MUMBAI: Mohammed Shami claimed his third five-wicket haul of the tournament in a brilliant 7-57 as India overcame a valiant century by Daryl Mitchell (134) to defeat New Zealand by 70 runs and storm into the final of the ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023 on Wednesday.
Shami, who came into the team after Hardik Pandya was injured and claimed 5-54 against New Zealand at Dharamsala and then picked 5-18 against Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium here, struck when India needed the most as he bagged 7-57 in 9.5 overs.
After Virat Kohli (117) had struck a record-breaking 50th century and Shreyas Iyer blazed to a second successive ton to help India post a massive 397/4, Shami came to India's rescue as he inspired the team to fight back and restrict New Zealand to 327 all out in 48.5 overs to script a memorable triumph.
Providing vital breakthroughs when India needed the most, Shami prised out openers Devon Conway (13) and Rachin Ravindra (13) to give India a good start and then returned to dismiss Kane Williamson (69) and Tom Latham (0) in one brilliant over to pull India back into the game after the New Zealand skipper and Daryl Mitchell had raised 183 runs for the third-wicket partnership and were looking dangerous for India.
Shami, who bowled in five spells, sent back Mitchell, Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson in the final few overs to complete his best haul in ODIs.
Williamson and Mitchell reached 150 runs in their partnership and soon propelled New Zealand past the 200-run mark, off 182 balls. New Zealand scored 75 runs from 21 to 30 overs.
Shami provided India the much-needed breakthrough when he claimed two wickets in three deliveries in the 33rd over (his fifth over of the day), giving away only 1 run.
He got Williamson holing out to Suryaklumar Yadav at deep square, just short of the boundary ropes. It was not a great delivery but a tad slower and hit the bottom of Williamson's bat. Williamson, who returned from injury and had a difficult World Cup suffering from a broken thumb after a couple of matches, scored 69 off 73 balls, interspersed with eight fours and one six. He and Mitchell added 181 runs off 149 balls for the third-wicket partnership.
A ball later, Shami trapped Tom Latham (0) with one skid back to hit the front foot, New Zealand were down to 220/4 and the Indians had their tails up in the air.
With the packed Wankhede Stadium singing 'Vande Mataram' in one voice, the Indian bowlers went in search of more wickets, bowling some incisive overs. At the end of 35 overs, the Black Caps were 224/4 while at the same stage, India were 248/1.
Mitchell's vigil came to an end in the 46th over for 134 runs, caught by Jadeja off Mohd Shami, giving him his third five-wicket haul in this World Cup and the writing was clear on the wall.
Earlier, with the slow and dry pitch looking conducive to batting, the Indian batters made most of their chances after Rohit Sharma had elected to bat first.
Skipper Rohit gave India a good opening, starting in whirlwind fashion as he has done so far in this World Cup. He took the attack to the New Zealand pacers -- Trent Boult and Tim Southee, as he hammered four boundaries and four maximums in his 29-ball 47.
Gill took up the mantle of scoring, hitting seven superb boundaries -- a couple of pulls off Lockie Ferguson catching attention as the young opener raced to his third half-century in four innings.
Gill and Kohli raised 93 runs for the second wicket before the opener walked off to the pavilion with 79 off 65 balls, and retired hurt because of severe cramps.
Kohli, who had joined Sachin Tendulkar on 49 centuries in the match against South Africa around 10 days back, scored his 50th hundred with the Little Maestro watching and applauding from the stands. Kohli thus took his total for this World Cup to 711 runs in 10 innings at an average of 101.57.
Iyer, who scored 128 not out against the Netherlands in India's last league match in Bengaluru, took the cake by scoring a second century in a row, blasting eight sixes in his 70-ball 105 and helping India put up a massive score. IANS
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