150-1 (Gill 74, Kohli 26) Shubman Gill muscles Phillips over long-off for his third six. This has been an impressively two-paced innings: 21 from 21 balls while he was in Rohit’s shadow, then 53 from 36 when he became the chief aggressor.
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19th over: India 142-1 (Gill 67, Kohli 25) Kohli doesn’t have the greatest record against left-arm spin in the last couple of the years, but the match situation allows him to eschew risk. Four singles from Santner’s fifth over; India have played him very well.
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18th over: India 138-1 (Gill 65, Kohli 23) More spin, this time from the golden arm of Glenn Phillips. A quiet over, six from it. New Zealand have to find a way to break this partnership, and the next one, and the next one.
You never see a twist coming – that’s the whole point - but right now it’s hard to see how New Zealand can win this game.
“Sorry for sounding fatalistic, but this game appears over,” says Krishnamoorthy V. “Shall we spend some time discussing the 1999 repeat of South Africa vs Australia?”
You can, but I’ve got some low-risk accumulation to describe. (I cannot wait for tomorrow though.)
17th over: India 132-1 (Gill 63, Kohli 19) Gill charges Santner and blasts six back over his head, a shot played with a flamingo flourish at the end.
A perfectly placed late cut for four off the next ball takes him to 63 from 49 balls. With a respectful nod to his run-a-ball 92 against Sri Lanka, this is Gill’s best knock of the tournament.
16th over: India 121-1 (Gill 53, Kohli 18) Three singles from Ravindra’s over, the last of which brings us a smooth partnership from 46 balls. India are cruising.
15th over: India 116-1 (Gill 52, Kohli 16) Santner changes ends and is milked respectfully for four singles. That’s drinks.
“India wouldn’t mind the pitch slowing down now,” says Arul Kanhere. “They have enough momentum to build to 350, every batter just helping Kohli to bat until the 30th over after which he’s nearly invincible. Like Ricky Ponting said in the match vs SA - if India get past 300, the match is done.”
The only way New Zealand can get back in it is to take wickets at regular intervals. That’s where Kohli has been so good in this tournament; he has faced nearly 700 deliveries, which is the primary reason the tail has rarely been exposed.
Fifty for Gill
14th over: India 114-1 (Gill 50, Kohli 14) The left-arm spinner Rachin Ravindra replaces Santner, who may change ends. Kane Williamson is trying anything and everything to establish some control. Kohli crunches a couple to wide long on, which takes him past 600 runs in the tournament, and then Gill waves a single to reach a beautiful half-century from 41 balls.
Kohli clatters a boundary through extra cover to give India their fifth double-figure over of the innings, already. This looks pretty ominous for New Zealand. And South Africa and Australia.
“My brother-in-law is in New Zealand at the moment, doubtless watching the game somehow, somewhere,” writes Kim Thonger. “I am concerned for his welfare should the Kiwis reach the final and be faced with Australia. Could it be made clear now that our Steve is the mild-mannered retired finance director from just south of Oxford, on holiday in NZ, and not the Steve Smith from Kogarah, New South Wales.”
Based on the first 14 overs, I suspect he’ll be okay.
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13th over: India 104-1 (Gill 49, Kohli 5) Lockie Ferguson changes ends to replace Southee, but there’s no change of approach from Gill. He cuffs the first ball wide of midwicket for four and pulls the second mightily for six to bring up the Indian hundred. It’s the most brilliant batting; I don’t know what else to tell you. India are already well ahead of the game.
12th over: India 92-1 (Gill 38, Kohli 4) Mitchell Santner replaces Ferguson. He’s a key man, especially as India have so many right-handers. Gill sweeps firmly for two, with Devon Conway doing brilliantly to save the boundary, then cuts a single to deep cover. He has 38 from 36 balls, Kohli 4 from 7.
Rohit’s spectacular start means Kohli can take his time and try to replicate that masterpiece against South Africa a fortnight ago.
