Virat Kohli’s Masterful 95 and Mohammed Shami’s 5-54 Lead India to a Four-Wicket Victory Over New Zealand in Dharamsala.
In a thrilling match, Virat Kohli displayed his brilliance with a splendid 95, supported by Mohammed Shami’s remarkable 5-54, as India, the World Cup hosts, secured a four-wicket triumph over New Zealand in Dharamsala. Kohli’s innings featured two sixes and eight fours, contributing significantly to India’s successful chase of a 274-run target.
Shami’s exceptional bowling performance took center stage, with Daryl Mitchell contributing significantly to New Zealand’s run total with his impressive knock of 130. India, sitting at the top of the table, remains the sole unbeaten team after five matches. Despite a brief interruption due to fog during India’s innings, Kohli’s focused gameplay played a pivotal role in achieving the highest successful chase in a one-day international at this venue.
Kohli’s tournament record continues to shine, accumulating 354 runs at an impressive average of 118, leaving an indelible mark on the competition. Rohit Sharma provided India with a strong start, scoring a bold 46 off 40 balls, but it was Kohli’s calm and composed approach that guided the chase, especially after three of India’s top-order batsmen had promising starts but failed to convert.
Kohli came tantalizingly close to matching Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 ODI centuries but fell just five runs short, caught by Glenn Phillips in the deep off Matt Henry when India was just five runs away from victory. Ravindra Jadeja, who scored an unbeaten 39, sealed the win for India with 12 balls to spare by hitting Henry for a crucial four.
In the earlier stages of the game, Daryl Mitchell and Rachin Ravindra played pivotal roles in New Zealand’s recovery after losing two early wickets. Their partnership of 159 runs for the third wicket was crucial, with Mitchell reaching his century off exactly 100 balls. However, New Zealand will regret not capitalizing in the final 10 overs to post a more imposing total.
