Seven for Shami as India beat New Zealand by 70 runs to reach final

MUMBAI: (Web Desk) Undefeated hosts India Wednesday beat New Zealand by 70 runs in the first semi-final of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 to reach the final.

New Zealand batted well against India in the beginning, but their batting line-up could not stand their ground after the dismissal of captain Kane Williamson.

Pacer Mohammad Shami’s spell was nothing short of magic, for he sent seven Kiwi batsmen back to the pavilion.

While batting first, India set New Zealand a 398-run target to win. The match between the two teams was played at Wankhede Cricket Stadium in Mumbai.

India’s batting virtuoso Virat Kohli broke legendary Sachin Tendulkar’s record of most centuries in ODI cricket.

Kohli notched up a much-awaited record-breaking 50th ODI century, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 centuries.

Kohli pulled off an impressive 100 off 106 balls in the match against the Kiwis.

Kohli also broke Tendulkar’s record of most runs in a single ICC ODI World Cup edition.

Sachin had accumulated 673 runs in the 2003 World Cup, and Kohli went past him in the ongoing tournament.

It was India skipper Rohit Sharma who first won the toss and decided that his team would bat first against the Men in Black.

The Men in Blue avenged their heartbreaking defeat in the semi-final of the 2019 World Cup.

India has been the only unbeaten side in the tournament thus far as they also got the better of the Kiwis in the league-stage match.