Experience takes centre-stage as India trump New Zealand emphatically

The Indian dominion continued for a fifth straight match in the ongoing World Cup despite a handful of fretful moments intensifying the frowns in the dressing room which later proved to be inconsequential, thanks to another masterclass from Virat Kohli.

Winning the toss, India opted to bowl first and dealt an early double whammy as Mohammed Siraj produced the wicket of Devon Conway for a duck with Shreyas Iyer pulling off an absolute stunner. Mohammed Shami administered another crushing blow as he sneaked through the defences of Will Young (17), leaving his timbre in shambles.

However, the wicket of Young proved to be a Pandora’s Box pried open by a couple of dropped chances and some incessant free-fire from the duo of Rachin Ravindra (75) and Daryl Mitchell (130) who knitted together a crucial partnership of 159 runs for the third wicket.

Mohammed Shami returned in the 34th over to produce the all-important opening, claiming the prized scalp of Rachin Ravindra. Kuldeep Yadav struck in quick succession, sending back Latham for a paltry five. Glenn Phillips looked good for his wee stay in the center but couldn’t contribute much as Kuldeep Yadav produced the mishit that was comfortably pouched by Rohit Sharma.

Stationed at 243/5 from 44.2 overs and with the centurion, Daryl Mitchell in the center, the Kiwis looked well in hunt for a total close or slightly north of 300. However, this is exactly the juncture that was supposed to be the springboard for the Blackcaps exploded into a blooming catastrophe as India clinched the next five wickets for a meager 40 runs.

Jasprit Bumrah entered the scene with an outswinger that forced Matt Chapman’s (6) hand while Virat Kohli clinched a ripper in the deep that was dying on him. Mohammed Shami emerged as the tormentor-in-chief for the Kiwis up next with an absolute stunner that sent Mitchell Santner’s (1) stumps cartwheeling.

Making it 2 out of 2, Shami produced a dead ringer of the delivery that claimed Santner, this time to blaze through the defences of Matt Henry who returned to the pavilion for a golden duck.

Centurion Daryl Mitchell’s resistance finally snapped against the Hero of the Day for India, Mohammed Shami, as he holed out to a backtracking Kohli at a widish long-on. With the last ball of the innings remaining and Trent Boult failing to connect, a desperate attempt to complete a run by Lockie Ferguson fell short as KL Rahul kissed timbre. Shami was the pick of the Indian bowling lot with figures of 5/54 while New Zealand got skittled out for 273.

Coming out to chase 274 against what has been a sensational bowling unit throughout the World Cup so far, the Indian opening pair of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill hunkered down to business straightaway. Rohit continued his aggressive touch, hammering down a 40-ball-46 with four fours and four sixes while Gill (26) played the perfect accomplice to his captain’s trailblazer.

Despite the early fireworks, India’s spirit hit an unexpected snag with both the openers falling in a span of five runs as the Men in Blue got reduced to 76/2. However, the upcoming partnership of Kohli and Shreyas Iyer did well for a while to calm the frayed nerves as the duo added 52 runs for the third wicket before the latter chipped one away to Devon Conway for 33.

Another important cameo from KL Rahul (27) and some persistent diligence from Kohli allowed India to keep the momentum going and add another crucial 54 runs for the next pair, propelling them to 182 before the former was trapped before wicket by Mitchell Santner.

Suryakumar Yadav couldn’t contribute anything significant to the total as a miscommunication between him and Kohli cost him his wicket and threw India in the deep end with Ravindra Jadeja being the last recognized batter while Rohit and company still needed 83 runs to win.

With Kohli still in the center, Ravindra Jadeja played fearless cricket and expressed himself sensationally well while Virat upped the ante to usher India closer to the finish line. Nearing another blistering ton, Kohli couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity to deal the coup de grace for a second consecutive game. While trying to go big, he ended up holing out to Glenn Phillips in the deep for a match-winning 95 while an incoming Mohammed Shami stayed calm enough for Jadeja to get the job done.

Jaddu stayed unbeaten for a well-constructed 39 while Shami ensured that no further harm befalls the Men in Blue as they scored the ‘perfect five’ from the first five fixtures, winning the all-important clash by four wickets. Shami was awarded the Player of the Match for his reckoning display.