Kohli and Shami guide India to one win from destiny
India v New Zealand, 15th November 2023.
India 397–4
New Zealand 327 all out
India win by 70 runs
At 220–2 with skipper Kane Williamson 69 not out and teammate Daryl Mitchell on the precipice of a third stunning century in this pulsating Semi-Final in Mumbai, the “Black Caps” of New Zealand were still a distant 178 runs from victory but, rather improbably, still in with a fighting chance of reaching their third cricket World Cup Final in a row. Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, so dominant this morning with the bat as he set both the tone and a platform for his team’s innings and the centuries from Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer that followed, threw the ball once more to his magic man Mohammed Shami and 4 deliveries later, he’d removed the out of form Tom Latham for a 2 ball “duck” who followed his skipper Williamson back to the Pavilion in quick order and 220–2 swiftly became 220–4, Shami had all 4 wickets to fall and New Zealand’s fighting chance soon dwindled to a faint hope of a cricketing miracle.
That miracle fell squarely upon the shoulders of Daryl Mitchell who did indeed complete a quite incredible century from just 85 balls received after having rattled a quick fire 50 from just 49 balls received to stabilise the Kiwis innings in tandem with his skipper Kane Williamson. With both Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra snagged cheaply by Shami and New Zealand 39–2, 398 for victory was a long shot in anyone’s cricket score book but Williamson and Mitchell rebuilt the innings to the point of securing rather shorter odds for victory than a sporting miracle. But back came Shami once more and with the game as good as over, grabbed the vital wicket of a cramping and exhausted Daryl Mitchell for a heroic 134 from just 119 balls before taking the wickets of tail-enders Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson for good measure, and the 33 year old veteran from Amroha finished with the otherworldly bowling figures of 7–57.
In a World Cup Semi-Final!
"Ashes to Ashes" - My self-published book on Amazon
"The Spirit of Cricket" - My self-published book on Amazon
That New Zealand came so close and made a real competitive game of this Semi-Final is to their eternal credit but, and it’s a big but, they rather played a part in their own downfall earlier in the day. Spin bowlers Mitchell Santner and Glenn Phillips aside, every other bowler in their attack came in for some fearful punishment and whilst it wasn’t always self inflicted with wayward or ill disciplined bowling, when it arrived, it was pounced upon by an eager Indian batting unit roared on by an incredible partisan crowd. One of life’s final untainted indulgences is watching Rohit Sharma bat and his swashbuckling 47 from just 29 balls received was both a true joy to behold as well as setting the table for the batting assault that followed. Opening partner Shubman Gill played second fiddle as his captain plundered quick runs before grasping the mantle himself with a half century from 41 balls before retiring hurt mid-way through the innings with what seemed like cramp. He returned later in the innings to finish 80 not out but not before replacement Shreyas Iyer crashed a 67 ball century and KL Rahul a quick fire 39 from 20 balls as India rattled up a virtually unbeatable 397–4.
Which leaves us with crowd darling Virat Kohli, the “glue” of the innings once more and with the Mumbai crowd constantly chanting “Kohli, Kohli, Kohli”, their darling delivered a 106 ball century on his way to a final total of 117. Leaving the field to deafening cheers all around him, the 35 year old from New Delhi waved to every corner of the Wankhede Stadium before blowing his wife a kiss and bowing in deference to Sachin Tendulkar in the crowd. The “Little Master” couldn’t hide his delight or admiration for Kohli even though he’d surpassed his seemingly unbeatable record of 49 One Day International centuries. He had, on home turf too, and in a World Cup Semi-Final to boot!
I can’t hide my admiration for the batting excellence of Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli or indeed the superlative bowling skills of Jasprit Bumrah or Mohammed Shami, but this Indian team are so overwhelming favourites I can’t cheer for them in the Final on Sunday. Whether Australia or South Africa triumph in tomorrow’s Semi-Final in Kolkata I can’t see either team denying this incredible India team from becoming World Champions or from what they’ve shown the world they are these past seven weeks, a team of destiny.
Thanks for reading. Can I point you in the direction of the two rather brilliant self-published books linked in the centre of this article. They’d look rather delightful wrapped up beneath a loved one’s tree this Christmas.
Go on, treat someone!