6️⃣ 6️⃣ 6️⃣
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) November 15, 2023
𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 start from Rohit Sharma and India! ⚡ pic.twitter.com/X58e5C1sTk
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11th over: India 89-1 (Gill 35, Kohli 4) Gill hits his sixth boundary, flicking Southee elegantly through midwicket. It feels like he has had a quiet tournament, yet he’s still averaging 44 with a strike rate of 106.
10th over: India 84-1 (Gill 30, Kohli 4) A poor over from Lockie Ferguson. Gill pulls a slower short ball for four, then a quicker short ball for four more. Gill felt like an also-ran when Rohit was batting yet he has still raced to 30 from 26 balls.
“In an earlier OBO, we were talking about Aravinda’s de Silva’s counter-attack in the 1996 semi-final,” writes Anand. “Maybe a bit premature to say, but what Rohit is doing comes close. I now get how it must have felt to be a Sri Lanka fan on that day!”
That’s a nice comparison. Aravinda’s was arguably even better because his team lost two wickets in the first over, but there was a nerveless brilliance about both innings. It’s also fascinating that the man who normalised ODI double hundreds may not win a World Cup for his country with a series of cameos.
9th over: India 75-1 (Gill 21, Kohli 4) New Zealand have Santner at short mid-off for Kohli, a clever fielding position on a pitch like that. Another wicket would make things interesting.
Kohli is not out! It might have been close – but there was a thin inside-edge onto the pad so New Zealand lose a review. The ball also ran away for four.
India review for LBW against Kohli! I think it’s too high, but it’s close.
Rohit launched a slower ball from Southee back over his head. It went miles in the air and was swirling horribly. Williamson backpedalled desperately, all the while knowing the consequences if he dropped it, and held on despite falling over as he took the catch. That is a fantastic piece of fielding. Rohit goes for a memorable, tone-setting 47 from 29 balls.
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WICKET! India 71-1 (Rohit c Williamson b Southee 47)
Kane Williamson takes an outstanding catch to end Rohit Sharma’s cameo!
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8th over: India 70-0 (Rohit 47, Gill 20) Santner is replaced by Lockie Ferguson after one expensive over. Shubman Gill reminds us there are two batters out there with a thrilling drive through the covers for four. A pair of twos and a single take India to 70 after just eight overs. At this stage in 2019 they were 13/3.
7th over: India 61-0 (Rohit 47, Gill 11) A better over from Boult, who has already started to bowl a few cutters. Batting is likely to become trickier as the innings progresses, which makes this start even more valuable.
“Forget the pitch-switch,” says Krishnamoorthy V. “We need an MRI scan on Rohit to see if he is flesh and bones or cogs and wheels inside.”
It turns out an old don can learn new tricks. In 2019, when he batted brilliantly and made five centuries, Rohit’s strike rate was a very good 98. In this tournament it’s 125, and he has still scored 550 runs. It’s been one statement innings after another, but this is the best because the stakes are so much higher.
A great sports psychologist could work with the other Indian batters for years without having as profound an impact as this knock. Given the pressure he must – or at least should – be under as the Indian captain at a home World Cup, his skill, selflessness, audacity and certainty are pretty awesome.
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6th over: India 58-0 (Rohit 45, Gill 11) The left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner replaces Tim Southee, who was heavily punished in a spell of 2-0-21-0.
Rohit Sharma continues his wonderful assault, sweeping the second ball for four – it was in the air by wide of short fine leg – and hoicking another huge six over square leg when Santner drops short. He has 45 from 22 balls and may have won the semi-final for India, already.
Since you asked, after six overs of the 2019 semi-final, India were 10/3.
5th over: India 47-0 (Rohit 34, Gill 11) Rohit hooks Boult imperiously for six more. Shubman Gill moves into double figures with a cut shot that is only partially stopped by Phillips. He has 11 from 12 balls, Rohit 34 from 18.
“I was so excited for the game. And then this pitch controversy erupts,” says Arul Kanhere. “If you’re good and can handle pressure you’ll win. That’s that.”
