The target is 398 runs. No matter how batting friendly the pitch is, it is very difficult for any team to chase down such a target. But New Zealand is progressing on that difficult path.
The Kiwis lost 2 wickets for 39 runs in a big run chase. Kane Williamson and Darrell Mitchell took the lead from there. So far they are unbroken in the pair of centuries.
161 runs for 2 wickets at the end of 25 overs till writing this report. Williamson 48 and Darrell Mitchell is unbeaten on 62 runs.
Earlier, Virat Kohli scored a world record century. Shreyas Iyer also reached the magic figure of three in the batting at Markut. India built a mountain of 397 runs for 4 wickets against New Zealand in the first semi-final of the World Cup with a double century.
Indian captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and decided to bat first at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The host team’s batsmen continued to play from the start, proving the captain’s decision right.
The two openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill shared a 71-run partnership in 8.2 overs. They were batting as if it was a T20 match.
Rohit Sharma was dismissed for 47 runs off 29 balls. He returned with a catch in the hands of Williamson from Tim Southee. He hit four sixes and a boundary off 29 balls.
Despite Rohit getting out, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli continued to bat. They scored 118 runs on the scoreboard in 15 overs. In the 23rd over, Gill returned as a retired heart after the team scored 164 runs.
Shreyas Iyer came to the crease as the new batter after Gill left the field. New Zealand’s bowlers are more dangerous. Iyer continued to bat more aggressively. The right-handed batsman completed his fifty in 35 balls.
Virat Kohli looked to play and took the 50th century of his career. Surpass the homegrown legend Sachin Tendulkar. Kohli became the first batsman to score 50 centuries in ODI history.
Kohli and Iyer added 163 runs off 128 balls for the third wicket. Finally Tim Southee broke this pair. Kohli returned to the dressing room after scoring 117 runs off 113 balls with 9 fours and 2 sixes.
Then Marmukhi Iyer also scored a century. He reached the magic figure of three with 67 balls. Finally, with 7 balls remaining in the innings, Iyer fell victim to Trent Bould. He hit 8 sixes with 4 fours in a devastating innings of 105 runs from 70 balls!
Suryakumar Yadav could not take advantage of the last drop. This batter went back to the dressing room after 2 balls. However, Lokesh Rahul scored 39 off 20 balls to take the team close to 400. Shubman Gill, who went up to 79 runs, got down in the last over but got a chance to play only one ball, remained unbeaten on 80 runs.
Tim Southee of New Zealand took 3 wickets at the cost of 100 runs.
