MD.SHAMI’ TAKES 7/57; TONS FROM KOHLI, IYER AS INDIA REMAIN UNBEATEN
Virat Kohli’s world record 50th ODI hundred and a scintillating century by Shreyas Iyer powered India into the final of the World Cup with a 70-run victory over New Zealand in their last-four clash here on Wednesday.
Rohit Sharma’s (47 off 29 balls) pyrotechnics, tons by Kohli (117 off 113) and Iyer (105 off 70), and a fluent 66-ball 80 by Shubman Gill, who retired hurt due to cramps, propelled India to an imposing 397 for four after the skipper won a good toss. New Zealand were stopped at 327 in 48.5 overs as Mohammed Shami finished with incredible figures of 7/57. The highlight of the New Zealand innings was a 181-run partnership between Kane Williamson (69) and Daryl Mitchell (134).
Earlier Rohit, as is his wont, went after the bowling straightaway, and almost killed the contest in the first hour of play at the Wankhede Stadium, his dazzling array of stokes leaving the Kiwis bruised and battered. Going for one too many, Rohit fell for a 29-ball 47 but Gill took over from there and continued to torment the Kiwis with his repertoire of strokes.
After Gill was forced to go back, Kohli and Iyer carried on the good work to set New Zealand an improbable target. Gill, though, came back and remained not out on 80 off 66 balls.
Kohli gets past Tendulkar with record 50th century
India’s Virat Kohli on Wednesday set the record for hitting most centuries in One-Day International cricket, marching to the 50th century of his career during the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 clash with New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium here. Kohli scored his hundred off 106 balls, hitting eight boundaries and one maximum as he broke the record of 49 centuries he had jointly held with Sachin Tendulkar.
His 50th century came in 279 innings. There were huge expectations of Kohli breaking the record at the Wankhede after he failed to do so in India’s last league match against the Netherlands. He had equalled the record with an unbeaten 101 against South Africa at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on November 5.
Sachin Tendulkar, who hoped that Kohli would break his record and was present in the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday as the Delhi batter went past him, is now second in the list with 49 centuries off 452 innings. India skipper Rohit Sharma is third in the list with 31 tons off 253 innings followed by Australia’s Ricky Ponting on 30 (off 365 innings). Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya is fifth on the list with 28 hundreds off 433 innings.
Brief Scores
India: 397/4 in 50 overs (Virat Kohli 117, Shreyas Iyer 105, 80 not out).
New Zealand: 327 all out in 48.5 overs (Daryl Mitchell 134, Kane Williamson 69; Mohammed Shami 7/57).