The 12th edition of the Cricket World Cup tournament is in the final stages. The four teams qualified for semis are India, Australia, England, and New Zealand. It is first vs four and second vs third in the semifinals. India topped the league table with 15 points, followed by Australia, England, and New Zealand. The semi-final 1 is the clash between India vs New Zealand from Old Trafford, Manchester. The league game between India vs New Zealand was washed out due to rain. India lost the semi-final 1 by 18 runs. New Zealand reached the finals second time in a row. In semi-final 1, New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first. Watch the key moments of the game.
1. New Zealand Slow Start
New Zealand started very slowly with the first 2 overs were maiden. The pressure of semi-final, a knockout game, and brilliant bowling from Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar did not give anything to the batsmen to score runs. This mounted pressure on attacking batsman Martin Guptill. Martin Guptill got one knicked to second slip where Virat Kohli took a sharp catch on Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling.
Kane Williamson, the skipper, the most run getter for New Zealand in this World Cup came out to bat and tried to steady the ship for New Zealand along with Henry Nicholls. But, New Zealand scored just 27 runs in their first 10 overs. The first boundary came in the last ball of the eight over. This shows how disciplined Indian bowling was. They both put 68 runs partnership. Ravindra Jadeja provided the breakthrough and bowled Henry Nicolls.
Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson played cautiously but the run-rate was not even 4. The first time run-rate touched 4 was in 42nd over.
Kane Williamson scored 67 runs in 95 balls. Yuzvendra Chahal took his wicket. Ross Taylor holds one end to take New Zealand to a respectable total. But rain interrupted the play. New Zealand innings halted at 46.1 overs at 211 for 5. The rain continued and this makes the match to push to the reserve day.
The match started from the same 46.1 overs from New Zealand innings. Ross Taylor who was playing well was run-out on a direct hit; a rocket throw by Ravindra Jadeja. New Zealand scored 239 for the loss of 8 wickets in their 50 overs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the pick of the bowlers with 3 wickets.
2. India Poor Start
India started poorly. The top order collapsed as India lost their first 3 wickets in just 5 runs. Dinesh Karthik took 20 balls to get off the mark and immediately got out at 6 in 25 balls. India were 24 for 4. Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya put together 47 runs partnership. But soon Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya departed on Mitchell Santner because of poor shot selection. At one stage India was 92 for 6 in 30 overs.
Then Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni put together a fighting partnership of 116. Jadeja scored a quick fire 77 of 59 balls with 4 huge sixes. But the required rate was climbing and this made Jadeja play a big shot but mistime it to Kane Williamson on Trent Boult.
MS Dhoni soon got run out at 50 and it was all over for Indian cricket fans hope as later India lost the match by 18 runs. There were many questions about should Dhoni would have batted ahead of Dinesh Karthik and Hardik Pandya at no. 5; being he is an experienced player. But the dreams are shattered for Indian fans as India are out of the competition.
Matt Henry was declared as the Man of the match for his 3 for 37. New Zealand qualifies for the final and will play against the winner of Semi-final 2 between Australia and England.
You can also watch the key moments from the World Cup matches. How much you know about the World Cup? Here are some amazing facts about the World Cup. Stay Tune with Entertales for the key moments of all the matches of the World Cup.
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