As Rohit is demonstrating right now.
4th over: India 38-0 (Rohit 27, Gill 9) Rohit pulls Southee for four with frightening hand speed. Southee overcompensates on line and length next ball, so Rohit flicks him up asnd over square leg for six more. We grew up associating a great captain’s innings with over-my-dead-body defiance. The world is a different place now and Rohit is playing a very modern captain’s innings: 27 from 15 balls. It’s the clearest possible statement to his team that this is just another game.
Don’t be surprised if we see Mitchell Santner pretty soon. It would be a risk – Australia marmalised him in the first 10 overs – but then any decision is a risk with Rohit in this mood. New Zealand have to take early wickets.
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3rd over: India 25-0 (Rohit 16, Gill 8) This is thrilling, assertive batting from Rohit Sharma. He charges Boult, who had just moved round the wicket, and lashes a huge six over extra cover. India have batted too cautiously in recent semi-finals; Rohit is sending the clearest possible message that there is nothing to fear.
On commentary, Nasser Hussain points out that this is probably the time to cash in while the balls are hard. There was a little bit of swing for Boult in the first over but nothing in the second. He pulls the over back quite well after being hit for six, with his last delivery hitting Rohit in the breadbasket.
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2nd over: India 18-0 (Rohit 10, Gill 8) Four years ago it was Boult and Matt Henry who demolished India’s top order. Henry has gone home so Tim Southee will take the other new ball today.
He gets some swing as well, but his third ball is too straight and Shubman Gill flicks it crisply through square leg for four. The next ball is inside-edged past leg stump for four more, the first moment of fortune for India in the match. They’re off to another flyer.
In the 2019 semi-final (batting second), it took India 35 balls to reach double figures, by which point they had lost 3 wickets. 2023: 10-0 off 5 balls.
— Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket) November 15, 2023
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1st over: India 10-0 (Rohit 10, Gill 0) Rohit Sharma sets the tone emphatically, as he has all tournament, by taking 10 from Trent Boult’s first over. He clipped the first ball for two, flicked stylishly over midwicket for four and then belted an off drive for another.
The first boundary was risky, and only just cleared the fielder at short midwicket, but Rohit has been taking calculated risks throughout the tournament. Even with the new ball swinging, Rohit went after Boult. Brilliant captaincy.
Trent Boult will bowl the first over. He’s had a mixed World Cup, with 13 wickets at 32. If ever New Zealand needed a classic Boult new-ball spell, it’s now.
Here come the openers, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. It’s time for India v New Zealand: the sequel.
“Morning Rob,” says Krishnamoorthy V. “In response to Liam (8.07am): India deifies its sports idols and other celebrities. Be it politics, sports, cinema... India has only two settings. You are god and you are trash.”
In the year 2023, that’s definitely not unique to India.
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The pundits on Sky Sports – Dinesh Karthik, Eoin Morgan and Nasser Hussain – think the change of pitch may increase New Zealand’s chances, because batting could be more awkward against the spinners this afternoon. We’ll soon find out.
I’m off to grab a coffee, after which the pitching will stop and the contest will begin. In the meantime, read this cracking piece from Ali Martin on one of the players of the tournament.
“Well, change of pitch controversy they say,” writes Sreekanth Nandakumar. “I’m really confused on what advantage the Indians get. Was it a fast pitch, oh yeah? Bumrah, Shami and Siraj will destroy you. Is it a spinners’ paradise? Kuldeep and Jadeja will get you. It sounds like someone is trying to create a mountain out of a molehill and doing a bad job at that.”
No, that’s not right. Lawrence Booth is a class act, the editor of Wisden and as scrupulous as any journalist I have ever met. The story may amount to nothing, but Booth is not some clickbait clown. If, and it’s a big if, there has been sharp practice and the ICC are too terrified to do anything about it, then what’s the point of a World Cup? We do agree on one thing though: India are so good that there’s no need for them to manipulate conditions.
