Cricket World Cup 2023: India beat New Zealand to arrive at last after Virat Kohli's record century

ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, Mumbai:
India 397-4 (50 overs): Kohli 117 (113), Iyer 105 (70); Southee 3-100
New Zealand 327 (48.5 overs): Mitchell 134 (119); Shami 7-57
India won by 70 runs


India arrived at the World Cup last by holding off New Zealand on an essential night in Mumbai that included Virat Kohli's record-breaking 50th one-day global 100 years.

Whiz Kohli moved clear of his unbelievable previous colleague Sachin Tendulkar's hundred count as India stacked up 397-4.

In any case, New Zealand took steps to pamper the hosts' party at the Wankhede Arena.

Daryl Mitchell scored a great hundred years of his own and put on 181 runs from 149 balls with captain Kane Williamson to quieten the febrile home help and offer the Dark Covers a chance at an impossible triumph.

India were feeling the strain with the Dark Covers on 220-2, when Mohammed Shami eliminated Williamson for 69 and Tom Latham for a two-ball duck in the 33rd over.

Glenn Phillips' 41 from 33 kept New Zealand in with a remote possibility however he holed out and Mitchell followed for 134 to Shami.

Quick bowler Shami finished with mind blowing figures of 7-57 - the best for India in ODIs - and New Zealand were eventually bowled out for 327, leaving them 70 runs low.

Prior Kohli easily made 117 from 113 balls, while Shreyas Iyer scored the game's quickest century - a 70-ball 105, with eight sixes.

India, pursuing their most memorable World Cup title since winning on home soil in 2011, will play Australia or South Africa in Sunday's last in Ahmedabad in what vows to be an exceptional event.

The second semi-last is in Kolkata on Thursday from 08:30 GMT.

'We just needed to remain gathered' - response

India captain Rohit Sharma: " I have played a ton of cricket here so I know with any score on this ground you can't unwind.

"We realized there would be tension on us at some stage. We just needed to remain gathered. We did that. We were extremely quiet despite the fact that we were messy in the field.

"Daryl Mitchell and Kane Wiliamson batted splendidly. For us keeping mentally collected was significant. We took a stab at everything and Mohammed Shami was splendid."

New Zealand Captain Kane Williamson: " Congrats to India. They've played exceptionally well all through and maybe played their most impressive performance of the opposition here.

"It was a glad work to remain in the battle. It's frustrating to go out in the knockout stages, yet I'm really pleased with the work that has gone into these seven weeks as a side."

Player of the match, India quick bowler Mohammed Shami: " I was hanging tight for my possibilities. I didn't play a ton of white-ball cricket.

"The last two World Cups, we lost in the semis. Who can say for sure whenever or on the other hand in the event that we'll get an opportunity, so we needed to thoroughly take care of this, a single opportunity we would have rather not given up."