India climbs to the top with four-wicket win over New Zealand

Virat Kohli scored 95 in 104 balls with 8 fours and 2 sixes, leading India to a four-wicket win over New Zealand in their Cricket World Cup match in Dharamsala, yesterday.

India remained unbeaten in their fifth consecutive World Cup match, claiming the top spot on the points table. Kohli came close to his second consecutive century but was caught by Glenn Phillips off Matt Henry’s bowling, narrowly missing a chance to equal Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 centuries.

Chasing a target of 274, Kohli’s performance was pivotal, supported by skipper Rohit Sharma (46) and Ravindra Jadeja (39 n.o. off 44 balls) helping India win the match with 12 balls to spare.

The Man of the Match award went to Indian paceman Mohammed Sami, who took 5 for 54.

India won the toss and elected to field. New Zealand lost both openers wickets, Will Young (17) and Devon Conway (0), early in the innings, struggling at 19 for 2 wickets in 8.1 overs.

However, Mitchell and Ravindra formed a crucial third-wicket 159-run stand to build up their total. Mitchell played an outstanding innings, scoring a superb knock of 130 in 127 balls with 9 fours and 5 sixes. Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Sami picked up early wickets, but Mitchell and Ravindra controlled the game, posing a strong challenge to the Indian bowlers. Seamer Sami was the standout bowler, finishing with figures of 5 for 54 in his ten-over spell, while Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah both had figures of 1 for 45.

The two Indian spinners, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav, struggled to make an impact against the Kiwis at HPCA stadium in Dharamsala, despite the strong support of Indian spectators. Yadav managed to take 2 wickets but conceded 73 runs in his 10-over spell while experienced Jadeja went wicketless, giving away 48 runs in his 10 overs.

Pakistan will face Afghanistan today at Chennai’s MA Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Chief scores:

India: 274 for 6 wickets in 48 overs (Rohit Sharma 46, Shubman Gill 26, Virat Kohli 95, Shreyas Iyer 33, K.L Rahul 27, Ravindra Jadeja 39*, Lockie Ferguson 2/63).

New Zealand: 273 all out in 50 overs (Will Young 17, Rachin Ravindra 75, Daryl Mitchell 130, Glen Phillips 23, Mohammed Sami 5/54, Kuldeep Yadav 2/74).

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