Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami starred as India beat New Zealand by 5 wickets in the Cricket World Cup on Wednesday at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala. Kohli scored a brilliant 95 off 104 balls, while Shami took 5 wickets for 54 runs. India’s victory was their third in a row, and it kept them at the top of the table.
India continued their perfect start to the Cricket World Cup with a thrilling 5-wicket victory over New Zealand in Dharamsala on Wednesday. Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami were the stars of the show, with the former scoring a brilliant 95 and the latter taking five wickets.
New Zealand posted a competitive total of 296/9 on the board, thanks to a century from Daryl Mitchell and a half-century from Tom Latham. However, India’s bowlers were up to the task, and they restricted the opposition to a manageable score.
Shami was in inspired form, and he picked up the key wickets of Mitchell, Latham, and Glenn Phillips. He also bowled tightly in the death overs to prevent New Zealand from posting a bigger total.
In reply, India got off to a good start, thanks to a 63-run opening partnership between Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. However, they lost a few wickets in quick succession, and they were reduced to 153/4 at one stage.
Kohli then came to the rescue, and he played a masterful innings to guide India to victory. He scored 95 off 104 balls, and he was well-supported by Ravindra Jadeja, who scored a valuable 50.
Kohli’s masterclass
Kohli’s innings was a masterclass in timing and placement. He hit some exquisite strokes, including a number of fours and sixes. He was also able to rotate the strike well, which helped to keep Jadeja going at the other end.
Kohli’s innings was particularly impressive considering the pressure he was under. India had lost a few wickets in quick succession, and they needed a big innings from someone. Kohli stepped up to the occasion, and he played a match-winning knock.
Shami’s five-wicket haul
Shami’s five-wicket haul was a brilliant bowling performance. He was able to bowl with good pace and accuracy, and he was able to extract bounce from the pitch. He also bowled tight lines and lengths, which made it difficult for the New Zealand batsmen to score.
Shami’s five-wicket haul was crucial for India’s victory. He was able to break the crucial partnership between Mitchell and Latham, and he also picked up the wickets of Glenn Phillips and Mitchell Santner.
Conclusion:
India’s victory over New Zealand was a comprehensive one. They bowled well to restrict the opposition to a manageable total, and they batted well to chase down the target.
Kohli and Shami were the stars of the show, and they both played match-winning roles. India’s victory was their third in a row, and it kept them at the top of the table.
India are now the favorites to win the Cricket World Cup, and they will be looking to continue their winning momentum in the upcoming matches.