ICC World Cup 2023: India break 20-year-old losing streak to New Zealand in ICC events

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A five-wicket haul by Mohammed Shami and another masterclass by chase master Virat Kohli guided India to a four-wicket win over New Zealand in ICC World Cup 2023 in Dharamshala on Sunday The victory also ended India's 20 years of winless run at ICC events against the rivals.

With this win, India has its fifth successive win and is at the top of the table with 10 points. NZ is at number two now with four wins and a loss, totalling to eight points.
In the chase of 274 runs, India was off to a flying start as skipper Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill were dealing in fours and sixes.

The horrors of a terrible top-order start in the 2019 World Cup semifinals were being washed away with every shot they played. India reached the 50-run mark in 7.4 overs, with the help of a crisp boundary by Gill on a delivery by Matt Henry.

The 71-run opening stand came to an end as Lockie Ferguson castled Rohit for 46 in 40 balls, with four boundaries and four sixes. India was 71/1 in 11.1 overs. Gill was the next one to be dismissed by Ferguson as he was caught by Daryl Mitchell for 26 off 31 balls, with five fours. India was 76/2 in 13.2 overs.

The new pair on the crease was of Virat Kohli, the centurion against Bangladesh and Shreyas Iyer. The duo rebuild the Indian innings, bringing up the 100-run mark in 15.4 overs. Iyer was playing with some positive intent, smashing Mitchell Santner and Ferguson for some boundaries. Even Virat was smashing boundaries after settling himself.

Iyer-Kohli reached their 50-run partnership in 45 balls. The partnership was cut short soon after Iyer fell prey to another short delivery by Trent Boult for 33 off 29 balls, with six fours. India was 128/3 in 21.3 overs. KL Rahul, Virat's partner during many crucial partnerships of this tournament was next up and they took India to the 150-run mark in 27.5 overs.

KL-Virat brought up their fifty-run stand in 62 balls. However, KL was trapped leg-before wicket by Mitchell Santner for 27 off 35 balls, with three fours. India was 182/4 in 32.1 overs. Suryakumar Yadav was the next one to be dismissed for just two runs after a horrible mix-up with Virat that led to his run-out. India was 191/5 in 33.5 overs.

Ravindra Jadeja, out of form for a while was next up and took India past 200 in 35.4 overs. Jadeja and Virat hit some pressure-relieving boundaries. Men in Blue were 250 runs up in 45.2 overs.

India needed seven in the final three overs, with Virat just eight runs from his 49th ODI century, that would help him equal the record of great Sachin Tendulkar. However, he was caught by Glenn Phillips on a ball by Matt Henry. Virat fell for 95 in 104 balls, with eight fours and two sixes. India was 269/6 in 47.4 overs.

Jadeja sealed the deal with a winning four, ending at 39*, with Shami (1*) unbeaten at the other end. India won the match by four wickets with two overs to spare. Ferguson (2/63) was the pick of the bowlers for NZ. Santner, Boult and Henry got a wicket each. Earlier, New Zealand batsman Daryl Mitchell's stellar maiden hundred at the ODI World Cup took the Kiwis to 273 in the first innings.

-ANI