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“As a Black Caps supporter, I’m caught in two minds about today’s match,” says Liam Wallace. “On the one hand it would be fantastic for this side to eke out another victory against the odds. Also, it would be just a little bit funny if India were knocked out after being clearly the superior team at this World Cup.
“But I find the Indian side to be quite likeable and it’s hard to imagine the pressure they must be under from their fans who (understandably) expect that they will win the tournament. It would be quite a shame if they were to lose, especially as the backlash is unlikely to be proportional to their overall performance at this World Cup.”
Team news
Both teams are unchanged. Next!
India Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj.
New Zealand Conway, Ravindra, Williamson (c), Mitchell, Latham (wk), Phillips, Chapman, Santner, Southee, Ferguson, Boult.
India win the toss and bat
“Looks like a good pitch, looks on the slower side,” says Rohit Sharma. “We understand that, whatever we do, we have to do it well.”
Kane Williamson says he would have batted as well.
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Barney Ronay’s preview
What to do at the toss
Rohit Sharma says it doesn’t matter, and India’s record this year backs him up: 12 wins and two defeats batting first, 12 wins and three defeats batting second. But the new balls have done plenty under the lights on this ground throughout the World Cup, so the template for New Zealand is offensively obvious: bat first, post a par score and then run through India’s top order in the first 10 overs. Just like they did in the 2019 semi-final.
The pitch switch complicates things a little, not least because there will now be a short boundary on one side. But it still feels like a bat-first day.
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The first controversy of the day
Our old friend Lawrence Booth reports that today’s game has been switched to a used surface, which should aid India’s superior spinners, apparently to the dissatisfaction of the ICC pitch consultant Andy Atkinson.
If true – and I really can’t stress the word ‘if’ enough, because ultimately we don’t know – it’s dispiriting and unacceptable. It would also be a bit weird: India are so good that there really is no need for them to manipulate anything, except maybe the seam.
It’s worth stressing that last year’s T20 semi-finals were played on used pitches, so this might be something about nothing. It all depends on who made the decision to change pitches at the last minute, and why.
My story about India’s pitch switch ahead of today’s semi-final v NZ in Mumbai. It was supposed to be played on a fresh surface. Instead, it’s been moved to a pitch already used twice. ICC pitch consultant Andy Atkinson is not happy. Same could happen for the final. https://t.co/k5rrIjh3ZX
— Lawrence Booth (@BoothCricket) November 15, 2023
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Preamble
Hello and welcome to live, over-by-over coverage of the World Cup semi-final between India and New Zealand in Mumbai. In a sense this is the first game of India’s World Cup campaign. They were always going to breeze through the group stages – even if few expected them to do so in such awesome fashion – and it was always going to come down to this: two knockout games in which they will either affirm their superiority or extend their trophy drought.
India won nine out of nine in the league stage, pulverising almost every opponent and playing some of the most irresistible ODI cricket ever seen. It’s pretty simple: if they maintain that standard, they will win the World Cup.
Few people give New Zealand a prayer today, even though they are the team who ran India closest in the league stage. But this might be where things get interesting. For the first time in the tournament defeat is unthinkable for India, and that can do funny things to the old thought process.
There are echoes of the 2019 World Cup, when India were big favourites to beat New Zealand in the semi-final and lost a thriller by 18 runs. That’s one of eight defeats in their last 10 knockout games at ICC tournaments, many through cautious or nervous batting. The only two victories came against Bangladesh. South Africa were called chokers for less in the 1990s.
The 2013 Champions Trophy was India’s last major triumph. But 10 years of (relative) failure feel less significant than 10 months of spectacular form: India have won 24 of their 29 ODIs this year. They do have weaknesses – no sixth bowler, a long tail – but the specialists have done their jobs so magnificently that nobody has been able to expose them.
India look nigh-on unbeatable. But New Zealand, serial achievers who are about to play a record ninth World Cup semi-final, know from experience that there is no such thing.
The match starts at 8.30am GMT, 2pm in Mumbai.
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