Shubman Gill scores a half century against New Zealand in the semi-final
(REUTERS)
India and New Zealand go head-to-head in the first of the Cricket World Cup semi-finals when they clash in Mumbai. The World Cup hosts successfully ended their group stage campaign unbeaten, winning all nine of their matches, and signing off with a thrashing of the Netherlands on Sunday to maintain their tag as the tournament favourites.
Rohit Sharma leads an impressive side with aggressive opener Shubman Gill, legendary batter Virat Kohli and a plethora of attacking bowling options from Jasprit Bumrah to Kuldeep Yadav.
Though they bring all the momentum into the knockout stages India will be nervous for this knockout game. They also topped the group stage standings in England four years ago before losing to New Zealand in the semis at Old Trafford.
New Zealand, meanwhile, started the competition in spectacular fashion with a huge win over England before stuttering towards the knockout rounds following a series of injuries to key personnel. They have reached another white-ball tournament semi-final and have the experience to challenge India today.
Follow all the action from the semi-final below plus get all the Cricket World Cup odds and tips here:
India 114-1 (14) Gill 50, Kohli 14, Ravindra 0-11 (1)
Kohli has got in on the action with a four and that will bring an end to Ravindra’s opening over which went for 10.
Sonia Twigg15 November 2023 09:37
Shubman Gill 50! India 109-1
Rachin Ravindra will come into the attack for the first time today, and his first ball went for 2, but Gill has his half century!
He brings it up with a single, and has 50 from 41 deliveries.
Sonia Twigg15 November 2023 09:35
India 104-1 (13) Gill 49, Kohli 5, Ferguson 0-30 (3)
Gill has played Ferguson into the air, but it was also into the gap and he – and India – add another boundary to their already-impressive total.
The next delivery is launched into the air for a big six, to bring the hundred up for India and it also sees Gill move on to 48.
Sonia Twigg15 November 2023 09:33
India 92-1 (12) Gill 38, Kohli 4, Santner 0-14 (2)
Now out of the powerplay, Santner has come back into the attack, his first over went for 11, but with the extra fielders allowed out, he could yet prove more effective.
The first three overs were dots, and Gill has not been able to find the width, but the one that is on his pads was swept away to the boundary for two.
Sonia Twigg15 November 2023 09:28
India 89-1 (11) Gill 35, Kohli 4, Southee 1-31 (4)
Southee, who has taken the only wicket so far has come back on, but Gill has another boundary, flicked into the leg side and into the gap.
He has played very well today, not as explosive as Sharma, but he has looked solid at the crease.
Sonia Twigg15 November 2023 09:25
India 84-1 (10) Gill 30, Kohli 4, Ferguson 0-18 (2)
Gill has another boundary, and that was a slow-ball half-tracked delivery and all the batter had to do was helpthe ball on its way.
He follows it up with another four, and that was not the best ball, Ferguson has tried to bang it in short on a slow-paced pitch and Gill has just smashed it to the boundary.
Sonia Twigg15 November 2023 09:20
India 75-1 (9) Gill 21, Kohli 4, Southee 1-16 (3)
Ahead of the semi-final stage, Kohli had more runs than any other play in the World Cup so far, but he has come out to the crease after the wicket of the India captain.
And almost immediately there is a big shout for lbw, the ball has raced off the pad towards the boundary, but New Zealand have decided to review…but there is a small spike as the ball went past the bat and Kohli survives.
Sonia Twigg15 November 2023 09:16
Wicket! Rohit out for 47! ct Williamson b Southee – India 71-1
Wicket! That was just what New Zealand needed and it was a sensational catch from Kane Williamson.
The Kiwi captain was running backwards and took the catch over his shoulder, and it was a perfect slower ball from Tim Southee, who just let it hang in the air, forcing Rohit to skew the ball into the air rather than cleanly hitting it as he had done before.
Sonia Twigg15 November 2023 09:12
India 70-0 (8) Rohit 47, Gill 20, Ferguson 0-9 (1)
After the spin of Santner did not slow down the flow of runs, Williamson has turned to Lockie Ferguson.
But it has not made a difference and it was Gill who has driven this to the cover-point boundary, the opener just had to wait for that and lent on the ball which was straight into the gap.
Another almost-boundary, stopped only by a flying stop from Southee, who dived outstretched and kept it in, it was only a gentle push but it has flown.
Sonia Twigg15 November 2023 09:08
India 61-0 (7) Rohit 47, Gill 11, Boult 0-29 (4)
Boult will continue, he has bowled a wide, it was not far away from the pad or bat of Sharma, but it was another extra to the total.
Overall it was a better over from Boult, just the three runs from it.
Sonia Twigg15 November 2023 09:03
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
